International Communication An international business communication report based on the assumption of doing business to United Arab Emirates Researched and Presented in UCI IBOM class

1. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
‫دولة‬‫اإلمارات‬‫العربية‬‫المتحدة‬
Reporter:
Lillian Pin Yu Chou
Tina Hung Yu Lai

2. AGENDA
• BACKGROUND
• DO’s & DON’Ts
• TOP 5 TIPS

3. BACKGROUND

4. BACKGROUND GEOGRAPHY
• Capital: ABU DHABI
• Official languages: Arabic
Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
• Religion: Islam
Muslim 94%, Christian, Hindu
• Currency: UAE dirham (AED)
• Electricity: 220/50Hz (UK plug)
• Country code: +971
• Time Zone: UTC+4
• Population: Emiratis 20%
50% from the Indian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh)
15% other parts of Asia (Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka)
5-6% Western countries (Europe, Australia, America)

5. BACKGROUND DUBAI
• The transport and commerce center of the UAE
• Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert
• Citizens of the U.S. may obtain a free visa on arrival valid
for 30 days
Established in December 1971
A federation of seven emirates

6. BACKGROUND TRANSPORT
CAR:
- The UAE has modern road system
- Have road from Saudi Arabia in the south and Oman in the east
- Rent or drive require an international driver's license
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
- building extensive Metro, monorail and tram networks
- also invest heavily in the local bus network

7. BACKGROUND FOOD
• Traditional food: been rice, fish, and meat
• Popular beverages: coffee and tea
• Alcohol:
- Only allowed served in hotel restaurants and bars
- All nightclubs are permitted to sell alcohol
- Specific supermarkets may sell in separate sections
- It is illegal to be intoxicated in public

8. BACKGROUND ARAB MANAGEMENT STYLE
Directive and Paternalistic !
The boss is the “father” and the employees are the “children”

9. BACKGROUND ARAB TEAMS
 Strongly hierarchical cultures
 Work vertically rather than horizontally
 Consisted of extended family members

10. BACKGROUND ARAB COMMUNICATION STYLES
 Offer compliments to your host
 Good and Strong eye contact
 Questions about marital status, children, religious convictions
and personal wealth are commonplace

11. DO’S & DON’TS

12. DO’s & DON’Ts DO
 Use SUNGLASSES and SUN CREAM
as sunburn and heat can be unbearable
 Change your money only from AUTHORIZED MONEYCHANGERS or
BANKS in Dubai
 Make sure you have a VALID PASSPORT and VISA to enter any
emirate of UAE.
 Indulge in some HAGGLING while buying goods without price tags
whenever you go shopping in UAE.
 Always be careful of the belongings you carry with you.
 Taking of photographs can be sensitive
ASK permission first and avoid secure areas

13. DO’s & DON’Ts DON’T
Do not PHOTOGRAPH Muslim women, airports, docks,
telecommunications equipment, Government buildings,
military and industrial installations
Don't SWEAR - > as you can get fined and sent to jail
Don't use your LEFT HAND while greeting or handing
over things to people
Don't TOUCH anyone's head -> Offensive
Avoid TIGHT and EXPOSING clothing

14. DO’s & DON’Ts UAE DRESS CODE
Avoid tight and exposing clothing
Please wear respectful clothing
Shoulders and knees should be covered

15. TOP 5 TIPS

16. TOP 5 TIPs TIP 1
Meetings can often appear unstructured with
no (or little reference to) agenda
• In Arab culture you don’t exist until you’re on the ground
• Weekends are Friday/Saturday, with Friday being a worship and family day.
• Also consider checking your emails on Sundays when it’s the beginning of
the week here.

17. TOP 5 TIPs TIP 2
Meetings will not always start on time
• Levels of lateness can vary from a few minutes up to more than an hour
• Try not to arrange too many meetings on the same day as lack of
punctuality
• Don’t be surprised if you don’t manage to set up (too many) meetings
before arriving and keep some time to be flexible and open to last minute
arrangements.

18. TOP 5 TIPs TIP 3
In meetings, it’s not rude to check their phone
• people will check their emails, pick up their phone, walk in and out, don’t
be put off or think they are being rude!
• It would be rude not to respond their phone , it might be urgent!
• In most cases, don’t even bother to leave a voicemail on an office phone
• People are not picked up and hardly ever returned
• Make sure you always get a mobile number – it’s not rude to ask

19. TOP 5 TIPs TIP 4
Don’t take ‘yes’ to mean ’yes’ every time
• It could be being used as a delaying tactic
• Always find a solution so that people don’t lose face

20. TOP 5 TIPs TIP 5
Never lose your temper
• Don’t show that you are frustrated or upset
• Stay calm and friendly
• Even if you think it’s going nowhere
• Even if you have the feeling of going in circles
• Be firm but look for compromise and offer solutions

21. THANK YOU
ANY QUESTION?