Business in the United Arab Emirates. According

¶ … Business in the United Arab Emirates.

According to my research, the month that our organization will be spending conducting business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will coincide partially with the holiday of Ramadan. Because the Emirates are comprised largely of Muslim populations, it is critical to acknowledge the customs both associated with the holiday month and with the larger practice of business within Muslim and Emirate cultures.

First, it is critical to understand the implications of Ramadan in a business context. Namely, Out-Law (2011) reports that "Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year and it is observed for one lunar month. Ramadan begins when a new moon is sighted by Islamic scholars, so it is difficult to say precisely when this will be." (Out-Law, p. 1) During the holiday month, Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset and are inclined to spend more time in prayer than outside of the holiday season.

Because we will be conducting business in Ramadan through the latter part of the month of July this year, we will be impacted both by the extremely warm climate and the observation of this holiday. Specifically, certain points of business etiquette are determined by Ramadan. It is considered appropriate courtesy to make allowances for more flexible scheduling as observant Muslims follow the customs of Ramadan. In fact, according to Out-Law, allowances are built into the U.A.E.'s legal system. According to Out-Law, "the Labour Law (Federal Law 8 of 1980) entitles UAE employees to work reduced hours during Ramadan without any corresponding reduction in their salary. Under the law, the working day is reduced by two hours. For the majority of employees, this will mean a six hour working day (exclusive of breaks)." (Out-Law, p. 1)

As a point of contrast, a quick visit to the website Dubai.com reveals that western entertainment news qualifies as current events in the U.A.E. Here, the site shows that the top story on November 27th asked "Are Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom Heading For a Thanksgiving Reunion?." This is noteworthy because it suggests that some western entertainment references may be familiar in Emirate culture. This may serve as a point of common ground.

Another way to gain favor with your hosts, according to the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council (2013), it may be appropriate to offer a small token or gift as a show of respect upon meeting a new business partner in the Emirates. The Council advises though that it should not be an idle gift with no personal meaning. According to the Council, "t would be appropriate, although not expected, to present a small or token gift to an individual to whom one is being introduced, say for example a book one has written or very much enjoys, a special company memento, or something related to one's background or hobbies." (U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, p. 1)