|
Greeting someone in Abu Dhabi
Greetings can be protracted affairs as an Arab may
enquire after you and your family's health. The polite
reply is that all is well, thanks be to God. It is
usual to use 'Sayed' (Mr) or 'Sayeda' (Mrs) followed
by the first name. The name should always be prefixed
with the honorific title when conducting business.
The Bedouin custom of offering food and shelter to
strangers in the deserts is preserved today by the
coffee ceremony. Business often starts with a tiny
cup of cardamon-flavoured coffee poured from the traditional
metal pot or dallah. To indicate that you have had
enough, guests must wiggle the cup from side to side.
Tipping advice
Any service charge on a restaurant bill usually goes
to the restaurant rather then the waiter, therefore,
even if tips aren’t expected, they are very much
appreciated.
Abu Dhabi dress code
Clothing should be conservative and smart. Women should
avoid wearing revealing clothing, especially in rural
areas, and go for loose clothing such as loose-cut
trousers and long dresses.
Local Customs
The United Arab Emirates is the most liberal part
of the Persian Gulf, however still very conservative
by Western standards. This means that great offence
would be shown by wearing revealing clothing or in
any way showing disrespect in Mosques or other public
places.
|
