Considerations when visiting Dubai in Business

Considerations When Visiting Dubai on Business

If you’re planning on living in Dubai or working in Dubai, you’ll find that the general feel of the place is very welcoming to people from other nations. You’ll quickly learn the customers that apply to doing business in this city. However, if you’re associated with one of the many offshore companies in the city and are just visiting in business, a crash course in some of the local customs will go a long way toward keeping things smooth and friendly. This is a warm city, on the whole, and people are very welcoming and more than willing to give visitors some pointers. Here are some important things to now.


Know When Ramadan Is

The UAE is an Islamic nation and Ramadan is an important holiday. It’s important for business visitors to know when it begins and ends for more reasons than simply being respectful.

During Ramadan, Muslim people fast from dawn to dusk. To accommodate this, they shorten their workday, which will obviously be important information for anyone working in Dubai. Know when the holiday falls on the calendar. It varies on the Gregorian calendar, so it’s important to check the dates if you’re planning a trip. It’s a great time to visit Dubai for cultural reasons, but not the best time to visit on business.

Make Wasta

Wasta is the Arabic word that roughly translates to your personal connections. The Economist notes that having good wasta can be helpful, but it’s not really necessary to doing business. If you’re living in Dubai for any length of time, it’s inevitable that you’ll make local friends. While not vital, these connections can certainly help you to do business by getting introductions to important people and so forth.

Making Friends Is Actually Easy

The same source also points out that the people of Dubai generally do like talking about the development in the city. It’s a point of pride. Do not, however, stray into politics. This is not a nation where people tend to criticize their government—there can be consequences if it goes too far—and they’re certainly not likely to be interested in a foreigner’s opinion on their nation’s rulers. However, starting out your business meetings with some good questions about the city, the customs and living in Dubai are all great ways to warm people up, and it’s customary to be a bit friendly and personal before getting down to brass tacks.

Don’t Be Intimidated

As Trip Advisor points out, most people in Dubai speak English. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions or ideas for having a good time while you’re exploring the city. People here are used to foreigners, who actually make up the majority of the population in the city. The city is also surprisingly easy to navigate. Ancient though it may be, the recent developments are very modern and well planned.

Europe Emirates Group can help businesses to set up offshore entities in Dubai and help individuals to do the same. There are few better locations for doing so, and you’ll find the city to be as welcoming to businesses as it is to tourists.