Appropriate Business 'Greetings' in United Arab Emirates

As part of a Harvard Business School reunion I was fortunate to visit this fascinating country. Rich in history traditions and culture, UAE presents excellent business opportunities. 

Here are a few tips from “On Call International” on appropriate greetings:

-Acknowledge and greet the most senior person in the room first – doing so is a sign of respect in the Muslim culture. 

-It’s appropriate for non-Muslims to greet their Arab hosts with “assalamu alaikum,” which means “peace be upon you” and return the greeting with “wa alaikum assalam,” meaning “peace be upon you, too.” 

-When exchanging business cards, it’s best to give and receive cards with your right hand.

-Have the other side of your business card translated into Arabic – this will help make a great first impression.

-Men: When greeting a man in a professional setting, handshakes are always used and can last a long time. Be sure to only use the right hand as Muslims reserve the left hand for bodily hygiene and consider it unclean. 

-Don’t be surprised if a colleague holds your hand while leading you to a meeting room – holding hands is common among men and does not carry the same connotations as it does in the West. 

-It’s in your best interest not to approach a female Muslim colleague with a handshake or any other form of a physical greeting – there is little to no touching between men and women during greetings in public.

-Women: If you’re being introduced to a Muslim man, wait to see if he extends his hand. If not, refrain from initiating a handshake. 

-If you’re meeting another woman, wait for her to greet you – often times, a kiss on the left cheek is acceptable.

Safe travels!

On Call International: https://blog.oncallinternational.com/business-etiquette-around-world-united-arab-emirates/

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