Eight months ago I was asked to relocate from London to Dubai as a Sales Manager with Meltwater News. The Dubai office had only been open for six months, so the move was an opportunity for me to make an impact and to potentially take the lead role in a new office. The lessons I’ve learned jumping from the British to the Arab business culture are immense. Business in the Middle East is inherently different to that in the UK; the requisite conduct, etiquette, and nuances differ significantly. If you ever have the luck to end up working in Dubai, below are some things you should keep in mind.

Meeting Etiquette: One of my first business meetings was with traditionally dressed Arab women. I quickly learned never to offer my hand to a lady by way of introduction. Rather, I should wait to see if she cares to offer hers.

Business Phrases: On one of my first conversations with a company over the phone, my prospective client ended with the phrase ‘Enshallah’ (God willing). Whether employed with the specific intention of deflecting responsibility or spoken as a genuine expression of faith, ‘Enshallah’ is bonafide corporate parlance in Dubai. Although I wasn’t prepared for it initially, I now know to expect it in a business conversation.

Bureacracy: Business people in Dubai are dependably affirmative, with an inherent ‘can-do’ attitude. Arguably less dependable, however, are the processes involved in getting ‘there’. Whether processing a visa, forecasting the closure of deals, or agreeing to simple deadlines, every process in the UAE requires a plethora of curious approvals and leaves a long paper trail. At the end of it all, there’s always something that wasn’t factored in, inevitably adding another layer of complexity.

Face-to-Face vs. Online: The UK understands the power of online media, communication, and information. In the Middle East, however, the first hurdle is convincing people of the value of email as a medium for communication. In order to convince people, they have to trust you. And to trust you, more often than not, they will need to meet you. Doing business over the phone is still a relatively new concept, so effective verbal business communication in the absence of non-verbal feedback has been of the utmost importance.

My move to Dubai has been a challenge that continues to teach me much about business outside of the UK. I am no stranger to international management, having a degree on the subject and having lived and worked abroad before. This chapter, however, has taught me a great deal more about myself. Most importantly, it has confirmed that however well you understand your native business practices, framework and conduct, there is a great deal more to learn across the next border.

Sam is a London native and currently the Managing Director of Meltwater News, Dubai

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