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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.
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