|
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.
|
