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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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