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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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