United Arab Emirates: Prosperous Entertaining
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Entertaining for business success
Locals habitually entertain at home but, as a concession to western custom, they will often accept a foreigner's invitation to a hotel or restaurant. Other nationalities have their own customs.
Regardless of who is host, hospitality is merely a courtesy and should not be interpreted as a harbinger of commercial success. In fact, lavish hospitality often serves to soften the letdown of an unsuccessful venture.
When the visitor is entertaining in a restaurant or hotel, tipping is the same as in Europe; ten percent over and above the service charge if merited. Also as in most of Europe, it is not customary to tip taxi drivers.
Not only is it improper to eat with the left hand, it should be reserved only for unclean usage. To offer someone something with the left hand is very rude.
Sharing a meal is the universal best way for people to get to know one another. With nationals of the UAE, conversation adheres to the Anglo/Japanese preference for understatement and dislike of exaggeration. Similarly, they appreciate genuine praise but abhor gratuitous flattery. Women are sacrosanct and it is inadvisable to comment on disagreements amongst the emirates but all other subjects of conversation are acceptable provided the visitor demonstrates an open mind. A man with a firm grasp of his argument is respected.
When one is received by a ruler in private audience, there is a curious coffee custom. The ruler will ask if the visitor would like some coffee and the visitor should refuse. The ruler may try to insist but the more strongly he does so, the firmer must be the refusal. This is a throw-back to the time when a visitor to a Bedouin tent could be using his host's only cup by accepting. If coffee [or anything else] is physically offered, e.g. by a coffee bearer, there is no such restriction and all are expected to indulge.
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