United Arab Emirates: Public Behaviour

From ExecutivePlanet.com

Acceptable public conduct

Although women are active in most, if not all five of the professions as well as such commercial activities as banking and some retail trade, social encounters are largely segregated. Within same-sex encounters, however, the normally reserved Arabians are much more tactile than westerners in their behaviour.

Whilst loud speech and raucous laughter are deplored as vulgar, firm embraces, kissing on both cheeks and walking hand-in-hand are customary. These are gestures of close, brotherly friendship and have no sexual implications whatever.

Generally, one should always shake hands with every man present but not with women. If a man knows a woman well enough to touch her at all, he knows her well enough to kiss her [e.g. blood relatives]. The respectful greeting between subjects and rulers is a kiss on the nose.

Submit a Comment on this Article