Land of opportunities

DUBAI

History
 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family,  settled at the mouth of the creek (the natural harbour) in 1833.  Dubai soon became a center for the fishing, pearling and sea trade.  The souk on the Deira side of the creek was the largest on the coast with 350 shops.  By the 1930s Dubai's population was nearly 20,000, a quarter of whom were expatriates.

History
y UAE is a constitutional federation of seven emirates:

Abu Dhabi (capital and the largest city of the federation) Dubai Sharjah Ajman Umm al- Qaiwain Ras-al- Khaimah Fujairah y The federation was formally established on 2nd December, 1971

General information

y Population : Approximately 1,835,376 y Religions : Muslims, Christians, Others. y Languages : Arabic, Urdu, Persian,

English, Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Blotchy. y Literacy : 77.9%. y Size : 4,114 km2 y Government: Sheikh y Currency: Dirham

Culture In Dubai


The UAE culture mainly revolves around the religion of Islam and traditional Arab, and Bedouin culture. In contrast, the city of Dubai is a highly cosmopolitan society with a diverse and vibrant culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle are very prominent as well. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country. Major holidays in Dubai include Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and National Day (2 December ), which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates.

Food


Arab food is very popular and is available everywhere in the city, from the small shawarma diners in Deira and Al Karama to the restaurants in Dubai's hotels. Fast food, South Asian, and Chinese cuisines are also very popular and are widely available. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is available in bars and restaurants within hotels. Dubai is known for its nightlife. Clubs and bars are found mostly in hotels due to the liquor laws.

Dress and etiquette


The Islamic dress code is not compulsory, unlike in neighboring Saudi Arabia. Most Emirati males prefer to wear a kandura, an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton, and most Emirati women wear an abaya, a black overgarment covering most parts of the body.

This attire is particularly well-suited for the UAE's hot and dry climate. Western-style clothing is, however, dominant because of the large expatriate population, and this practice is beginning to grow in popularity among Emiratis. Etiquette is an important aspect of UAE culture and tradition. Recently, many expatriates have disregarded the law and been arrested for indecent clothing, or lack thereof, at beaches.

Body Language
y Hand on Heart - While this is usually just used as a phrase in the

West, the Arabs actually place their hands on their heart to show genuine respect and humility.
y The Chin Scratch - Scratching or holding of a chin or beard is an

indication that someone is thinking

y The hand hold - Holding hands even for a long period after shaking

hands is common place and a sign of

friendship

The hug - If a hug is initiated by an Arab, then it is a sign that you are considered a trustworthy friend.
y Conversational staring - If an Arab stares you in the eye as you speak,

it means that he is giving you his full attention.

Arabic Phrases
y Assalaam Alaikum Peace be upon you. y Wa Alaikum assalaam -And peace be upon you y Marhabbah hello. y Marhabbteen hello. y Sabah al

khair good morning. Sabah al nor - good morning khair good afternoon/evening. Masah al noor

y Masah al

y Shukran (jazeelan) -thank you (very much) y Aafwaan -

you're welcome

Gifts
 In order to encourage people are to convey thanks corporate

people of Dubai offer gifts such as: Perfumes & Cosmetics Jewelry Watches Hand Bags & Leather Products

Shopping
y Gold y Spices y Fabric s & Textiles y Carpets y Traditional goods y Electronics goods y Watches y Designer goods y Perfumes

LOCATION OF DUBAI

 Located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe.  Dubai lies along the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the South West corner of the Arabian Gulf.

ECONOMY
 GDP- 4.6%.  Oil and natural gas currently account for around 6% of the emirate's revenues.  Largest contributors to Dubai's economy.
 Real state and Construction (22.6%)  Trade (16%)  Financial services (11%)

 28th among the worlds best financial cites.  Dubai's top re-exporting destinations include:
 Iran (US$ 790 million)  India (US$ 204 million)  Saudi Arabia (US$ 194 million)

 The emirate's top import sources are

 Japan (US$ 1.5 billion)  China (US$ 1.4 billion)  United States (US$ 1.4 billion)

Business opportunities
y Ever since Dubai was flooded by the increase of population during the

early days of oil, housing has been difficult to obtain. That is when the novel idea of building homes on artificial islands out in the middle of the water was developed. One of the first developments was Jumeirah Palm Island. Then came "The World", a series of man-made islands with homes that only the mega-rich could ever hope to afford Ownership of an island home at "The World" is considered just as desirable as a home in Aspen, Monaco, and other favorite hangouts of the Rich and Famous. The main reason for the construction boom in Dubai is its drive to diversify the economy. The Dubai government does not want to depend on its oil reserves which are largely believed to become exhausted by 2010. Accordingly Dubai City has diversified its economy to attract revenues in the form of expanding commercial and corporate activity.

Dubai has been and continues to be a popular destination among both tourists and expat workers for many reasons. Though this United Arab Emirates territory derives much of its income from oil, its economy is also largely helped by earnings from various other industries. In Addition to this Dubai is famous in other sectors like Hotels Constructions IT Health Care Banking & Finance Import and export Night clubs Franchise business

Why Dubai?
y No-Tax policy. y Free Zones for businesses. y Tourist destination y International business centre y Leading regional trading hub in the Middle East y Regional office location y Dubai's location makes it unique in its

international connectivity and access. y Unemployment rate is 4.2%

y Easy access to regional market y Consistently strong economic outlook y Best economic environment y Well connected location y Thriving tourist destination y Safe and stable base for business y There are no stringent foreign exchange rules, quotas or conditions. The import duties are low, and many products are exempt from taxation. y The transportation facilities from the port to warehouses are unmatched in terms of efficiency and operations. So it is easy to transport and store goods in less time thus increasing profit margins.

y Aside from the economic advantages of using Dubai as a business base, international businessmen can be assured that the city offers a superb quality of life for themselves and their families. y Dubai is tolerant, welcoming and virtually crime-free. y The lifestyle is international, with luxury residential and office accommodation, good educational, health and shopping facilities. y Sporting and leisure interests are well catered for and Dubai's top class international hotels offer a wide range of dining, entertainment and nightlife.

Other Important Things To Be know

Business Customs
 The UAE is a highly cosmopolitan well-educated society, familiar with

the methods and means of doing business worldwide. However, there are a few points that people new to the Arabian business environment should keep in mind.  Here, more than anywhere else, business is conducted on the basis of personal relationships and mutual trust. It is vitally important to build on these.  Good manners and courtesy are prized attributes. Nevertheless, although you should always arrive on time for a meeting, punctuality is not considered a virtue and you may be kept waiting before or during your meeting. Do not be impatient.  An Arab businessman s word is his bond and you are also expected to perform accordingly, even if the agreement is a verbal one. This can be disconcerting if you come from a business environment where verbal agreements are not binding.

 Business Hours : The official weekend is on Friday and Saturday.

Some smaller private companies only close on Friday. Government offices open at 7.30 a.m. and close at 3.00 p.m. Private offices tend to keep longer hours, many coming back to work in the evening after an extended mid-day break, whilst others are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During Ramjaan most work is accomplished in the early hours of the morning or much later in the evening after the day s fast is broken (at sunset).
 Women & Business : Professional women are commonplace in the

UAE and are generally treated seriously, particularly if the woman acts in a confident and self-assured manner. It is advised to dress conservatively and here again good grooming is essential you will find that all business people, male and female, are impeccably dressed. Patience and good humor will carry you through most situations.

THANK YOU