United Arab Emirates - Ethics, Equity & Social Justice - Curtin ...

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THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1. INTRODUCTION The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven states situated along the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The states, or Emirates, are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm-al-Qaiwain. Abu Dhabi is in the largest Emirate and Dubai is the business centre. Despite their proximity, there may be differences in cultural and business practices between the different states. Population and Ethnicity The United Arab Emirates has a population of approximately 2,407,460 including 1,576,472 expatriates who live and work in the UAE (July 2001 est.). The ethnic mix is comprises Emirati 19 per cent, other Arab and Iranian 23 per cent, South Asian 50 per cent, and other expatriates (includes Europeans and East Asians) 8 per cent. Less than 20 per cent of the population are UAE citizens. The resulting local labour shortages, in conjunction with relatively high wages and the absence of income tax have encouraged a large influx of male expatriate workers to the UAE. Language Arabic is the official language. English, Farsi (Persian), Urdu and Hindi are also spoken. English is used widely in business and the public sector. Religion Islam is the official religion. Ninety-six per cent of the population are Muslim, with the remaining four per cent Christian, Hindu and other. As with all of the Arab states, Islam has a profound influence on most aspects of life in the UAE. The Emerati are tolerant of other religions and non-Muslims are free to practice their own beliefs. Currency United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED). (A$1 = 2.779 AED) Time WST – minus four hours. Physical Features and Climate The United Arab Emirates comprises harsh geographical conditions with inland deserts, oases and humid salt flats along the coastal belt. Less than 0.2 per cent of the surface area is considered arable land. Features of the desert climate are irregular rainfall and extremely hot summer temperatures that drop sharply at night. Sand storms occur in the winter and spring. Major Cities Capital city: Abu Dhabi. Each of the Emirates is named after its principal city. Political and Legal System Each Emirate is ruled by its hereditary Sovereign. The Emirate rulers belong to the Supreme Council of Rulers, which governs the UAE and elects the President, who serves as the Head of State. The current President is Sultan bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan (the ruler of Abu Dhabi) and the Prime Minister is Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum (ruler of Dubai).
There are no political parties or elections. The UAE’s legal system is based on Islamic Shari’a law and some secular codes. In practice, laws are interpreted differently by the local courts in each Emirate. For example, Abu Dhabi has a Ruler’s Court presided by a professional judge, whereas the court in Dubai is run by a qadi (Islamic legal expert). The rulers in other Emirates deal with legal issues personally. Economy The UAE’s strong economy is due to its oil and gas reserves, as well as its strategic location at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf. It enjoys one of the world’s highest per capita incomes. The Government has used much of its wealth to improve the living conditions and quality of life within the country. This includes the development of housing, roads, schools and hospitals. The UAE relies on imports of most items. The Government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private-sector involvement. History The earliest evidence of human habitation in the region dates back to 3000 BC. In the Nineteenth Century the area was known as the Trucial States, and was under British colonial rule. Great Britain retained a strong hold on the region until 1968 when it announced a withdrawal from its commitments in the Gulf. As a result, neighbouring Emirates agreed to create a federation, which was officially recognised as a nation in 1971. 2. COMMUNICATION General Attitudes Arabs are generally known for their informal, relaxed demeanour, good manners and consideration of others. Impatience is regarded as a sign of poor manners and a raised voice or displays of annoyance or agitation will not earn respect in business or social interactions. The quality of sabur, which means both ‘patience’ and ‘steadfastness in adversity’, is much admired. In business situations, it may take some time before the topic of conversation is directed to your main reason for meeting, but this process should not be hurried. Similarly, conversations should be allowed to end gradually and congenially. Learning a few common words of Arabic, particularly greetings and farewells, will be appreciated. Care should be taken if you choose to use Australian colloquialisms as they may be difficult to understand, and some will be offensive due to their explicit nature. Names and Greetings The appropriate form of greeting will depend upon the relationship between those meeting. Upon meeting it is usual to shake, or clasp, the right hand of the other person lightly if they are of the same sex. A light kiss on both cheeks will be added for those who are well acquainted or belong to the same family or tribe. However, men will not usually touch a woman in greeting. A common phrase of greeting is: Greeting Response Assalaam alikum Wa alikum assalaam (May peace be upon you) (And peace be upon you). Kaif halak? Bikhair al-hamdu lillah (How are you?) (Good, thanks be to God)
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United Arab Emirates - Ethics, Equity & Social Justice - Curtin ...

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