Middle Eastern culture has raised much curiosity among Western expatriates traveling to the region. Each year, the UAE receives 1.1 million British tourists. Additionally, 150,000 British comprise a large and influential expatriate community in Dubai. The British Business Group (BBG) and the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), well aware of Dubai’s place as the Middle East’s major cosmopolitan commerce destination, have a special interest in helping Western expatriates harmoniously merge the two worlds. SMCCU and BBG coordinate cultural events and networking activities to facilitate the cross-cultural interaction necessary to forge strong business relationships. During Ramadan, Iftar dinners prove an ideal opportunity for those of diverse backgrounds to reach across the East and West cultural divide. The dedication of both the BBG and SMCCU to the promotion of active dialogue between different cultures contributes to Dubai’s international reputation as a foreigner-friendly city. Sharifa Madgwick, general manager of SMCCU, commented
