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 on the center’s Open Doors, Open Minds program, saying that “We are very happy to step forward towards cultural understanding.” She described the center’s overall goal as “building bridges of communication in the business community and giving expatriates the opportunity to learn about cultural differences.”
SMCCU offers a variety of services including cultural lunches, spoken Arabic classes, corporate training and guided tours through the Bastakiya district. The center also gives tours of the Jumeirah Mosque which was the first to open its doors to non-Muslims.
Regarding the UAE business environment, Madgwick pointed out that, “Traditionally, business here takes place in the majlis — a place in the home for meeting and discussing work matters over coffee.” She mentioned that majlis gatherings do not often include females. “A lot of business between locals and expatriates happens in an office setting, yet there are cultural differences in manners and etiquette that Western expatriates find confusing,” Madgwick added.
