Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Business & the Workplace
Most Emiratis work in the public sector, as the short hours, good pay, benefits and early
pensions are hard for people to refuse. The UAE government is actively pursuing a policy
of 'Emiratisation', which involves encouraging Emiratis to work in the private sector, and
encouraging employers to hire them. In the long term, the government hopes to be much
less dependent on financing an inflated public sector and on relying on an imported labour
force, which account for about 80% of the population. While professional expats hail
mostly from Western countries, especially the UK, blue-collar and service workers come
mostly from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and the Philippines and, increas-
ingly, from Africa as well.
One aspect of Emirati business society that hasn't changed in centuries is the notion of
wasta (clout and influence). Basically, if you have the right networks (which generally
means being born into one of the major families) you can get things done - whether it be
clinching a massive business deal with the government or getting the best parking place at
work.
THE UAE DEMYSTIFIED
You can't buy alcohol? Partially true. When arriving by air, you can, as a non-Muslim visitor over 18, buy cer-
tain quantities of booze in the airport duty-free shop. With the exception of 'dry' Sharjah, where alcohol and even
sheesha smoking (using a waterpipe) is banned, you can also purchase alcohol in licensed bars and clubs that are
generally attached to four- and five-star hotels for on-site consumption. Expat residents can acquire an alcohol li-
cence, which entitles them to a fixed monthly limit of alcohol available from alcohol stores. The only store where
you can officially buy alcohol without a licence is at the Barracuda Beach Resort in Umm Al Quwain. There are
also a couple of unlicensed (ie illegal) hole-in-walls, which we can't really tell you much about…
There's no pork? Pork is available for non-Muslims in a special room at some supermarkets (such as Spinneys
and Carrefour). In many hotel restaurants, pork is a menu item and is usually clearly labelled as such. However
the 'beef bacon' and 'turkey ham' that are commonly available are nothing more than a reminder of how tasty the
real thing is…unless you're a vegetarian, of course.
Do women have to 'cover up'? All locals ask is that people dress respectfully, with clothes that are not too re-
vealing - especially outside of Dubai (Sharjah in particular). Emiratis will judge you on how you dress: men in
shorts and women in tube tops will not earn much respect.
Homosexuals are banned? Simply being homosexual is not illegal as such, but homosexual acts are - as is any
sex outside marriage.
What about those guys holding hands? Simply a sign of friendship. It's OK for married couples to hold hands
as well, but serious public displays of affection by couples (married or not) are frowned upon, and fines and jail
terms can result. Really.
If you're HIV-positive you'll be kicked out? Yes. As a worker coming to live in Dubai you will be tested for
HIV as well as other things such as diabetes. If you are proven to be HIV-positive, you'll be deported.
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