United Arab Emirates - Intercultural Management

Intercultural Management
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United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The History
The states that comprise the UAE were formerly known as the Trucial States, Trucial Coast, or Trucial Oman. The term trucial refers to the fact that the sheikhs ruling the seven constituent states were bound by truces concluded with Great Britain in 1820 and by an agreement made in 1892 accepting British protection. Before British intervention, the area was notorious for its pirates and was called the Pirate Coast.
After World War II the British granted internal autonomy to the sheikhdoms. Discussion of federation began in 1968 when Britain announced its intended withdrawal from the Persian Gulf area by 1971.

The History
Originally Bahrain and Qatar were to be part of the federation, but after three years of negotiations they chose to be independent. Ras al-Khaimah at first opted for independence but reversed its decision in 1972. After the 1973 rise in oil prices, the UAE was transformed from an impoverished region with many nomads to a sophisticated state with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world and a broad social welfare system. In 1981 the UAE joined the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The fall of the shah of Iran in 1979, the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, and the Iran-Iraq War threatened the stability of the UAE in the 1980s.

UAE - The History
In 1990 , Iraq accused the UAE and Kuwait of overproduction of oil. The UAE participated with international coalition forces against Iraq during the Persian Gulf War (1991). Since the Gulf War the UAE has expanded its international contacts and diplomatic relations. A dispute erupted with Saudi Arabia in 1999 over relations with Iran, a traditional enemy; while Saudi Arabia appeared willing to seek improved ties, the emirates still regarded Iran as a foe. Sheikh Zaid ibn Sultan al-Nahayan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, was president of the UAE from the founding of the federation until his death in 2004, when his son and heir, Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zaid Al Nahayan, was elected to succeeded him.
Map of Kuwait

UAE - The Country
National name: Al-Imarat al-'Arabiyah al-Muttahidah
Total area: 32,278 sq mi (83,600 sq km)
Population (2007 est.): 2,642,566 (growth rate: 1.5%); birth rate: 19.2/1000; infant mortality rate: 13.7/1000; life expectancy: 75.7; density per sq mi: 82
Largest city: Dubai, 1,511,700 (metro. area), 906,100 (city proper)
Monetary unit: U.A.E. dirham
1 Dirham

UAE - The Country
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Ethnicity/race: Emiri 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
Religions: Islam 96% (Sunni 80%, Shiite 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

UAE - The Government
Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah
Capital: Abu Dhabi
National Day: Independence Day (from UK), 2 December (1971)
President: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (since November 3rd 2004)
Vice-President & Prime Minister: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (5 January 2006)
Political System: A federation with specific areas of authority constitutionally assigned to the UAE Federal Government and other powers reserved for member emirates
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahvan

UAE - The Economy
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $192.6 billion; per capita $37,300
Real growth rate: 7.4%
Inflation: 11%
Unemployment: 2.4% (2001)
Arable land: 1%
Agriculture: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Labor force: 3.065 million; note: 73.9% of the population in the 15–64 age group is nonnational; services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7% (2000 est.)

UAE - The Economy
Industries: petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Exports: $103.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Imports: $60.15 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Major trading partners: Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, China, Germany, UK, France, U.S. (2004)
Dubai

UAE - Transportation
Highways: total: 4,835 km; paved: 1,088 km; unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.). Principal road is highway from Ash Sham via all main coastal cities to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Ports and harbors: UAE has several ports, of which largest is Mina Jabal Ali near city of Dubai. Other ports:'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn.
Airports: 41, international airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Fujayrah, Ras al Khaymah, and Sharjah (2002).
Security control workers fueling oil tanker in port of Dubai

UAE - Communications
Telecommunication: International telecommunications excellent via satellites, radio relay, and telephone. All populated areas receive radio and television transmissions.
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 915,223 (1998); mobile cellular: 1 million (1999).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998).
Radios: 820,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 15 (1997).
Televisions: 310,000 (1997).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000).
Internet users: 900,000 (2002).
Modern communication

UAE - The Status of Women
The role of women in UAE society has gradually expanded since the discovery of oil. Before 1960 there were few opportunities for them outside the realm of home and family. The president, Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan Al Nuhayyan, has acknowledged the validity of women participating in the work force as well as in the home. The president's wife, Shaykha Fatima, heads the Women's Federation and promotes training, education, and the advancement of the status of women. In the early 1990s, there were five women's societies promoting various issues of importance to women, including literacy and health.

UAE - The Status of Women
Women constituted 6.2 percent of the work force in 1988. A study by the Administrative Development Institute found that a majority of female workers who are UAE citizens work under the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. In 1988 they accounted for 82 percent of UAE national employees in these ministries. Since the late 1980s, women graduates have outnumbered men by a ratio of two to one at United Arab Emirates University.
University of Sharjah, main buidling

Abu Dhabi - Geography Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates which make up the UAE, occupying almost 87% of the country’s total area. Sabkha (salt flats) line much of Abu Dhabi’s coastline, but inland the emirate is comprised of sand and gravel desert. To the south, the dunes of the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter), the largest sand sea in the world, rise from the flats and stretch for hundreds of miles across Saudi Arabia. Mountainous terrain in the east of the territory runs along the Oman border. Rub al-Khali

Abu Dhabi - Geography Jebel Hafeet , which towers over the city of al-Ain, rises to an impressive 1180 metres above sea level, while Abu Dhabi’s coastline is peppered with more than 200 islands. The climate is very dry, with minimal rainfall during winter months. For much of the year, the temperature is pleasant, although in summer temperatures reach the high 40s (C) with a paralysing 90% humidity, particularly on the coast. The city of Abu Dhabi, which sits on an island in the Gulf, is the capital of both the emirate and the UAE. The emirate’s other principal city is al-Ain, which has sprung up around seven oases on the Oman border and is also particularly dear to the ruling Al Nahyan family. Jebel Hafeet, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - Population
Population in the Abu Dhabi emirate, inclusive of Al Ain, the Western region and the Islands, stood at 1,463,491 as of end 2006, comprising one third of UAE’s total population. Population grew by a compounded average of 4.57% annually between 2001 and 2006, and a similar growth is expected until 2010, when the emirate’s population is forecasted to reach over 1.75 million.
Presently urban residents comprise 68.5% of Abu Dhabi’s total population, and annual growth in the number of urban dwellers from 2001 and 2006 – at 4.93% - has been slightly higher than the emirate’s average.
Arabian Family

Abu Dhabi – The Economy
Abu Dhabi’s gross domestic product (GDP) nearly touched $100 billion in 2006, which marked a whopping 21.7% rise at current prices over the previous year. Given its population of merely 1.463 million, wealthy becomes an understatement in describing the emirate. A per-capita GDP exceeding $68,000 casts Abu Dhabi among the world’s wealthiest countries or city states such as Luxembourg, Ireland and United States.
This figure is expected to further increase within the region of $91,000 in four year’s time if oil prices continue to perform in favour of oil-exporting countries like UAE, and if the population growth stays within the 4% to 5% growth range per annum.

Dubai (Dubayy) – The City
Dubai is unusual in that the majority of its population of 1.37 million is comprised of expatriates. The vast majority are low income workers from the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines, although there are a significant number of professionals from Europe and Australasia. 78% are male and 22% female. Population growth is currently around 6% and increasing, making the city one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world.
Dubai is an important tourist destination and its port (JebeL Ali) operates at the centre of the exporting trade in the Middle East. With the introduction of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in 2004, it has allowed Dubai to develop as a global hub for service industries such as IT and finance. Dubai

Dubai - Geography
Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf, in the northeast of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is the second largest emirate with an urban area of 3885 sq km and the city is roughly 35 sq km. However it will expand to twice that size with the addition of the man-made islands; the Waterfront, the three Palms, the World, the Universe, Dubailand, as well as the construction in the desert.
One of the most fascinating geographical aspects of Dubai, is its Creek, which divides the city into two regions. Dubai Creek is made up of a natural 9.5 mile inlet in the Persian Gulf, around which the city’s trade developed. North of the Creek is called Deira, and Bur Dubai refers to the south where it joins the tourist and residential developments of Jumeirah along the coast.
Dubai Creekside Park Sunset

Dubai – The Economy
Dubai is the second wealthiest emirate in the UAE, after Abu Dhabi which is the capital state. Most tourists believe Dubai’s revenues came primarily from oil but in fact it only used a moderate amount of oil reserves to generate the infrastructure for trade, manufacturing and tourism, in order to build up its economy.
About 95% of Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product is not oil-based. It is expected that by 2010, oil will account for less than one percent of Dubai’s GDP and tourism to produce 20% of the GDP. These figures explain why Dubai has had to become a more dynamic and diversified economy in order to survive the decay of fossil fuels.
Dubai Airport

Dubai - Clothing and Jewellery
The Arab national dress worn in Dubai is well adapted to the high temperatures of the region. The white ankle-length, loose-fitting garment worn by men is known as the Kandoura or Dishdasha, while the women’s black long-sleeved full-length robe is called an abayah. Headcoverings, are used by both sexes for protection from sand and the midday sun. Like women everywhere, the women of Dubai too have a fondness for jewelry and have customarily adorned themselves with gold and silver necklaces, forehead decorations, earrings, bracelets, anklets and rings for fingers, noses and even toes. Henna- a reddish dye obtained from powdered leaves-is widely used to stain the palms and soles of the feet for weddings and other special occasions.
Arab women shopping for jewellery

Dubai – Traditional Culture and Lifestyle
Dubai’s culture is rooted in Islam, providing a strength and inspiration that touches all aspects of everyday life. Virtually every neighborhood has its own mosque, where the faithful congregate for prayer five times every day. One of the largest and most beautiful -Jumeirah Mosque- is a spectacular example of modern Islamic architecture. Built of stone in medieval Fatimid style, the mosque is particularly attractive at night when subtle lighting throws its artistry into sharp relief. Ramadan, which commemorates the revelation of the Holy Quran, is the holy month of fasting when Muslims abstain from all food and drink from dawn to dusk. Courtesy and hospitality, are among the most highly prized of virtues in the Arab world, and visitors will be charmed by the warmth and friendliness of the people.
Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai

United Arab Emirates
Courtesy and hospitality, are among the most highly prized of virtues in the Arab world, and visitors will be charmed by the warmth and friendliness of the people.
Camel in the desert

References
http://www.uaeinteract.com/
http://www.emirates.org/index.html
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/aetoc.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ae.html#Econ
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108074.html
http://www.dubai.ae/en.portal?topic,hm_aboutdxb,0,&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=misc
http://www.dubaitourism.ae/
http://www.dubai.com/v/cityinfo/
http://www.manager-magazin.de/koepfe/business-knigge/0,2828,k-7441,00.html
http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/business.mice/why.abudhabi/economy.aspx
http://www.who.int/countries/are/en/

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United Arab Emirates - Intercultural Management

by Gabriela Brandenberg

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