Kevin Butler gave a presentation on business etiquette in Abu Dhabi. Some key points included: 1) Status and titles are important in the Middle East and should be used when addressing others. 2) Building personal relationships and trust is essential to business dealings, which revolve around family ties and favors. 3) Initial meetings focus on getting to know the other person and establishing compatibility and trust.

1. Kevin Butler

3. • Status is important and must be recognized by using the
correct title when addressing someone. It is customary to
use Sheikh (chief) (or Sheikha for a woman), Sayed
(Mr.), Sayeda (Mrs.), etc. Arabs generally address people
by their first names, so John Smith will be addressed as
Mr. John.

4. • In the Middle East, doing business revolves much more around personal
relationships, family ties, trust and honor. It is therefore important that business
relationships be built on mutual friendship and trust. As a consequence of this, if you
have friends or contacts in the right places, rules may be bent or things may be done
more quickly. The system works on the basis that favors are reciprocated and never
forgotten.
• Initial meetings are all about relationship-building – building trust and establishing
compatibility. One should engage in conversation and try to get to know the person
with whom one is doing business.
• Age, money, and family connections are all key determining factors of a person’s
status. Who you are is usually more important than what you have achieved. It is
therefore not uncommon to find many members of one family working for the same
company.

5. • Men should avoid touching and prolonged eye contact with Muslim women.
• It is considered improper to inquire about a man’s wife or daughter. It is polite to ask
about family or health, but never specifically about any female members. Family life
that involves female members is kept extremely private.
• The modesty of one’s personal attire is important in the Middle East. Men and women
should wear very non-revealing clothes (covering shoulders, arms and legs, and
closed-toe shoes) to avoid offending locals.
• When visiting religious sites, women must also cover their hair.
• In some circumstances shoes should be removed, such as at the entrance to religious
sites.

7. 香港

8. • Shake hands with everyone -- men, women and children
-- upon meeting and leaving. Note that Hong Kong
Chinese handshakes may be less firm than a Western
handshake.
• Higher-ranking persons are introduced before those of
lower rank. An older person comes before a younger
person, and a woman before a man. Family members are
greeted in order of age, oldest first and youngest last.
• It is polite to inquire about a person's health or activities
upon greeting.

9. • Hong Kong Chinese may stand close when
talking, however, they are reserved and uncomfortable with
body contact. Do not hug, kiss or pat people on the back.
• Winking at someone is considered a very rude gesture.
• Request your bill by making a writing motion with your hand.
• To beckon someone, extend your arm, palm down, and make
a scratching motion with your fingers.
• Never point with your index finger. This is used only for
animals. Point with your hand open.

10. • Hong Kong residents are very style-conscious and dress
well. Modesty and cleanliness are very important.
• All types of clothing are worn in Hong Kong.
However, taste and fashion look more toward Japan than
Britain or the United States. Clothing should be light for
summer with sweaters and jackets for winter.
• For business, men should wear conservative and
lightweight Western-style suits and ties. Women should
wear conservative dresses, suits or skirts and blouses.
• Wear a good watch. It will be noticed.

11. “你好，我的名字是凱文·巴特
勒。你好你在我的演講，謝謝
您的光臨。今天要和你談的商
業習俗在阿布扎比。
翻譯

12. Deutschland

13. • The German government takes environmental issues in the country
extremely seriously and the inclusion of the Green party in the ruling
coalition over the past few years has greatly influenced Germany’s
energy and environmental policy objectives. From phasing out nuclear
power to promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, Germany
has become a pioneer within the EU in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and in making alternative fuel sources viable. As a
result, Germany has become the world leader in wind energy.
• Despite this however, emissions from coal-burning utilities and
industries contribute to air pollution and acid rain in Germany, and are
damaging the country’s forests. Pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw
sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in Eastern Germany, along
with hazardous waste disposal remain environmental problems for
Germany.
• In 2000, the government established a mechanism for ending the use of
nuclear power over the next 15 years. The government is also working
to meet the EU’s commitment to the preservation of nature.

14. • Germans are most comfortable when they can organise and
compartmentalise their world into controllable units.
Time, therefore, is managed carefully, and
calendars, schedules and agendas must be respected. Trains
arrive and leave on time to the minute, projects are carefully
scheduled, and organisation charts are meticulously detailed.
• Do not turn up late for an appointment or when meeting
people. Germans are extremely punctual, and even a few
minutes delay can offend. If you are going to be even slightly
late, call ahead and explain your situation. Be five to 10
minutes early for important

15. • Germans take great pride in dressing well, regardless of where they are
going or what position they hold. Appearance and presentation is very
important to Germans, particularly with regard to business.
• Even when dressed informally, they are neat and conservative; their
clothes are never ostentatious. The following points give an insight into
the correct dress code suitable for conducting business in Germany:
• Being well and correctly dressed is very important. Casual or sloppy
attire is frowned upon.
• Business dress in Germany is understated, formal and conservative
• Businessmen should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits;
solid, conservative ties, and white shirts.
• Women also dress conservatively, in dark suits and white blouses or
conservative dresses. This form of dress is observed even in
comparatively warm weather. Do not remove your jacket or tie before
your German colleague does so.

16. • "Hallo, mein Name ist Kevin
Butler. Hallo Ihr in meiner
Rede, ich danke Ihnen für
Ihren Besuch, um Sie über
die
Geschäftsgepflogenheiten
in Abu Dhabi sprechen.
Übersetzung