UAE-Hofstede Insights and Culture
Akshara Saji
Ishan Bhandari
Saurav Prasad
● The UAE is an elective monarchy formed from a
federation of seven emirates, consisting of Abu Dhabi
(which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah,
Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.
About UAE
● Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official
language.
● Currency used in the country is UAE dirham (AED) (1
Dirham = $ 0.27 United States).
● The GDP of the UAE is US$421 billion (AED 1.5 trillion)
in 2020.
● The UAE is the third-richest country in the world.
● Approximately 10 million people live in the country.
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current President of UAE
Power Distance
Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions
and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
UAE gets a high score 90 in this dimension, which implies that people accept a
hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification.
For example, respecting authority is very important in UAE and they do it without raising
questions.
Respect for the elders and authority should not be overlooked.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a
society maintains among its members.
In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct
family only.
In Collectivist societies people belong to ‘in groups’ that take care of them in exchange for
loyalty.
UAE scores 25 in this dimension, which means it’s more of a collectivist [Link] is
of paramount importance in such societies.
This is manifested in fostering strong relationships with a close long-term commitment for
fellow members of their group, and high preferences for a tightly knit framework and
strong group cohesion.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition,
achievement and success.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others
and quality of life.
Arab Emirates scores 50 on this dimension, which means it’s neither Feminine nor Masculine.
AHMED ABIDA
Uncertainty Avoidance
Arab Emirates scores 80 on this dimension, which implies that they generally wish to
avoid [Link] is reflected in rigid codes of behavior and beliefs, and intolerance of
new ideas and behaviors.
People in UAE have strong traditions and rituals and tend toward formal, bureaucratic
structures and rules.
Long Term Orientation
Societies having low score in LTO are known as Normative societies. For example, they
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal change with
suspicion.
Those with a culture which scores high, on the other hand, take a more pragmatic
approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for
the future.
Democratic Delegative
34 32
Autocratic
29
Indulgences
This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and
impulses, based on the way they were raised.
Relatively weak control is called “Indulgence” and relatively strong control is called
“Restraint”.
Currently no score is available for UAE. This means that it is uncertain whether the U.A.E
is an indulgent or restrained society.
Business and Cultural Etiquettes in UAE
Having the right communication skills is key to good business etiquette in the UAE. Because of its
more conservative culture, communication is more formal here. For example, you should address
people as “Mr” or “Ms” when you first meet them. While men can exchange a light handshake,
when meeting with women, you should always wait for them to offer their hand. Furthermore, you
should always greet the oldest person first, and work down through seniority.
Most locals wear traditional clothing in business situations. While expats should not adopt the
local dress, they should wear formal attire that is modest and not revealing. Men should choose
suits and dress shoes. Meanwhile, women should pay close attention to their outfits.
Business and Cultural Etiquettes in UAE
The UAE workday runs eight-hours, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Additionally, the workweek runs from Sunday to
Thursday. Conversely, during the holy month of Ramadan, most people only work six hours a day. During
Ramadan, Emiratis do not eat, smoke or drink during daylight hours. Although timekeeping isn’t a priority,
Emirates respect punctuality.
The UAE also has a good work-life balance. For example, most employees get 30 days of annual leave in
addition to public holidays. They can also get up to 90 days of sick leave. Women also get 45 days of
maternity leave at full pay.
Beware of how you sit - especially when crossing one leg over the other. Revealing the underside of your
foot to someone is viewed as a rude and disrespectful gesture.
Finger-pointing is considered rude in certain situations in Western culture, but in the UAE, it is something
that should always be avoided.
Drinking alcohol should only occur in licensed spaces or in the privacy of your own home.
