United Arab Emirates

WORK CULTURE IN UAE WORK WEEK & HOURS • Official work week: Monday to Friday (40–48 hrs/week) • Some retail/hospitality sectors work 6 days • Government entities: 7:30AM–3:30PM • Private sector: typically 9AM–6PM RAMADAN During the Holy Month of Ramadan (dates vary annually): • Working hours are reduced by 2 hours per day • Non-Muslims must not eat, drink, or smoke in public during fasting hours • Business pace slows down; be patient • Eid Al Fitr: 3-day public holiday • Eid Al Adha: 3-4 day public holiday DRESS CODE • Offices: Smart casual to formal; some require suits • Public spaces: Modest dress — shoulders covered, no short shorts • Malls and restaurants are relaxed for tourists/expats • Beaches: Normal swimwear is fine at beach/hotel areas WORKPLACE NORMS • Hierarchy is respected — address seniors as 'Sir' or by title • Punctuality is important, especially for meetings • Business cards are exchanged with both hands • Friday prayers (12:30–2PM) — Muslim colleagues will be away • Build relationships — deals happen through trust and connections • Emiratis prefer face-to-face meetings over emails DIVERSITY UAE workplaces are among the most diverse in the world. You will work with colleagues from 50+ nationalities. This is a major strength of working in UAE — your exposure and network grows tremendously.