Dining manners are an important part of business etiquette as most of the deals, interviews and meeting are cracked over the dinner table. Whether dinner is at an elegant restaurant or at a formal corporate dining hall, it does not matter, as long as table manners are meticulously followed. The following tips will certainly mark the boundaries of Dining Etiquette:

GFDL/ KillerChihuahua

Do’s

1.    Arrive on time. If you are going to be late, make sure to inform your client or business partner.
2.    Dress conservatively.
3.    After sitting down, quietly unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. Fold it in half and place the folded half towards your waist.
4.    Before starting with the dinner, wait for all your client or business partners to arrive
5.    Turn off cell phones and pagers while dining.
6.    Maintain proper upright posture while dining.
7.    Keep elbows off the table.
8.    If confused about ordering the meal, let the host decide.
9.    Order simple menu items eaten with a knife and fork, chopsticks, or other utensils. Avoid finger foods.
10.    Start your meal after everyone starts his or hers.
11.    Use both knife and fork together to cut your food.
12.    Taste your meal before making any additions.
13.    Eat in small bites and try to finish your dinner at the same time as everyone else.
14.    Stir your soup gently from the farthest edge, instead of blowing it. Drink soup from the edge of the spoon and not putting the whole spoon in your mouth.
15.    If bread is in the shape of a loaf, tear it with hands and not a knife.
16.    If you have something in your mouth that you cannot swallow, inconspicuously remove it with your fork.
17.    If you want to bring a problem to the waiter’s attention, do it discreetly.
18.    After finishing your meal, place napkin to the left of the plate. The knife and fork should be placed in the centre of the plate in the five a clock position. The waiter will know that you have finished with your meal.
19.    Decide beforehand how the bill is going to be paid
20.    Tip 15% for moderate service and 20% for excellent service. Tip charges may differ according to location and country.

Public Domian/USFG

Don’ts

1.    Do not hurry to know the arrival status of your clients. Wait at least 15 minutes before calling up.
2.    Do not put bags, briefcases, and other accessories on the table.
3.    Do not change the order of dining utensils placed on the table.
4.    Do not reshuffle the order of dining utensils according to your handedness.
5.    Do not order expensive menu items or alcohol at business meals.
6.    Do not apply make up at the table.
7.    Do not bite on ice or talk when mouth is full.
8.    Do not slurp soups or drinks or make noises while chewing food.

The competition out there is challenging and if you want to pocket the next business deal, one of the few tips you could follow are adhering to above dining etiquettes.

GFDL/Tobias Walter

While carrying out business in any foreign workplace, it is necessary that certain norms relating to etiquettes followed by that country should be embedded within us. Known officially as ‘Business etiquettes’ these norms follow different rules in each country. Working Hours:  Dubai is one of the seven emirates in the UAE located in the Mid East region. Topically it is known to face harsh summers with temperatures rising to boiling points. Due to this taking a break between working hours is a common practice in all Dubai offices. A typical working week in Dubai proceeds from Saturday to Wednesday with the working day starting at 8:00 pm till 1:00 pm. Afternoon hours from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm are siesta times after which business recommences at 5:00 pm and runs till 7:00 pm in the evening. During Ramadan working days are two hours shorter. Formal Dress Code: Although the most liberal of all emirates, Dubai still follows a silent and assumed dress code that adheres to mild conservatism. Business suits for men and formal office wear like jackets & trousers for women is essential as covered arms and legs are termed as appropriate. Women should dress conservatively refraining from short skirts and low necklines when on business. If you are working in rural Dubai, dress up in their traditional attire. Casual Conversations: Business meetings with Arab clients can take place in informal places such as restaurants. The conversation generally starts by inquiring about the family and making a polite chat; say about the Dubai weather. It’s possible that you may quickly arrive at the formal business conversation part with the meeting getting over in a shorter period of time than stipulated. Keep controversies apart: Don’t criticize an Arab business colleague or start a controversy regarding business or personal matters, in public places. This will be termed as an ‘insult’ of the colleague which will be resented by him. An Arab Handshake: Arab handshakes are very gentle compared to the West. Just the touching of the palms of the right hands is fine. Call the colleague by ‘Mr’ (Sayed) or ‘Mrs’ (Sayeda) if a woman. Don’t initiate a handshake with a woman, unless she offers to do so. Business Cards: Have one side of your business card translated in Arabia as a gesture of politeness. While presenting your business card to an Arab colleague/client keep the Arabic side of the card face up.

Dubai

Cuddled up in between the relaxed waters of the Southern gulf and the encompassing golden desert, Dubai is all set with superb climate, luxurious hotels, sky kissing towers, endless shopping, excellent entertainment and fast growing commercial opportunities. Be it foreign language hurdles, cultural divergence, communication troubles or airline pesters, a business trip to Dubai encounters nothing of the stressful happening for you.  Also, if you stay in one of the luxurious hotels like Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Emirates Tower, Fairmont Dubai, Al Bustan Rotana Hotel or Raffles Dubai then communication with your office colleagues and family members is not at all a problem as all of the above hotels offer photocopier, facsimile, direct dial phones and Wi-Fi connectivity along with a business center that has fully furnished meeting and conference rooms wherein you can continue with your serious business meetings. Also, laptops or computer rentals along with mobile rentals are provided in most of the top business hotels of Dubai. You can also take the advantage of the limousine or town car rentals offered by most of the hotels.

There are a lot of free zones on hand with plenty of business opportunities. In general all the procedures get completed within 24 hours and foreigners have got full ownership, but not all kinds of companies or shops can be launched here. To settle down your business outside freezone is also not a difficult thing unless you find a local national agent who can be your partner.

A cafe at Dubai

The city offers a lot of tempting lunch and dinner options that are escorted with a comfortable setting inside a formal cozy atmosphere. For a relaxed lunch with a business organization, Basta Art Cafe located on the Bastakiya Street is a worth try. The Cafe offers delicious soups, salads and sandwiches accompanied with a variety of drinks. Also, a true business lunch can be relished at any of the restaurants placed inside the Knowledge Village. And, the Junsui nested inside the Burj Al Arab is one of the best options to enjoy a formal business evening. Some meetings can be planned up in a restaurant that does not serve alcohol, in such cases visitors are requested not to ask for one.

Don’t puck up your brow if your meeting starts up a bit late! Business meetings are quite casual and are generally continued in cafes or restaurants. They tend to start up with chatting that moves on to further serious discussions. Also, the clothing is very much normal as compared with the other cities, states or nations. Men are supposed to wear frivolous and lightweight pants in spring and tie and button-down shirts during the summer. Lounge suits are more preferred than a jacket for an evening business dinner. And the women have an option of cotton fabrics or formals along with shawls or jackets for indoors. For the women, it is recommended, not to wear too short or revealing clothes outdoors. The Arabic handshake engrosses touching the heart with the right palm after every shake and visitors are requested not to offer their hand, in the form of greeting, to any Arab women unless she, herself, extends hers first. Be obliged to use the requisites of Mr. or Mrs., followed by the first names, whenever you are greeting someone. The visitors are requested not to sit in a position that their feet are pointing out directly at someone else.  Offensive talk ought to be kept for private discussions carried off later.

8:00 am to 5:00 pm in between Sundays to Thursdays are considered to be the business hours in Dubai. Meetings are usually not planned up on Fridays as Friday is marked as a day of prayer and rest. Also, phone calls to Arab people should be dodged up on a Friday. Arabs will not respond to the phone calls made during the siestas, generally taken in between 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A few of the government departments are open every Saturday morning.

Shopping in Dubai

Shopping during your business trip would be a a good idea if you can spare some time for bargaining.   If you are using a credit card for buying things then American Express would be a better option rather than MasterCard or Visa.

Temperature of the city tends to go till 110°F in between June, July and August so plan your trip in between November and December or else in April and May to enjoy stress free living along with a beautiful weather.

Washed Out Desert, Dubai Skyline

Land transactions in Dubai has risen sharply during the  first quarter of June 2009  reaching a peaked record of  DH2.19 billion. Sales  record  exceeded Dh1.27 billion; according to the Land Department total value of mortgages during that period was Dh19.29 million.

A plot in the Shaikh Zayed Road area was sold for Dh124 million  with 81 transactions registered to the Land Department.

Other plot that were sold for high value are: Jebel Ali  for Dh34 million and other within the same area for Dh28 million.

21 transactions was  registered for the Ranches area and the Emirates Hills had 17 sales.

The Al Aweer Second area  315,217 sqft plot went for Dh11 million  as the biggest area sold

Shaikh Zayed Road had the highest  turnover  by value of Dh124 million, Jebel Ali area at Dh91.21 million and the Emirates Hills at Dh89.32 million.

652 sales transactions of apartments and villas in freehold  areas were registered.

View of Dubai Skyline

On Friday Dubai Media  Office issued a statement that  four large development groups: Emaar Properties PJSC, Dubai Properties LLC, Sama Dubai LLC and Tatweer LLC have started merger talks aimed at facing up to the current challenges and also to transform Dubai into a Global city. The big four collectively hold  one of the largest land banks in  Dubai.

Dubai  Government investment arm Dubai Holdings  controls  Sama Dubai and Tatweer;  Dubai Government has a share of 32.5 of Emaar properties which is completing  Burg Dubai the World’s tallest Tower.

Emaar properties is been advised by Royal Bank of Scotland while Dubai Holdings is been represented by Merrill  Lynch International.

In  a  communiqué released  ;  discussions are being held with the relevant regulatory authorities , assessment of merits in relation to the proposed merger, valuation of the various entities and structures of the transactions.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, chairman of Dubai Holdings, said “Consolidating these three companies with Emaar is a natural progression in the evolution of the Dubai real estate landscape, providing benefits to all stakeholders. By joining forces, we will give the larger combined entity an unparalleled platform to optimise opportunities in its domestic and international markets. The combined entity has a clear and concise strategy, better positioning Dubai as a world-leading hub in real estate development and management”.

Mohammad Ali Al Abbar, chairman of  Emaar, said, “We believe that there could be exceptional synergies between Emaar and Dubai Holdings’ key real estate businesses. These comprehensive discussions are driven by a shared vision regarding the consolidation of our respective visible success stories to date and the creation of a world-class group which would be ideally positioned to dynamically help shape and support the ongoing development of Dubai as a world-leading hub. We look forward to working with Dubai Holdings with a view to completing these discussions soon and ensuring value accretion to our existing shareholders”.