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GIFT GIVING IN UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES*
BUSINESS GIFT GIVING /
PERSONAL GIFT GIVING
General Guidelines
- Gifts
constitute a greater problem in the UAE than in most other countries
because virtually everything can be purchased there less expensively than
anywhere else in the world. A further complication is the mixture of
nationalities. One would not give the same present to a Dubaian [who
appreciates traditional perfume] as to an Egyptian [who does not] and for
one unable to differentiate between dialects of Arabic this poses
difficulties. There are, however, a few general rules.
Any gift must
be the best affordable. A carpet must, for example, be handmade even
though most locals buy machine made carpets for themselves. Never,
however, buy gold jewellery or silk garments for men, as both are deemed
effeminate in Islam. Platinum is most acceptable but, as it can be
confused with white gold, silver is safer, provided that it is properly
hallmarked by a government authority [as opposed to merely bearing a
maker's mark]. As a gesture of respect, the recipient is likely to open
and minutely examine the gift in the presence of the giver as well as any
others who happen to be present. Nothing is worse than having him search
in vain for a hallmark or, worse yet, turn a carpet over to find a loose
weave or indistinct design on the reverse.
Traditional
perfume is the gift most appreciated by Arabians. Just as in Europe a man
displays his status by his tailoring, so in Arabia he does so by his
scent. The most generally preferred male scent [perfume should be given to
women only by other women or close relatives] is oud, which is a
distillation of aloes wood, but be careful. The best quality costs well
over £1,000 an ounce and the naïve buyer can easily be deceived by
synthetics which cheat him of his money and cause him to forfeit the
esteem of the one to whom the scent is given. The same is true of incense,
costing per kilogram roughly the same as an ounce of its extract. Before
giving any scent, use it first and consider giving it only to those who
express admiration for your taste.
*Parker, Nicholas Fytzraymond. United Arab
Emirates Business
Etiquette - Gift Giving. Executive Planet. 16 Aug. 2004
<http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/155776573312.html>. |
Above: The flag of United Arab Emirates
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