Predeparture paper, part I

By Isaline Duberrybonsu, Palwasha Mirbacha and Samira Deandrade


Culture is in itself a very complex subject because it includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. At times we are forced to adapt to the ideologies and structures of a culture, which sets the parameters of acceptable cultural behavior, marginalizing the beliefs and needs of other groups. In our research we concluded that maintaining a sense of cultural identity and autonomy in a society, which operates under a value system different from our own, can be a culture shock for us. This research has given us the opportunity to educate ourselves on others culture, beliefs, their struggles and communication styles.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be categorized as high context culture. In this cultural context communicators assume to have a great deal of commonality in their knowledge and views. In the high context culture, issues are commonly understood and thus need of explicit communication is not needed within the community and business environment especially during business transactions. A great example of this cultural context is when business transactions are done over socialization, which includes lamb banquet and drinking coffee which signifies trust and acceptance within Arab business world (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 519).
UAE is a polychromic society. It is a norm for one to multi task in the business world. We see this happening when business transactions are done over socials. By having socials during business transaction it signifies that social connections are essential part of the culture and the business world as key characteristic of polychromic culture (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 24).
The Arab nation has deep embedded institutional collectivism. Arabs prioritize in oneself, then kinsman, townsman or tribesman and then those of same country and religion (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 518). This shows that one can choose and create a society where one can be suitable in their condition. Group loyalty and the Islamic values of brotherhood and unity are essential for forming institutional collectivism deep in the Emeriti culture. Brotherhood implies collective and close associate of the community among its members, where relationship is not distant (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 519). The Arabs are less future oriented, due to their religion and cultural values. Religiously, they are required to surrender to the will of Allah (God) for their destiny, by saying InshAllah. Unlike the future oriented cultures were planning and future strategies are encouraged. Islam is identified by submitting the human will to the Creator whom is Allah. In this type of cultural context the population avoids isolation from the society and maintains close alliance with community members to protect one’s reputation and creditworthiness (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 22).
The Emeriti community beliefs in orthodox role for women and men, which marks them low as gender egalitarianism society. The women are considered caretakers and protectors of the family and its individual reputation. The women are also kept segregated from men to avoid misconception between the two genders. This results in a huge division between the genders. As key characteristic of low gender egalitarianism society, thus, based on the gender division within the community and strong group loyalty each gender develops within their traditional gender dominated environment or work place within the society (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 26).
As an in-group collectivism society, the Emeriti women have formed emotional attachment and personal involvement with one another in the business world. This fosters them into a motivated stage, which leads them to be successful amongst within their circle (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 27). For example The General Women’s Union (GWU) is a model example of such in-group collectivism. In this case low gender egalitarianism and institutional collectivism in terms of loyalty of to ones’ group result into a new culture of strong in-group collectivism in form of GWU. In Power Distance cultures, status, power, authority, and prestige are divided unequally within the society and its members. The society members do not challenge the social norms and they are obligated to accept leaders’ authority, which in Emeriti or Arab cultural authority is designated to men (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 28). The Arab patriarchal culture puts the male in the dominant position for decision-making process. At the macro level of society and business environment, authority and businesses are practiced by the autocrats of business world like the Shuras and Diwan-i-kass. These bodies led by men are decision-making authorities within Arab society and due to power distance nature of the Arab world the women do not mangle in the men business world and their affairs. Humane orientation dimension of the Emeriti culture is associated with generosity, empathy and compassion. Sustaining human dignity and reputation is an essential part of the humane orientation of the Arab culture (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 24). All honor, reputation and worthiness are on top priorities. For example, when women defer to their husbands’ authority, which in this case its only to sustain social reputation of the husband in the community as head of the household.
The performance orientation of the Arab culture marked very low, in this culture context individual competence and abilities are not essential for business, rather reputation and qualities like trustworthiness and honesty are crucial in doing business. Reputation and recognition comes with family status, age, education level and other factors and not individual performance. Similarly, the Arab society does not rank high for their assertiveness in their cultural norms. Through the social norm of Adl meaning equilibrium social norms are accepted and no challenged against its unfair practices. For example, the women in the business world will not do business with men, solely because it is not appropriate for women to have business deals with men. There is low uncertainty avoidance perspective in UAE culture as well. The people rely on their Arab culture and local customs for daily life and important events. They are not concerned with structured laws, institutions and orderliness and formal procedures. As typical of uncertainty avoidance society, the Arabs resist social changes, they prefer their traditions and local models and they wish to sustain local relationships then international or cross-cultural. Resistance against social changes is obvious from resistance against change of social norms for women and marginalization of Arabic language. Also, putting heritage center and museums show a persistent force against the changing life in UAE (Davidson, 2005, p. 263).