General

Seven sheikdoms make up a federation of states: Abu Dhabi (largest by area), Dubai (largest population), Ras al Khaimah, Umm al Qawain,  Ajman, Sharjah and Fujairah.

Ethnicity and Language

Less than 20 percent of the population are indigenous Emirians with the majority of foreign workers coming from South Asia. Languages spoken are Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Urdu and English. Islam is the predominant religion.

Value System and Relationships

The UAE scores high on the power distance index, lower than average on individualism, higher than average on uncertainty avoidance and about average on the masculinity index.  

Business Climate

Business is hierarchical with a focus more on relationships and connections (“wasta”) than rules and regulations. Time is relative and punctuality is poor. Avoid doing business during the month of Ramadan. Titles and business cards are important. The business traveler should be patient, and aware of the chaotic traffic.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project is an interactive database that allows users to explore public opinion trends in 55 countries on topics ranging from attitudes towards the U.S. to peoples assessments of their own lives to views about globalization, democratization and extremism and other important issues.

The country ranks as no. 35 (of 180 countries) on Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index.