Book Description
You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office.Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

I SHOULD BE SHOCKED!
I lived in UAE and do not know what this poor woman is talking about! I also read the reviews which makes me wonder if some reviewers have actually visited the country? This book tells you of nothing! Traditions? hey I come from that country and have never heard of them! No, this woman does no justice to the real UAE, its a pitty beacuse our traditions have deeper meaning, our ways have respect and our lives are actual breathing poetry. I suggest you look for better books.

Not My Experience
I read Culture Shock before traveling to Dubai and found almost everything described in the book either incorrect or outdated.Granted, I never traveled outside of urban areas and mostly dealt with business people in the Emirates but found everyone I met with to be genuine and warm.

In my opinion the UAE is a unique place in the world, and not only looks to the future on a grand scale but has the funding and vision to make it happen.

I agree that one should be sensitive to cultural differences, but not to the degree of that the author indicates.

Right on!
I lived in the UAE from 1997-2000.If I had not read this book in the beginning, I don't know that I would have made so many Emirati friends.The book made me interested in the people and understand our communication difficulties.This book is a must.

Clear view of life for an expatriate in the Emirates
I particularly liked the chapter on Culture Shock.The stages of shock as described by Ms. Crocetti are worth reading no matter what country you visit.The Emirates are a bit unusual in that they are a conglomeration of many cultures with a distinct minority as the dominant one.Ms. Crocetti clearly grasps the 'things are not as they seem' society and gives sound advice for coping.

Newly republished
The book has been updated & re-published, get the 2001 version, it has much more information. ... Read more

Book Description
Whether you travel for business, pleasure, or a combination of the two, the ever-popular "Culture Shock!" series belongs in your backpack or briefcase. Get the nuts-and-bolts information you need to survive and thrive wherever you go. "Culture Shock!" country guides are easy-to-read, accurate, and entertaining crash courses in local customs and etiquette. "Culture Shock!" practical guides offer the inside information you need whether you're a student, a parent, a globetrotter, or a working traveler. "Culture Shock!" at your Door guides equip you for daily life in some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. And "Culture Shock!" Success Secrets guides offer relevant, practical information with the real-life insights and cultural know-how that can make the difference between business success and failure.

Each "Culture Shock!" title is written by someone who's lived and worked in the country, and each book is packed with practical, accurate, and enjoyable information to help you find your way and feel at home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

SSuccess Secrets to Maximize Business in United Arab Emirates
I was high on hopes that this book would provide a wealth of secrets regarding conducting business in the United Arab Emirates.Unfortunately, my high hopes were left somewhat disappointed.There are of course highlights in this easy reading book.The first 114 pages provide an overview of the early years, the economy, the governmental structure and infrastructure.There are interesting side comments about the affects of illegal immigration and how the government is coping with the society pressure when only ten percent of the population comprises Emirate nationals.Pages 130 -179 provide a discussion of helpful tips to conducting business as well as acting as a tourist.

The judicial process is barely discussed.However, justice is swift.Drinking alcohol and driving is not permitted.When I was there in April 2007, one man made this unfortunate mistake by hitting a palm tree and getting arrested.The next day he was order to replace the palm tree, sentenced to one year in jail, and ordered deported at the end of his sentence.Considering the inexpensive cost of hiring a taxi or a driver, it is well advised to not disobey these laws.The UAE police are very efficient making law abiding folks feel extremely safe.

One of the limitations of the book is the 2002 copyright notice.As read in 2007, this book was written a lifetime ago when one compares the rapid progress the UAE makes every month.The book glosses over many details that are essential for doing business in the UAE.For readers seeking a deeper level of detail of operating in Dubai, they should consider the book "Setting Up in Dubai" by Essam Al Tamimi of the Al Tamimi law firm.Business is rapidly growing in the UAE and understanding the free trade zones as well as the Dubai International Finance Centre is essential.The "Success Secrets ..." book should be an executive overview first of many books should the reader truly desire to conduct business in the UAE.Leave successive books to fill in the substantive details that should be required reading before arrival.
... Read more

Book Description
The affluent oil-producing modern state which emerged in 1971 as the United Arab Emirates is deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. Present generations find themselves at a crossroads between tradition and modernisation. Aware of this, political leaders have paid considerable attention to folklore and cultural heritage and attempted to provide folklore with social and political relevance in modern society. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Middle East Policy, published by Middle East Policy Council on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1847 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Interview with Ezzeddin Ibrahim.(cultural advisor, United Arab Emirates)(Interview)
Author: Erick R. Peterson
Publication: Middle East Policy (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2001
Publisher: Middle East Policy Council
Volume: 8Issue: 4Page: 39(4)

Article Type: Interview

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is a journal article from International Journal of Educational Development, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
This article examines the uptake of reflective practice, as one of a number of educational discourses, by student teachers in a new Bachelor of Education degree in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a recent article, Pat Richardson [2004. International Journal of Educational Development 24(4), 429-436], argued that reflective practice is incongruent with the values of 'Arab-Islamic' culture and is therefore not an appropriate approach to promote in teacher education in the UAE. Here we argue that such a view relies on a limited reading of the concept of culture and reduces individuals to cultural 'dupes'. We also present evidence from student teachers that, far from endorsing the inappropriateness of reflective practice in the UAE context, shows Emirati women wholeheartedly embracing-and doing-reflective practice. ... Read more

Book Description
United Arab Emirates has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners.This report puts these executives on the fast track.Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources).Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given. ... Read more

Book Description
These thought-provoking essays provide insightful reflection on both the experience and the condition of experiencing another culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Captures the syncopations of life in Dubai
I totally disagree with the Publisher's Weekly 2002 review of this book....the reviewer didn't get the point. Caesar did NOT attempt and therefore didn't fail to "extrapolate from her experiences...to a larger commentary on the Middle East."
On the contrary, what I liked about her essays was their disinterest in the "big ME conflict" issues and her focus on the sometimes bizarre but always thought provoking juxtapositions of traditional/local and modern/global aspects of life in a contemporary Arab capital. Millions of people in this region get up every morning, go to school and work, go shopping and come home or visit with friends without thinking about the Middle East conflict. This book witnesses that. As an American living and travelling in this region for more than 25 years, I found her insights as a teacher and observer rang true and articulated very well some complex aspects of relationships in these communities undergoing compressed social change.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares to go beyond the limitations of news headlines into the fascinating diverstiy of social relationships and aspirations in the Middle East today.I especially recommend it to academics planning to teach cross-culturally in the growing number of "American" universities sprouting up across the region.

Cultural and social insights abound
Judith Caesar's Writing Off The Beaten Track: Reflections On The Meaning Of Travel And Culture In The Middle East reflects on the meaning of travel and culture in the Middle East as it surveys her journey through the Untied Arab Emirates and the flavors of Arabia. Cultural and social insights abound. ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
Ram Buxanis autobiography is multi-faceted achievement thats a pleasure to read. As he narrates the engrossing story of his own life, hes catalogued the history and spirit of many a Sindhi family. The book is also a handsome tribute to Dubai and a philosophical work on business and life thats bound to fire the imagination of the reader. In Dubai there are some figures among the expatriate community who are seen as leaders not only by virtue of their success and standing in society but by their actions and qualities. Ram Buxani is both businessman and friend, public and yet very private. His is a story of reaching Dubai more than 40 years ago and seeing a glorious future unfurl before him. Hes been a husband and father, a successful businessman, the quintessential Indian, a pillar of the Sindhi community, an enterprising NRI and a highly vocal and supportive expatriate reveling in the growth and progress of the UAE. Buxani spearheaded the need to give dignity to the Indian community abroad and much of the understanding and co-operation between India and the UAE has seen him play a leading role. Hes captured the story of his life right from those early, pioneering days to being a resident of modern Dubai. Dubai is my home, he says quietly and with a well-earned right. I have received so much from it. Whatever I give back will be too little. And India is my motherland - Im doubly blessed. Taking the High Road pays tribute to two places that lie on the outposts of Asia - Dubai and Japan. Buxani has traced the history of the rise of these nations, drawing interesting links with the Sindhi spirit of adventure and enterprise. The book is also a testimonial to Sindhi women, who have played a leading role in the past and have an important new role in the future. Based in Dubai, Buxani has enjoyed considerable success as a businessman and his practical, no-nonsense approach to business will be an inspiration to any aspiring executive. ... Read more