Twenty years ago, very few people had heard of Dubai, a modest emirate in the Middle East. That has changed with dizzying speed in recent decades. Today, Dubai is a super-modern metropolis that has much to offer in terms of international trade and transportation, business services, not to mention tourism.
Sometime in the 1980s, the current leader of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum develops a vision of the future of the emirate where his family rules the roost. From North Africa to India and from Ethiopia to Russia, there is not a single well-organized business center with adequate infrastructure and good connections to the rest of the world. So time to change that, argues the sheikh.
Business travel to Dubai: the EXPO 2020 in Dubai
Right now, everything is gearing up for EXPO 2020. This world exhibition should surpass all previous EXPOs, and Dubai is doing everything possible to make it happen. Investments and more than 20 million visitors are expected to contribute billions to the economy. In addition, the event is estimated to generate over 250,000 jobs.
Dubai's famous skyline
With the help of a multi-year plan, Dubai will have the largest number of cranes in the world in no time. Emirates is on its way to becoming the world's largest airline and Dubai's ports are growing like crazy. IT and infrastructure is being developed at a rapid pace and Dubai's road network is growing rapidly. An architectural fairy tale is emerging in the desert and Dubai now has a world-renowned skyline. On that skyline, for example, the Burj al Arab (the world's most exclusive hotel) and the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) adorn the skyline. The Palm Islands are also known worldwide and capture the imagination of many people and companies. Therefore, companies from all over the world, from start-ups to multinationals, come to the Gulf state's business centers to trade or establish themselves.
Melting pot of nationalities in Dubai
Dubai is a veritable melting pot of nationalities. Out of a total population of 2.7 million, 85 percent come from abroad, by far the largest number from Asia. The more than one hundred thousand British expats make up the largest group among Western expats, but more than five thousand Dutch nationals also live and work there. Dubai levies no income tax, which of course is no small contribution to the emirate's success and attractiveness.
Doing business in Dubai
Those who regularly go on business trip goes to Dubai, would do well to take into account a number of customs and practices prevalent in the United Arab Emirates. For example, it is normal to address your business partner by his title and formal dress is expected. Also, foreign guests must be punctual for an appointment, while it is not uncommon for the person with the appointment to be 'made' late. In Dubai, 'business is personal' and during a business meeting it is quite normal to discuss personal topics, such as the health of the interlocutors, the weather and the country of origin. However, it is better to stay away from topics related to politics or religion. A business gift is appreciated, especially with pens, diaries and typical Dutch products (except alcoholic beverages) you can't go wrong.
Doing business in Dubai is all about trust. Therefore, a single meeting is often not enough to reach agreements. If you really want to achieve something, you will have to put a lot of time and energy into contacting the business partner and definitely travel to Dubai a few times.
Culinary Walhalla
Tourism is one of the main pillars of Dubai's development. With its large number of hotels, the city is excellently prepared for the millions of people who visit the city every year. The quality of rooms and facilities in all price ranges is generally very high. As far as restaurants go, Dubai is nothing short of a culinary Mecca. Whatever you're craving, you can find it here. Indian, Spanish, Japanese, French, Brazilian, South African, Thai, Irish, Australian, the whole world cuisine is well represented here. If you want an evening of mussels with Flemish fries and mayonnaise, you can order them at one of the Belgian beer bars. But also spend an evening eating at restaurant Ravi on the street. For a few euros you can eat the most delicious dishes of Pakistani cuisine there. Alcohol is readily available in hotels and licensed restaurants, but is often very expensive. Visitors to Dubai cannot buy liquor in the special alcohol stores,. But on arrival at the airport, before going through customs, you may buy and import four bottles per person in the duty-free stores.
Old town
In Dubai almost everything is newer, higher, bigger or more expensive, but if you like it you can also look around the old original Dubai. You can spend a few hours wandering around the old city with its narrow streets and the historic, restored Bastakya district. Cross the waters of the old port by abra (= boat) and visit one of the city's many markets. The goudsouk, kruidensouk and stoffensouk are highly recommended. There you will also find the old Dubai Museum, which gives a nice picture of the history of the city.
You would almost forget it because of the modern skyline, but Dubai is of course located in the middle of the desert. From April to October, temperatures rise to well over forty degrees and you really have to take that into account. There are far fewer outdoor cafes than we Dutch would expect in a country where the sun almost always shines. Many people seek coolness in one of the many shopping malls in the country. Each shopping mall has hundreds of stores as well as dozens of restaurants, movie theaters and all kinds of attractions. How about an ice skating rink, climbing wall, skydive training or a complete indoor ski paradise?
Those who travel between October and April are in luck: during that period the temperatures are a bit more pleasant. Fun then is to play golf with a business associate on one of the dozens of fantastic golf courses. Desert safaris and a day at the beach are also high on the list of business travelers who have some time to spare for leisure. Because combining business and pleasure is something Dubai can do like no other.
Business travel to and from Dubai
Emirates is the national pride of the Dubai and one of the largest airlines in the world. They fly an Airbus A380 superjumbo between Dubai and Amsterdam twice every day. A third flight will soon be added four days a week. KLM flies daily to Dubai and will soon also expand with two additional flights per week.
The do's and dont's in Dubai
Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world. One reason for this is its strict laws and tight enforcement policies. If you behave normally and modestly, there is nothing to worry about, but drunkenness, kissing in public, middle fingers and swearing can just lead to an extension of your vacation in jail. Taking "banned" drugs with you can also be grounds for arrest. In that case, research before you travel to see if your medicine will be accepted in Dubai.
MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events in Dubai
If there is one place on earth where all the ingredients for hosting MICE events are there for the taking, it is in Dubai. Besides the many hotels and conference centers, the Dubai World Trade Centre, a complex with dozens of halls, is located in the center of the city. Truly any event can be superbly facilitated here. For the organization of MICE you can contact goMICE. They will be happy to help you.
This article originally appeared in UNIGLOBE's Traveletc. Fall 2018 edition
