Article:
ISSUE No. 9 March - April 2008

Discover UAE
Insights into the Economic, Legal and Cultural State of our Adopted Country

Lucrative job offers and guaranteed sunshine have been luring more and more Germans to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in recent years. Yet our new homeland has many challenges for newcomers and conceals unexpected risks. A strange culture, new economic aspects and often unknown legal situations have put many expatriates or tourists in an awkward situation.

Due to a myriad of requests, DiscoverME together with the legal firm of Hadler & Partner from Abu Dhabi, have organized the first “Discover UAE” inter-cultural workshop with support of the German Embassy of Abu Dhabi and the German Consulate General of Dubai. The program features, besides questions concerning everyday life, information about economic conditions and legal requirements.
The workshop takes place on Sunday, March 9th in Abu Dhabi and on
March 16th in Dubai. Cost is 100 AED which includes drinks and a lunch buffet.
Reservations and further information at:
workshop@discover-middleeast.com

Program:

09.00 h            Meet & Greet (Registration)

09.30 h         Opening, Patronage-Message, Welcome note (Hadler &
                          Partner)

10.00 h            Part I: Business & Politics
                          Abu Dhabi: German Embassy, Mr. Oliver Owcza, Deputy
                          Head of Mission
                          Dubai: Consulate General of the Federal Republic of
                          Germany, Mr. Hans B. Sauerteig, Deputy Consul General

  • The importance of the UAE and Germany as bi-lateral trading partners in the region
  • Development and status quo of the excellent bi-lateral ties between the two countries in the fields of politics, business and culture
  • Economic data related to business and trade between the UAE and Germany
  • Information on up-coming events, state visits and business delegations

11.00 -             Forum for discussion
11.30h 

11.30 h            Coffee Break

12.00 h            Part II: Hadler & Partner Legal Consultants, Mr. Jörn
                          Hadler
                          Legal aspects of living in the UAE (interactive)

  • Basic facts on the history of the UAE and its development
  • Structure of the government and legal system in the UAE
  • The myth about Shari’ a law
  • Case studies:
  • For and on behalf of the company X workshop manager W orders building material and issues a respective cheque for payment. However, due to insufficient funds the cheque bounces upon presentation.
  • Mechanic M is seconded to Abu Dhabi for one year. Shortly after having moved into his apartment his long-term girl friend from Germany arrives in Abu Dhabi to stay with M in the flat. A neighbouring family from the Middle East feels morally embarrassed and reports to the police.
  • A has been in Abu Dhabi just for one week. His residence papers are under process. One evening he joins his colleagues to have a couple of drinks in the pub. Later on A drives home in the car one of his colleagues. While getting the car parked A hits another car behind him. Police arrive.

13.30 h            Lunch break

14.30 h            Part III: DiscoverME – German Culture & Business
                          Magazine
                          Intercultural Understanding (interactive)
                          Ms. Anne-Susann Becker, Editor-in-Chief & Ms. Sabine
                          Dyck, Editor

  • Typical working day in the Middle East
  • Decision Making
  • Contacts, private and business networking
  • Towards understanding hierarchy structures in the Arab world
  • Meeting & Greeting etiquette
  • Women in the Gulf region
  • Dress code

16.00 h            End of workshop