Cultural Tidbits on United Arab Emirates (UAE):

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is comprised of seven Arab states or emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharhah, and Umm al-Qaiwain.  The UAE has one federal government with a president that is elected every five years.  While there is a president each emirate has it’s own sheikh.  Family life is very important and family comes before everything.  The traditional extended family often lives together in the same house.  Family social networks are of the utmost importance in business and everyday activities.  Business activities are strongly influenced by family ties and the loyalty that is influenced by the original Bedouin tribal structure. 

The UAE Constitution states that men and women are equal.  Women are in the workforce in all manner of industries.  Although women hold a minority of manager positions, the country actively promotes the role of women in the workforce.  In keeping with traditionally the women’s primary role is with her husband and children. There is also segregation of women in public spaces.  Most women wear veils in public.  Women are also mostly escorted so as not to be alone in public. 

Foreign women should be mindful and respectful of these traditions.  Dressing conservatively is de rigueur for both nationals and foreign women alike.  Women should maintain a comfortable distance from males, taking their cue from the man.  Direct eye contact and smiles from a women to a man may be viewed as inappropriate.  When a man is speaking to another man, however, they often stand very close.  While two men may shake hands, a woman should not extend her hand to shake, especially in public.   

The social standing of the Emiratis person that introduces you to others will influence the way that you are perceived.   If you do not have a high enough ranking person doing your introductions you may have difficulty in some business scenarios.  Although westerners are often more direct, Emeratis may tend to be a bit more indirect.  If you are confident and present yourself professionally you will gain credibility through your actions.  Just remember that the rules of Islam are of chief importance in the society and you will generally do fine.  
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are more developed than the other Emirate states.  There are a large number of foreign workers in these Emirates.  Increasingly, tourism is playing another economic role in addition to the traditional oil industry. There are a number of wonderful archaeological sites and museums. There are also traditional Bedouin villages that depict the tribal lifestyle. There are top line shopping, hotels and man made attractions. You can learn a lot about an Emirati based on their names.  The first name is the personal name and is usually taken from the Koran or paternal grandparent.  The second name is the father’s personal name and the third name is the grandfather’s personal name.    

Cultural Tidbits on Zambia:

The African country of Zambia was inhabited by early humans between one and two million years ago.  The territory was known as Northern Rhodesia when it was being administered by the UK.  The name of the country was changed to Zambia when they attained independence in 1964.  Zambia’s mining economy was hurt by declining copper prices and major droughts in the 80’s and 90’s.  There were multiple governmental and election problems until 2006 when the Zambian leader Levi MWANAWASA was reelected in an election that was considered fair and free. Bantu speaking immigrants arrived in large quantities during the 12th century.  The famed explorer David Livingstone arrived in Zambia in the 19th century with a vision to end the slave trade through Christianity, Commerce and Civilization.  He named the beautiful waterfall on the Zambezi river Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria.  The falls are known as Mosi-oa-Tunya locally. 

The official language of Zambia is English. There are also several indigenous languages that are spoken in everyday conversation.  By way of reference, Zambia is slightly larger than the US state of Texas. The majority of Zambians (68%) live below the national poverty line.  Other indicators of economic and social vitality are in equally poor shape. The birth and maternal mortality rates are both high.  The rising costs of health care and population expansion are also causing a major strain.  HIV/AIDS is a major issue that has been a primary contributor to the health care concerns.   Zambia is one of the most highly urbanized countries in the world and is still very dependent on mining.    

The culture of Zambia has multiple influences. The Bantu culture is the primary base but the culture is also influenced by Europe along with other indigenous cultures.  With the urbanization under colonial rule the Zambian cultural mix was accelerated.   There are many ceremonies throughout the year that are now considered uniquely Zambian.  There are also many traditional cultural crafts and ethnographic arts such as basketry, pottery, carvings and copper crafts.  The basketry of Zambia in particular is prized for its quality and beauty.  The baskets are made from a variety of materials including bamboo, vines, roots, grasses and bark.  The colors and decorations are made from hand made natural dyes.  The basketry arts are used for eating and sleeping mats, strainers, sieves and storage.  Craftwork is often a secondary supplemental income source for farmers and fishers.  The men often focus on carving and produce furniture, bowls, canoes, masks, drums, walking sticks and other useful items.  Traditional crafts are being threatened by more modern factory fabricated items made from plastic and tin. 

The music of Zambia is percussive and is often accompanied by lively dancing and often acrobatic movements.  The dances reflect the life in Africa over the centuries through strife and peace, good times and bad.  There are several traditional instruments that are still played throughout the country. These include a hand piano and a xylophone type instrument called a silimba.  Western instruments have also been making inroads in traditional Zambian music. Zambian music is an important way of expressing the culture through ceremonies, celebration and cultural communication.