Rules of etiquette in the Arabic world - Abu Dhabi

don't talk to the wimmenz

Don't be a wimmenz.

honestly, I could give you a whole list, but there is a good chance that you will go the whole time there without real interation with real locals, depending on what you do with the race. most people are pretty globally oriented. men touch each other a lot, but shy away from nakedness, they will talk very bluntly about prostitues, but you never comment on another man's wife, don't go anywhere near or look at a woman dressed in a black robe (seriously, if you see one stay on the other side of the sidewalk or as far away as possible, don't eat with your left hand, don't use rough language, espectially the F-word, and you should be fine.

if you have a specific question, let me know

While there's not always toilet paper there are always left hands.

Why is kidding.

I spent almost a week in Dubai for the Grand Prix back in 2009. As a total tourist staying with (American) friends that live there I didn't interact with any Emirati (the men dressed in all white). Now I can't speak for working at the grand prix but most people I saw were White (American, Brit, Aussies, etc.), Indian, Iranian, and other Arabs. For most people I would imagine the biggest thing to be wary of are PDA and public intoxication. Now if for your job you will be interacting with a lot of locals, then I take his advice and I'd suggest buying a small book (or doing serious reading) on regional etiquette.

PS - mind hinting at who you will be working for or what you'll actually be doing? I'm just curious as an F1 fan.

He's The Stig.

J, actually, that is the reason. you eat with your right hand, you wipe with your left. traditional arabic food involves a lot of taking food out of communal dishes, so traditionally you don't eat with your left hand. I'm left handed, too, but I work around it. of course, when you are eating with a knife and fork, it doesn't matter.

I'd like to know more about this.

+1

in the emirates, you have pretty western women, including some arabs (usually palestinians and lebanese) you have indians and africans and whites, and if they are dressed western you can pretty much figure that they will act very much western in culture.

women dressed "traditionally" are different - you need to assume that they are local, and that they will behave in a much more traditional manner.

in many arab lands, sexual harrasment is rapant. women expect to be hasseled and groped.

local men will look out for "local women" in the same way that old school whites in the south "looked out" for white women from the "threat" of black men.

so, basically, if you get too close to a local woman, there is a real possibility that local men will assume that you are harrasing her, and you will be subject to their wrath. now, since they are very often little and weak and inbred, the threat of being beaten by them isn't the big problem, the issue is that you don't want to get int trouble with a crowd, or with the local police, or "harrasment" - remember, you have zero rights in the gulf.

at least, this is what was explained to me by a local a long time ago, he really freaked out when I tried to pass two local women who were walking slowly in a mall. it seems like good enough advice.

^ and also consider that the woman might get her own harassment and worse, from the locals, just because she answered your question on how to get back to your hotel.

Frankly, I would stay away from anyone in a long sheet, black or white