Customer Reviews

Culture Shock!: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette: United Arab Emirates (Culture Shock - Guides)

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In keeping with the series title "Culture Shock", Gina Crocetti makes a worthy attempt to describe the multi-cultural society to be found in the UAE, yet leaves the longer-staying visitor areas that can be discovered or developed for himself or herself.

Gina also manages to include aspects related to women not easily described from experience by male writers. As such, the book deserves to be read alongside those guides holding more factual and reference-type information. One or two items should be corrected - for example, "at least 3" cups of welcoming coffee should read "not more than 2 or 3". Also the "Do's and Don'ts" need to be separated - it's not always clear which is which !

In its second or third re-print from a 1996 edition, the book also needs updating for "current" information, since a lot of content appears dated. I would have been more impressed with Gina's research had reference to Dr. Frauke Heard-Bey, as a foremost published authority on the UAE's historical development, not included four mentions of "he" when Dr. Frauke is a woman.

A source of excellent references can be found at the UAE National Library located at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi. The library is "lending" and has a special Gulf archive, which includes a historical summary of the development of Abu Dhabi by Clarence Mann, now long out of print.

I lived in a larger city than Ms Crocetti did and felt initially that this book did not pertain to my experience. As time passed and I went through the cycles of adjustment described, I decided to re-read this book. Not only did I find the cycles of adjustment were as described, but also that the values of the Emirati culture were manifesting themselves in my life. The understanding I gained about them from this book helped me to be more patient, relaxed and respectful. I thought, too, that the book was negative because I had so much hope and expectation for my time working in the UAE. I see now that this author has really given us a realistic view of what to expect from living in the Emirates. I have read numerous Culture Shock! books and can confidently say of the writing- this is one of the best.

Culture Shock! United Arab Emirates gave me a realistic view of what to expect from the many aspects of life in the UAE. Due to the large number of guest workers in the country, there are many cultural directions from which conflicts arise. Ms. Crocetti's insights into the juxtapositions of the many cultures and the overall flavor of the native culture influencing interactions prepared me well for my own interactions during my stay in the Emirates-both the good and the difficult.

Having lived and worked in the UAE for the past two years, I'd warn anybody planning a trip here against setting to much store by the information contained in this book. It appears that Ms Crocetti's experience of the UAE was a none-too-happy one, and I'm afraid she's let this colour her perceptions of the place. Given that the book was written fairly recently, much of the information is also strangely out-of-date -- I'd be interested to discover when she was actually here. A much better choice, in my opinion, would be The Dubai Explorer which is constantly updated and contains a comprehensive introduction to the laws, customs and constraints you'll need to know.

This book should be the compulsory complement to the plane ticket to Dubai and to United Arab Emirates. There are a lot of things to know and to discover having the first cultural contact with those places and that population. Madam Crocetti has been able to concentrate an experience of living into few pages. Madam Crocetti gently introduce the occasional tourist and the becomer resident to the Emiratis culture and particularly to the Emiratis way of life. This guide is not only useful to avoid blunders very easy to do !, as I can state personally, but to find the proper way to live also and above all. Are you considering to spend an holiday at the Dubai beaches ? Are You going to be assigned to Dubai or Jebel Ali branch office ? First of all read this very nice, very sensitive "carnet" and then ... find your way to the people and to this country. Dr. Ezio Lucenti

The author is right, things are not always what they seem. Like the desert, the culture is a mirage. Following western customs seems to be acceptable but heed Ms. Crocetti's warnings, espectially if you are a woman. It is better to err in behavior in the Emirates on the side of conservatism. And she is also right, you are in for a lot of fun living in this country.

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.

Ms Crocetti's time in the UAE was evidently not sufficient for her to form a very deep impression of the country. Many of her comments (which I often found to be smug and over-definitive) refer to features of Arab society which can be understood within a short time frame, and a number I simply felt I had to disagree with. I would also question some of her figures - her population statistics in particular. The book is not really suitable for business travellers, who would need a more serious and commerce-oriented guide. However, for Westerners arriving in the UAE for the first time, especially at the start of a period of residence, this is a useful basic introduction.

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

For all you who think of The UAE as A good Place, read This book, She only tells the truth.