Business card etiquette in the UAE: a practical guide

The UAE is one of the world's most international business environments, but first meetings still follow courtesies rooted in Emirati and wider Arab culture. Getting the small things right — how you hand over a card, how you address someone, when you follow up — signals respect and makes a lasting impression.

This guide covers traditional business-card etiquette and how it carries over to digital and NFC cards.

Make your card bilingual

Bilingual business cards — Arabic on one side, English on the other — have long been standard in the UAE, particularly when dealing with government entities and Emirati-owned businesses. Arabic is the official language, and a well-translated card shows respect for your counterpart and for the country.

A few tips:

• Use a professional translation, not an automatic one. Names and titles in particular should be checked by a native speaker.
• Keep both sides equally complete. The Arabic side shouldn't be an afterthought.
• Check right-to-left layout. Arabic reads from right to left; mixed Arabic and English text (such as phone numbers and emails) needs careful alignment.

A digital card makes this easier: one card holds both languages in full, and the reader chooses which to view.

Exchanging cards: the right hand matters

• Offer and receive cards with your right hand, or with both hands. In the region the left hand is traditionally considered unclean, so avoid using it alone to give or take a card.
• Present your card facing the recipient, with the language they're likely to read on top.
• Take a moment to read a card you receive. Glance at the name and title, perhaps comment on it, before putting it away.
• Treat it with care. Don't write on someone's card in front of them, fold it or slip it into a back pocket. A card holder is best.
• Exchange cards after introductions, not before a greeting — and not across a crowded table in a hurry.

With an NFC card, the same courtesy applies: offer the tap (“May I share my contact?”), wait for the other person to take out their phone, and hold your card near the top of their phone rather than reaching for it.

Titles and names

Titles carry weight in the UAE, and using them correctly is appreciated.

Other tips:

• Use the title and first name (for example “Dr. Ahmed” or “Sheikha Fatima”) unless invited to be less formal.
• Arabic names are often long. Your counterpart may carry a first name, father's name and family name. Use what's on their card.
• Put your own titles on your card. If you hold a doctorate or professional title, include it in both languages.

Greetings and first meetings

• Greet the most senior person first. In a group, follow the host's lead on introductions.
• Handshakes: men usually shake hands with men. When greeting a woman, wait for her to offer her hand first; if she doesn't, a nod with your right hand on your heart is a warm, respectful alternative.
• “As-salamu alaykum” (peace be upon you) is always appreciated; the reply is “Wa alaykum as-salam”.
• Accept hospitality. If you're offered Arabic coffee (gahwa) or tea, accept at least one cup. With gahwa, gently shaking the small cup from side to side signals you've had enough.
• Be punctual, even if meetings sometimes start later than planned, and expect some personal conversation before business.

Know the working week

Since January 2022, the federal government works Monday to Friday, with a shorter day on Friday, and most private companies follow a Monday-to-Friday week. Schedule meetings and follow-ups accordingly — Friday afternoon is often quieter because of Friday prayers.

During Ramadan

• Working hours are usually shorter for many organisations; plan meetings earlier in the day.
• Be discreet about eating and drinking in public during fasting hours, as a courtesy to those who are fasting.
• Greet with “Ramadan Kareem”; the usual reply is “Allahu akram”.
• Expect slower responses late in the day, and use the evenings (after iftar) for informal networking events.

Digital business card etiquette

Digital cards bring new courtesies of their own:

• Ask before you share. Offer a tap or QR scan; don't send your card to someone's WhatsApp without their agreement.
• Follow up within a day, briefly, on the channel they prefer. A short WhatsApp message referencing your meeting is common in the UAE.
• Don't add new contacts to groups or broadcast lists without asking.
• Respect their data. If someone shares their details through your card's form, use them only for the follow-up you discussed.
• Keep your card current. Nothing undermines a good first impression like an old title or a disconnected number — the great advantage of a digital card is that you never have to hand out an outdated one.

Quick checklist before your next meeting

• Bilingual card (Arabic and English), professionally translated.
• Card holder for paper cards; NFC card or QR code ready for digital.
• Correct titles for everyone you'll meet.
• Right hand for giving and receiving.
• Follow-up message drafted for the next working day.