November Special Edition 2021

28 Employees expect to form a strong bond with their manager, who will guide them and become, like their colleagues, an extended family. They do not expect constant feedback (which causes loss of face) or to be singled out for criticism. Leadership Styles Emirati-owned companies and government businesses favor a strong vertical hierarchy. Management is more personal than in Israel and jobs and organizations tend to be molded around the people within them, rather than trying to fit an individual into a specific role. Authority is rarely delegated and even the smallest decisions are made from the top, usually by consensus. Leaders will surround themselves with friends and family members, as well as experts, who will advise on important decisions. A change of leadership could cause a systemic change throughout the company. Israelis’ flat and decision efficient organizational culture may find Emirati organizations challenging. Delegating & Supervising In a vertical hierarchy, subordinates rarely replace managers in meetings and negotiations, since this would insult the other side. An Israeli accustomed to representing his organization in various business interactions should be mindful to always send a senior team to negotiate. Supervision is usually fairly close, given the extended family nature of Emirati companies, but feedback is only given sporadically and with great care. Both Arab culture and those from the Indian subcontinent place a strong emphasis on saving face and feedback must be sensitively handled. Sharing Information The flow of information in the UAE is controlled. Within companies, information flow depends entirely on the corporate culture. Big multinationals with offices in the Emirates usually have flatter structures and better systems of internal communication. Information within Emirati-owned companies may only be shared on a 'need to know' basis and lower-ranking employees are unlikely to be privy to what is going on at the top. Arabs are natural networkers used to this culture and will use their own contacts for information. Expatriates need to work the system and network with as many locals and other expatriates as possible; the business community in the Emirates is relatively small and contacts are everything.