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Discovering a new culture and the context of the international business it is not enough just to wish for it, it is necessary to take action, to challenge oneself, not only at the managerial level, providing the economic resources to carry out the field work, but it is about having vision, determination, making the decision and setting a date for that longed-for visit.
In recent days I had the opportunity to materialize the trip to Dubai, a trip, thought for several years, which was brewing as a result of the new global landscape and was finally real, in addition to fulfilling a personal dream, long-awaited, I start to include it in my wallpaper for a few years, to go through the respective investigations to get informed to this country, culminating in the immersion of 10 days in this 2022.
Dubai is one of the 7 emirates, composed of: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sarja and Umm al-Qaywayn. It borders Oman to the southeast, the Persian Gulf to the north and Saudi Arabia to the west and south.
However, walking the streets, taking the subway, entering the supermarkets, talking to cab drivers and waiters gave me a more practical vision than the travel guides that thanks to the internet we have available, therefore, below I will mix learning with tips, so that when you visit the Arab Emirates you will have a map of what you will find.
Mobility: The metro, with its red line, connects all of Dubai, in an easy, practical and arguably fast way, always organized, clean and with a couple of cars exclusively for women and children, is the most economical and viable option to move around the city to the various event sites.
It is important to buy the metro card if you are going to require the continuous use of it, which can be purchased by paying in AED (Durhams) or in dollars, otherwise, you can still purchase the individual ticket, its value will depend on the route to be traveled.
You should know that you cannot drink water, consume food or chew gum; the clothing is what each person considers appropriate, no one looks more than they should and the environment is absolutely safe, so the fear of robbery is ruled out.
Cabs are very safe, usually are drivers from countries like India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, always friendly, smiling, however, the cost is high, so the best option is the bus and / or subway, and will depend on the budget.
The main avenue, with 10 lanes, gets a little jammed during rush hour, however, there are no holes or constructions on the road that cause delays, so it will be amazing to travel these highways, designed not for the moment, but for many years to come when the population and businesses continue to grow.
They are free to use Uber or Careem if they prefer the app for their mobility.
Distances are usually long, so walking is not the usual thing to do, especially in summer, when the temperature reaches 45°, but walking around the area where the hotel is located is always a good idea.
Supermarkets: Most of them are open 24 hours a day, they receive all means of payment, all kinds of products are available, coming from Asia and Africa, few of them from Central or South America, here is a great opportunity.
You can find stores in the format Hard discountThis can be a valuable option for companies that have scale production and can compete in this format.
At this point it is more than relevant to determine good logistics to meet the deadlines. There are also other types of more sophisticated supermarkets, gourmet and healthy products, focused on the organic trend, for example.
There is a lack of an incisive campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags in supermarkets, which caught my attention and in that sense, if I see it in some Latin American countries, which are tightening measures to contribute to the reduction of this material, at least, including a tax on the purchase of these bags.
Prices are high for all kinds of items, except for water bottles, which I actually found quite affordable, especially given the geographical position and location of the country.
Other products, for example a banana, can cost 1.7 AED (Durham), equivalent to 0.60 cents, which is not the average cost in Latam, as well as a green apple, can be worth 3.5 AED, $ 4,000 for one unit, so the invitation is to enjoy in our countries the wonders of fruits and vegetables that we have.
Culture: Dubai is a country that has a labor force made up of immigrants, who as I mentioned before, come from India, Iran, Kuwait, etc, who seek job opportunities and then transfer money to their families, so this cultural convergence is fantastic, different faiths, religions, dress, customs, etc, are respected, so that everyone can feel welcome without judgment, and although many foreigners do not identify with ancient practices of the Arabs, they are always open to receive the individuality of each visitor.
There is a dichotomy between what we think is sexist in the west and what is customary in the east, however, I sincerely felt safe in the women-only train carriage, which I decided to get on, it is NOT an obligation, everyone decides whether to do it or not, also, walking alone through the streets of Dubai, after a PCR, at 1:00 am, was very quiet, no one makes compliments or says anything, unless, of course, you make a query, if so, they try to help you with the best attitude, and the best possible way:00 am, was very quiet, no person makes compliments or says anything, unless, of course you make any inquiry, if so, they try to help you with the best attitude, and in the best possible way.
OpportunitiesI will mention some aspects below:
- Dubai recognizes all university degrees, so as long as you know English, it is absolutely feasible for any of the multinationals that have established themselves there to hire you, without any inconvenience.
- In the health field, professionals are received to meet the high demand for private services, such as dentistry, esthetics, etc., therefore it is feasible to apply in this field.
- Construction is growing by leaps and bounds, so materials, labor, tools, or related products are required quickly, as the vision of the current government is to position DUBAI as a business center of reference in the world.
- High-end fashion will always have a place, so the Mall has been built to provide access to the best dresses, shoes, handbags, jewelry, watches and accessories that, depending on the designer, can be purchased for thousands of dollars.
- Beauty, cosmetic and related products are welcome, because despite not exposing themselves so much publicly, Arab women invest a lot of money in skin care, in the acquisition of products to always look good.
- In terms of food, with the interaction of different cultures, the range of products required is increasing, the important thing is to keep in mind that even in the simplest place in a neighborhood, tomato sauces are HALAL, this means that certifications, compliance with quality standards are absolutely necessary before opting to conquer the market.
Regarding ExpoDubaiIt is a fantastic exhibition in which hundreds of countries of the world participate, showing their culture, crafts, etc., however, it is more a family space than a business space, so although it is well worth visiting, it is in a different line than the Comex, I reiterate that the exhibition center is overwhelming, it is huge, thinking big, with hundreds of colors, shows, which are difficult to go through in one day.
In addition to participating in the fairs, I recommend giving yourself the space to take a tour, walk the streets aimlessly, enter the stores in our sector to do benchmarking and as I always say, attend with an open mind, It has happened to me that because I am a woman, sometimes they ignore you or delay in taking you into account, but it is part of the experience with which we should not be indisposed and of course, always have a good attitude, also remember that opportunities are there, just at the least expected moment, and to close this summary, I will allow myself to share with you an anecdote that I lived in Gulfood 2022.
While I was taking a picture of a stand, a man approached me to ask me to take a picture, to which I agreed without problem, then came the conversation of what we were doing and the presentation (elevator Pitch), finding that my interlocutor is the BUYER of a chain of SUPERMARKETS in Singapore, with whom I was in contact to move forward with the shipment of our and potential medium-term purchase of some products, so enjoy every moment and collect learning that are priceless treasures for our lives and professions.
