UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: A DYNAMIC CENTER WHERE TRADITION AND MODERNISM MEET

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a dynamic country where modern life and traditional culture are intertwined. Both the flow
of daily life and the functioning of the business world are shaped by hospitality and strong social ties. Mehmet Ali Akarca,
Chairperson of DEİK/Türkiye-UAE Business Council, shared his experiences in many different areas from the streets of the UAE
to its markets, from local cuisine to the business world for Business Diplomacy readers

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE DAILY LIFE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)? WHAT IMPRESSED YOU THE MOST IN THE STREETS, MARKETS, OR OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GATHER?

In addition to our meetings and business meetings, I had the opportunity to experience daily life in the United Arab Emirates. I was impressed by the dynamic and multicultural structure of the UAE, the intertwining of modern buildings with traditional bazaars. I observed that traditional culture is in harmony with the fast-paced modern life in big cities. Traditional markets with colorful spices, handmade products, and fresh food reminded me of local markets in Türkiye.

The hospitality and generosity of people in the United Arab Emirates is remarkable. During my visits, I observed that the society respects each other and cooperation is seen as an important value. In summary, daily life in the United Arab Emirates reflects a lifestyle that blends modernity and tradition and where social ties are strong.

WHAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING TRADITION OR CULTURAL ASPECT YOU ENCOUNTERED IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES? HOW DID THIS EXPERIENCE CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE OR UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE?

One of the most interesting traditions I encountered in the UAE was the majlis culture. Majlis are meeting places where families and friends come together and chat, where hospitality is at the forefront. Serving coffee and dates here reflects the heritage of Bedouin culture. Hospitality also plays an important role in the business world. In business meetings, personal conversations are held first, rather than getting straight to the point. This is an important tradition for strengthening social ties in the business world.

DO YOU HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE MEMORY OF UAE CUISINE? HOW DID THE HOSPITALITY OF THE LOCALS LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON YOU?

The cuisine of a country is one of the most enjoyable ways to understand the people and culture of that region. I had the opportunity to try many different flavors during my visits to Dubai. I was especially interested in local flavors such as shawarma, machboos, and luqaimat. Appetizers such as tabbouleh and hummus are among the flavors we are familiar with in Türkiye. Everywhere we went in the UAE, we were welcomed with warm hospitality. This cultural approach stands out as an important element that strengthens human relations.

CAN YOU SHARE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE YOU HAD IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES THAT LEFT A DEEP IMPRESSION ON YOU?

One of the most memorable experiences I had in the UAE was watching Dubai from the top of the Burj Khalifa. The night view of the city and the light shows were impressive. The cosmopolitan nature of Dubai was also one of the things that attracted my attention; you can hear many languages on the streets such as Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog as well as Arabic. As of 2024, the city has a population of approximately 3.6 million, with 85-90 percent foreigners.

There is probably no other city like this in the world! I was also impressed to see how the UAE is breaking boundaries with technology and engineering despite the harsh desert conditions. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the most advanced cities in the modern world, with advanced infrastructure and sustainable projects.

WAS THERE A PLACE YOU VISITED IN THE UAE THAT FASCINATED YOU? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ATMOSPHERE OR THE LANDSCAPE OF THAT PLACE?

One of the most fascinating places I visited in the UAE was the Al Fahidi Historic Quarter. Walking through the old streets and seeing the traditional Emirati architecture was a different experience. Places like the Dubai Museum and the Jumeirah Mosque helped me understand the cultural and historical heritage of the country. Historical souks such as Souq Al Kabeer allowed me to see the UAE’s traditional way of life up close.

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED OR FASCINATED YOU ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE IN THE UAE RELATE TO EACH OTHER?

One of the things that impressed me the most in the UAE was the way people from different cultures live in harmony. The culture of tolerance and respect is very evident, especially in the business world. In a city like Dubai, where 85 percent of the population is made up of foreigners, creating an organized and safe living space is a great achievement.

COULD YOU EVALUATE THE ACTIVITIES OF DEİK/ TÜRKİYE-UNITED ARAB EMIRATES BUSINESS COUNCIL IN 2024 AND TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES YOU PLAN TO ORGANIZE IN 2025?

In 2024, as DEİK/Türkiye-UAE Business Council, we made important visits. We held meetings with institutions such as the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Dubai, the Federation of the United Arab Emirates Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, AD Ports, Abu Dhabi Global Market, and DP World to develop bilateral trade relations and remove trade barriers.

In this process, we decided to proceed on a sectoral basis and identified priority sectors. We participated in the “Doing Business with Türkiye – New Horizons” event organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in Istanbul and held 243 bilateral business meetings between Turkish and Emirati companies. We also held nearly 130 B2B meetings in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software, cyber security, and fintech to increase Türkiye’s export volume in digital technologies.

Throughout 2024, we published the “DEİK/Türkiye-United Arab Emirates Business Council Bulletin” in order to convey the current developments in the United Arab Emirates market to our members and we will continue this practice. In 2025, we are expanding our webinar series where we share information on various topics related to the United Arab Emirates. We plan to add sectors such as human resources, banking, logistics and tourism to these series, which we started with topics such as “Introduction to the UAE Food Sector” and “UAE New Tax System and Business Outlook”.

We are also launching our “Freezone Promotion Days” series to introduce the free zones in the UAE to our members. We are developing joint projects with DTIK to strengthen the Turkish diaspora in the UAE. In 2025, we are planning delegation visits to the food, logistics, health, and construction sectors. We aim to organize a business forum and roundtable meetings within the scope of the “Türkiye-UAE JETCO” meeting planned for April. As DEİK/Türkiye-UAE Business Council, we will continue our efforts to further strengthen the relations between the two countries.