INTERCULTURA

LRELATIONSHIP
S Prepared by :
Abu Bakar Arshad 11B 21308
 The main purpose of this research is to
demonstrate how intercultural
connections help us live together happily
and productively in a multicultural society
and foster a sense of belonging. The
major aim is to show the value of
intercultural interactions in our society by
demonstrating how to respect everyone's
unique cultural customs.
INTRODUCTION
Intercultural relationships are relations between groups or
individuals from different cultures. These relations can be
characterized by the acknowledgment of different world
views or by the ignorance of them. Especially in today's
global and multicultural world, students of intercultural
relations can use their training in many fields both
internationally and domestically, and often pursue careers
in social work, law, community development, religious
work, and urban development. Intercultural relations
provides the opportunity to direct you in experiencing and
learning about the diverse relationships
within our world.
Intercultural relations offers the opportunity to direct you
in experiencing and learning about the diverse relations
within our world.
In today's society, intercultural relationships are
common, including those spanning race, age,
religious, class,
nationality, gender preference and physical
and mental abilities. Intercultural
relationships can be between families, friends
and colleagues, in your community
and also
when you meet new people from different
countries while you’re travelling around
the globe!
INVISIBLE ASPECTS OF
CULTURE
Invisible culture is defined as the intangible parts of a
culture. This type of culture helps shape our perception,
attitudes, beliefs and values. Hidden differences include
cultural values and assumptions. Values are the worth we
attach to something or a broad tendency to prefer one state
of affairs to another—for example, freedom of speech, group
harmony, or gender equality. Assumptions are ideas that
are accepted as truths to even when there is no proof.In
most cases, the invisible aspects of culture influence or
cause the visible ones. Religious beliefs, for example, are
clearly manifest in certain holiday customs, and notions of
modesty affect styles of dress. Just because we cannot
readily see invisible diversity does not mitigate the
importance of recognizing, understanding, and addressing
invisible diversity. Invisible diversities can be a major part
of a person’s life and may impact an employee’s ability to
perform typical work activities and communicate
effectively.
They can also impact a person’s ability to move through
the recruitment and selection process.
VISIBLE ASPECTS OF
CULTURE
Visible culture refers to the elements of culture that
are visible. Visible cultural elements include artefacts,
symbols, and practices such as: art and architecture;
language, colour, and dress; social etiquette and
traditions
 Relationship
between visible and
invisible culture
Some cultural differences are visible, whilst others
are hidden. Visible culture refers to elements of
culture that are visible. Although they are the most
obvious, visible cultural differences comprise only
ten percent of our cultural identities. Culture is a
complex and elusive concept. We think we know
exactly what the term culture means until we start
talking to others about it and come across the wide
number of meanings of the term. In academic work
culture has sometimes been used as a central
concept in theories explaining human society and
behaviour, but at other times it is almost ignored.
In the humanities (literature, art, music, history)
reference is often made to culture to explain
aspects of human affairs, while in some social
sciences (especially in economics, and, until
recently, in sociology) culture sometimes doesn't
rate a mention.

Our cultures are influenced by the visible and

invisible, by the external and internal
INTERNAL
CULTURE
The internal culture can be described in two
subsets: The visible internal and the invisible
internal. The visible culture consists of the
language, literature, music, food, dress, music, visual
arts, festivals, games.

Culture is a nebulous concept and is often an

undefined aspect of an organization. Although
extensive academic literature exists relating to the
topic of organizational culture, there is no generally
accepted definition of culture. Instead, the
literature expresses many different views as to
what organizational culture is.

The internal, or subconscious, part of culture is

below the surface of a society and includes some
beliefs and the values and thought patterns that
underlie.

An Example: For example, I remember my days as a

front-line factory worker where employees would
argue over who got to sit in one of the few chairs on
the lines. Because of a perceived lack of resources,
employees became competitive, short-tempered and
hostile. You could blame the employees for being
negative, or label the managers as unenlightened,
but either only adds to the negative climate.
-Susan-
 Meanwhile, the invisible internal environment is
often more difficult to fully understand. The
elements in the invisible internal environment
include the history, processes, tacit assumptions,
and beliefs.
Although you can’t see any of these with a physical
eye, these invisible elements eventually manifest
into the physical realm of behaviors and “the way
we do things around here.”
Workplace relationships reside in the invisible
because relationships are built on the way we think
about other people. The way you see yourself and
the way you see others affect your connectedness,
or lack thereof.

EXTERNAL CULTURE
The external environment also includes both visible and
invisible cultures. The visible external culture includes,
your customers, and your competitors. For example, when
Wendy’s builds a location across the street from a Burger
King, we see how the forces in the visible cultures affect
the business for better or worse. Notice how the invisible
elements of politics, relationships, and current events are
influencing the decision-making of top executives.

Education is another way to manage external factors. For

example, sustainability is a popular topic in today’s society.
If a company chooses to become a more sustainable
organization, it is important for them to establish a training
and development program.
A training and development program can help instill
sustainability within the culture of an organization.
An initiative like sustainability needs to be instilled
and enforced throughout every level of an
organization in order to be successful
 Cultural differences
and similarities in
the UAE
Cultural difference in clothing: When in public places,
always make sure you wear pants that reach to at
least your knees and make sure your shoulders are
covered.
These rules also apply in the many malls. In resorts,
hotels, on the beach and in the desert it can all be a bit
more relaxed. Swimwear is also accepted at the beach
and at swimming pools. In mosques it is obvious (and
obligatory!) that you dress according to culture. That
means, pants or skirt that cover the ankles, long sleeves
and a headscarf for women. Also, shoes are forbidden in
mosques. It might be easy to wear a traditional hijab or
abaya.

Cultural difference in food compared to the Western

world: The Arab cuisine is known for the use of dried
fruit, legumes and especially a lot of different spices!
And that’s why you should visit the spice market in
Deira. You will find all the spices you can imagine over
there!
 Cultural difference for women: Dubai is a very safe
country and women can travel safely. As a woman, it’s
not mandatory to wear a headscarf in public but in the
mosques however, it is mandatory! In Dubai, women
have a much more liberal lifestyle than women in other
countries in the Middle East. This means women can just
drive, work, etc. over here. However, when you talk to a
local, it’s recommended to wait for a hand to be offered
to you for a handshake. This is because some pious
muslims would rather not shake hands with a woman.
But on the other hand, women are often helped first at
the supermarket, the bank etc. Government buildings
often even have separate queues for women! The metro
also has a separate train carriage for women.

Not allowed to carry alcohol: Officially alcohol is

forbidden in Dubai. It’s only allowed in areas approved
by the sheikh. Although, it’s not too bad in Dubai. It’s
mainly the other Emirates where they are much
stricter. For example, you can even import alcohol into
Dubai: you can take 4 liters per person. However, in
stores or supermarkets, alcohol is not available. Also,
you need a license to have alcohol in your own home. In
various restaurants, hotels and bars they are allowed to
give you alcohol, but only when they have a permit.
Even during excursions it is often possible to get
alcohol.
SIMILARITIES
The Culture of the United Arab Emirates is part of the
culture of Eastern Arabia. Its historical population was a
small tribal community that changed with the arrival of
an influx of foreign nationals in the mid-20th century.
Emirati culture is a blend of Arabian, Islamic, and Persian
cultures, with influences from the cultures of East Africa
and Indian Subcontinent. Islam has had a prominent
influence on local architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and
lifestyle. The UAE's official language is Arabic, but English
is widely spoken due to the country's diverse nature and
economic globalization. Farsi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and
Mandarin are also widely spoken by expatriates from
Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China.

Native Emirati nationals speak the Gulf Arabic, which

is similar to that spoken in other GCC countries and
Iraq.

Emirati architecture reflects the traditional lifestyles and

customs of the people. Building materials are simple, but
well-adapted to local living and climate. For migrant
tribes, portable tents traditionally provided shelter
during the winter season. Inland, more permanent
houses were built of stone guss with roofs made from
palm tree leaves.
Fossilized coral, cut in blocks, bonded with sarooj or a
seashell-derived lime mixture, and plastered with chalk
and water paste, was used extensively in coastal
regions.
 English is the Common Language Arabic is the
national language of the UAE. But not many people
know that English is the most common language.
Due to almost 90%, Dubai’s population is consist of
ex- pats from all over the world, they communicate
in English with each other. Sometimes you don’t
have to say or hear a single word of Arabic for
many days during your stay in Dubai. There is a
high possibility that you meet someone who is living
in Dubai for many years but still don’t know the
basics of Arabic.

Multi-Cultural Society A Large number of immigrants

from all over the world are living in these both cities.
The beauty of Multi-cultural society make these cities
more vibrant, diverse and the best places to move to.
Multi- Cultural society let people understand others
culture, religion, lifestyle and most importantly it
brings them closer to each other.
 DIFFERENT
APPROACHES
TO CULTURE
The Etiquette & Customs Approach: First of all, it is useful
to know about people’s customs and habits, for example,
when and how they greet others. There are many books on
this topic, from professional studies to popular travel
guides.
There are videos and websites that help us know how to
behave in everyday encounters with people who are
different from us. Knowing what behavior is expected in
particular situations can help us enormously—we can more
quickly feel comfortable and blend in a bit, and we can
prevent some unintentional insults. The downsides to this
approach are that it is

The Cultural Dimensions Approach: Another approach is to

learn models of culture that help alert us to those areas
where in our differences are likely to show up and where
the differences will make a difference. For example, some
people have a deep respect for authority and hierarchy
 DIFFERENT
APPROACHES
TO CULTURE
The Cultural Detective Approach: A powerful way to
understand the motives of others and ourselves is by
learning about core values. As a Cultural Detective we want
to know what lies behind peoples’ many differences and
what drives the gestures, words, and preferences of the
people with whom we interact.

The Language Learning Approach: We can also learn the

language of our colleagues, clients, students, or neighbors.
This could mean anything from learning their slang or TLAs
(three-letter abbreviations) to mastering Arabic, Mandarin,
or Verlan. Language is, of course, a key to understanding
how people think, how they see the world, and what is
important to them. It is supremely valuable for
communicating across cultures. But, learning another
tongue takes a long time.
Learning their language may not be a step that you have
time to take before interacting with people from another
culture
 Examples of culture
complexes and
traits of the UAE
Customs and Traditions Emiratis practice a variety of
customs and traditions that are distinct and unique to
their country. For instance, Arab coffee is served in
Dallah
- the Arabic coffee pot to guests in this country as a
symbol of hospitality. It is deemed rude and disrespectful
to refuse it as it is offered in a welcoming gesture.
Falconry is another tradition in UAE that reflects the
Bedouin culture of UAE, dating back to hundreds of
years. The falcon called as ‘Saqr’, is considered a symbol
of bravery, resolution, strong-will, elegance, and
contentment. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is one of the
most famous places for falconry; known for its desert
safaris that provide easy access to the bird to the delight
of visitors.

Incredible Architecture Heavily influenced and inspired

by Persian, Arabian, and Islamic architecture, the
architecture here reflects the age-old customs, traditions,
lifestyle & the rich culture of UAE and the Emiratis. The
local architects utilize a diverse range of materials and
survey the climatic conditions carefully to ensure that
people get sufficient ventilation and privacy. ‘Barjeel’ or a
‘Windtower’ is a typical Iranian architectural element that
 Religion: Religion plays a significant role in the cities of
UAE; with equal respect given to all religious practices
across cultures. A majority of the population
(approximately 76%) practice Islam in the country; with
more Sunni than Shia Muslims. Hinduism, Christianity,
Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism, are the other
minority religions practised in the country. The
country is home to some of the most beautiful
mosques in the world, and there are specific laws in
place so that Muslims can practice Islam. For instance,
working hours are reduced by two hours during
Ramadan. Also, the official working days are Sunday to
Thursday, so that Muslims can offer their Friday
prayers without any difficulty.

Art in the UAE : The diverse culture of UAE can further

be observed in elements such as art, music, dance,
literature, and theatre. There are many art galleries and
museums in this country that reflect the past as well as
provide some insight into the future. Calligraphy is a
famous traditional art here, that presents Arabic words
as an aesthetic piece of art. When it comes to
contemporary literature, ‘Nabati poetry’, that traces
lives and routines of people over the years, and ‘Spoken
poetry’ are two of the most popular elements in the
UAE.
 Cuisine: The cuisine is a reflection of the diverse
culture of UAE, augmented with a number of spices
and ingredients such as dates, cloves, cardamom,
cinnamon, saffron, etc. A Bedouin recipe in which a
cooked camel stuffed with goats, sheep, and chickens,
is the specialty of this country. Though since camel
meat is expensive, it is usually reserved for special
occasions. Some other popular food items in this
country are the following: Harees, prepared by slowly
cooking cracked wheat and meat, and served in a
small quantity during Eid and Ramadan. Kabsa
consists of multiple rice dishes with vegetables and
meat.
Maqluba, a popular dish prepared by blending and
cooking meat, rice, and vegetables in a pot and
turning them over in the end so that the bottom
layer lays on the top, is served with a simple salad,
yogurt, or sauce.

Dressing Style: The style of dressing of the Emiratis

is influenced by Islamic texts preaching modesty
and conservativeness, and thus, men and women
alike wear clothes that cover most parts of their
body.

Abaya, a long black cloak that covers the whole

body except the feet, hands, and face, is the
traditional
dress of women in the Arab Emirates.
Kandura is a long and loose-fitting robe, usually white
in colour that is worn by men in the Arab Emirates
and is generally paired up with Ghutrah, a typical
headscarf that can be tied in various styles. The
length of Kandura is often used to determine the
status of the person, such that the longer the robe is,
the more wealthy the person is. Further, some
people, especially youths and expats, are seen
wearing more western clothing items such as jeans
and T-shirt in cities like Dubai

Music and dance also play a vital role in UAE; with

songs and dances that have been passed down over
generations and still performed during celebrations.
Depicting traditional values such as unity among the
tribe members, Stick dance is one of the most
popular dance forms in UAE. Khaleegy is another
popular dance form in UAE in which women
rhythmically move their bodies and sway their hair
to strong beats of music.
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