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Abu Dhabi Office
T: +971 (0) 2 641 9914
F: +971 (0) 2 641 9915
M: +971 (0)50 616 4847

info@embracearabia.com
P.O.Box 75858,
Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Cultural Awareness Course

Why Intercultural Awareness training?
Have you ever felt frustrated by the fact that you are acting in a way which is fundamentally different than your other colleagues? Have you ever felt that the way you correspond and react is somehow strange to your other colleagues coming from different countries and backgrounds? That they seem to be sending you mixed messages-and that their body language is confusing?

The role of Intercultural awareness training:
The cultural influences of your staff reflected in different attitudes and behaviors that are conditioned by cultural values and perceptions are so deep that we act upon them instinctively—in everything we do, from the way we stand and talk, to the way we deal with superiors, conflict and decision-making. Since these differences are so deep and intuitive, they can lead to substantial misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Nowhere can this be more detrimental than in an international workplace, where misunderstandings based on culture can make or break lucrative business deals, international mergers and any other type of cross-cultural working.

Embrace Arabia’s Intercultural Awareness Training courses will raise your cultural awareness and enable you to communicate effectively across cultures. Tailored in close collaboration with you and your organization operating in UAE, our Cultural Awareness Training courses will develop your own cultural awareness and enable you to work more effectively with counterparts from other cultures.

Benefits
Embrace Arabia’s Intercultural Awareness Training course will provide you with:

  • In-depth cultural awareness and understanding of the impact of cultural differences

  • The necessary foundation and tools to become culturally competent

  • A better understanding of the cultural challenges facing multicultural workplaces

  • The opportunity to enhance cultural sensitivity and competence

  • Practical tools to reduce cross-cultural misunderstanding and encourage positive cross-cultural working relationships

Who should attend?
An Embrace Arabia Intercultural Awareness Training course will be of benefit to you if:

  • Your organization has a multi-cultural staff from different countries and backgrounds

  • Your organization is growing its business beyond national borders

  • Your staff is becoming more culturally diverse

  • You are involved in multinational projects and programmes

Course content
Embrace Arabia Intercultural Awareness Training courses are designed to meet the specific needs of our clients depending on their specific requirements and existing skills set. A Cultural Awareness Training course typically includes:

  1. The Middle East/Gulf society before discovery of oil (the oasis trading & pearl diving era)

  2. Key influences of the Gulf Culture

  3. Islam in Focus

  4. The Culture - Core Cultural Values

  5. Values and Stereotyping

  6. Business Elements, Concepts and Applications

  7. The Business Environment

  8. UAE in Focus

  9. Special Issues

  10. Questions and Answers

Approach
Intercultural Awareness Training courses are available as one or two days course as recommended by Embrace Arabia presenters and trainers, however; we can also offer a more flexible format to suit your schedule.

The course venue is something that you can decide according to your own preferences. Suitably tailored cultural awareness materials will be used throughout your Intercultural Awareness Training course and your trainer will provide a balance of structured input and discussion of case studies and scenarios relevant to your own particular context.

The most appropriate training format, content and approach for your Cultural Awareness Training course will be discussed during your diagnostic consultancy.

Intercultural Awareness Training course trainer
Your Intercultural Awareness Training course trainer will be assigned to you following the results of your diagnostic consultancy according to your objectives and areas of focus. Detailed below is a sample profile.

Ali Alsaloom
A University of Central Florida, Orlando, Hospitality Management & Tourism graduate, Ali has pursued many areas of the tourism business while still living in USA, including opening a unique Middle Eastern themed restaurant in Orlando, USA, offering a buffet.

Upon returning to the UAE, Ali took as position in Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers one of the leading Hotel chains in the Middle East as Front Office Assistant Manager in order to gain very practical experience in the hospitality industry. His next international experience was in Canada where he completed his MBA specializing in Brand Management from Wilfrid Laruier University, Waterloo.

While studying for his MBA, Ali had the opportunity to give lectures about Cross Culture Management to fellow students and lecturers. Ali joined Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority working at the MICE department, Meeting, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition. His strong knowledge and awareness about his country history and culture aspects has given him the advantage to take the role of delivering a special city tours and presentations to VIP guests of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

Ali’s passion for traveling and learning about other cultures was inherited from his father who was a frequent business traveler. Through his opportunity to travel and love of learning new cultures has enabled him to learn more languages such as English, South Korean & German. Ali is a passionate presenter and open minded nature and strong cultural and religious awareness allows him to give a unique insight into Gulf culture in every session he conducts


Course Info

Format
The format of your course is determined following a diagnostic consultancy with you. This comprises a detailed assessment of your needs and objectives. At this point, Embrace Arabia will forward our recommendations on appropriate course formats for your approval. We appreciate that the demands made on our clients means that our courses need to combine results-focused training with flexibility and we keep this need at the forefront when putting forward proposals on suitable course formats.

Duration
Embrace Arabia's diagnostic consultancy process includes discussion on course duration. Once an understanding is established of your needs and objectives, we recommend the necessary course length commitment needed. We will only move on to programme design once we have consulted with you and agreed a practicable schedule that meets you and your organization's needs.
So, depending on your requirements, your course may be organized as an intensive one or two day session followed up by a third feedback session at a later date. Alternatively, you may find that you require a series of half day workshops to be held throughout a set period to allow different employees in your organization to attend. Our Office Manager will be responsible for managing and liaising with you on all aspects of agreeing your course duration.

Schedule
Embrace Arabia's standard operating hours are Sunday to Thursday, 08:00 am- 05:00 pm. Should you require sessions outside these core hours, subject to trainer availability, Embrace Arabia will be happy to make necessary arrangements on your behalf.

Cost
As all our courses are entirely tailored to your needs, full training fees will be provided to you in a proposal following your diagnostic consultancy session with Embrace Arabia.

Location
All Embrace Arabia training courses are conducted in advised venues provided by the client. Venues are either the premises of the client’s organization or arranged in a hotel through the Hotel banqueting Department.



 
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Ali, Just a short note to thank you for the fantastic organization of my short business visit to Dubai and Al Ain, Your Business & Cultural Consideration lessons were very helpful and appreciated, I was very pleased with all the arrangements offered by you and your colleagues in Dubai. I will be back!

Laila, Spain



More Testimonials>>

Latest News


March 2010
The "Ask Ali Miniguide" will be launched at the Abu Dhabi International book fair, that will be held from 2nd till 7th of March 2010 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. For your chance, to be one of the first to get a copy of the first guiding book about the Emirates written by an Emirati, pass by at the Embrace Arabia Stand (hall 8 stand G02). Ali Alsaloom and the Embrace Arabia team are looking forward meeting you! The book-fair is open 2nd till 4rd of March 9:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 22:00; on 5th of March 16:00 to 22:00 and on 6th and 7th of March 9:00 to 22:00. ...


February 2010
A Cultural Awareness Session with Ali Alsaloom will be hosted by the Sharjah Museum Department on Saturday, 6th of February, starting at 11.oo in the Sharjah Heritage Museum. The entry is free of charge and no previous booking is required. For more information and directions please see http://www.sharjahmuseums.ae/ ...


January 2010
Ali Alsaloom will be speaking at the 10th Unleash Your DNA Seminar on January 30th 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The UNLEASH YOUR DNA is the "Middle East's 1st Socially Responsible Education-Based Initiative", created by RAW Group LLC (www.rawltd.com) ...


December 2009
Abu Dhabi: The first Abu Dhabi Innovation Forum 2010, scheduled to take place on January 11-12 will introduce two Emirati innovators from the panel of keynote speakers. ...


December 2009
Two talented Emiratis to address Abu Dhabi Innovation Forum
ABU DHABI - When it comes to displaying innovative and creative skills, Emiratis have that in abundance. Omran Al Hallami has come up with ‘Aqua Villa’, an eco-friendly villa that floats on water and uses solar energy. And Ali Al Saloom utilised his immense knowledge to tell non-Emiratis living ...


October 2009
Ali Al Saloom is changing the way visitors experience the United Arab Emirates, by Lara Dunson on One+ ...


February 15, 2009
Ali on Sun Herald ...


September 20, 2009
Iftar in Canadian embassy in Abu Dhabi ...


September 9th, 2009
Culture Consciousness, the Ali Al Saloom Way ...


June 13th, 2009
Ali Alsaloom, a cultural adviser, offers advice in an open letter to Paris Hilton on the sensibilities of the Emirates and how to avoid pitfalls...