The Gulf workplace: an overview

The GCC is one of the world's most multicultural workplaces. In Dubai, over 85% of the population is expatriate — you'll work alongside people from India, the UK, the US, the Philippines, Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, and dozens of other countries. This creates a genuinely international environment where no single cultural norm dominates.

That said, the host culture — Arabic, Islamic — shapes the workplace in important ways. Understanding and respecting these norms isn't just good manners; it directly affects how you're perceived and how quickly you progress.

Working hours and the working week

UAE and Qatar: Sunday to Thursday

The traditional Gulf working week runs Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Most private sector companies in the UAE and Qatar work these hours, typically 9am to 6pm. Friday is the Islamic holy day and the day of Jumu'ah (the congregational prayer), so it's always a day off.

Note that some multinationals (particularly US-headquartered companies) align to Monday to Friday to ease global coordination. Your offer letter will specify your working week.

Saudi Arabia: now Monday to Friday

Saudi Arabia changed its official working week to Monday to Friday in 2023, aligning with global business calendars. This was a significant shift — Friday remains a half-day in some government entities, but most private sector companies now work the standard international week.

Typical hours

9am to 6pm with a one-hour lunch break is standard. Construction and oil and gas field roles often start earlier (6am or 7am) to avoid peak heat. Some sectors — investment banking, law, management consulting — have the same long-hours culture as their global counterparts.

Commute tip

Traffic in Dubai and Riyadh is severe during peak hours (8-9:30am and 5:30-7:30pm). Many professionals leave early or late to avoid it. If your employer allows flexible start times, take advantage. The metro in Dubai significantly reduces commute time if you're near a station.

Ramadan in the workplace

Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting and is observed across all GCC countries. It affects the workplace significantly.

Working hours are legally reduced by two hours per day during Ramadan across all GCC countries. Many businesses shift to split shifts or shorter days. Productivity is generally lower, meetings run shorter, and major decisions are often deferred until after Ramadan.

Non-Muslim employees are not expected to fast, but eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight hours is prohibited by law. Keep food and drink at your desk or in designated areas. Don't eat in front of fasting colleagues without asking if they mind.

The end of Ramadan — Eid Al Fitr — is a major public holiday, typically three to five days. Eid Al Adha (two months later) is another major holiday. These are the Gulf's equivalents of Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Hierarchy and decision-making

Gulf workplaces are hierarchical. This affects how decisions are made, how disagreement is expressed, and how relationships form.

Decisions flow top-down

In most Gulf organisations — particularly government-linked entities and family-owned companies — significant decisions are made by senior leadership and flow downward. This can feel slow if you're used to flat Western start-up cultures. Don't mistake it for dysfunction; it's the norm, and working within it rather than against it makes you more effective.

Disagree privately, not publicly

Publicly disagreeing with or correcting a senior colleague — especially in front of others — is considered disrespectful and can seriously damage your relationships. If you have a concern or a different view, raise it privately, frame it as a question, and give the other person room to consider it without feeling challenged.

Wasta matters

Wasta (roughly: influence, connections, or pull) is a genuine feature of Gulf business culture. Having the right relationships and being vouched for by respected people accelerates decisions and opens doors. Building genuine relationships — not just transactional ones — is a career investment that compounds over time.

Business etiquette by country

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UAE
  • Most international of the GCC — very multicultural norms
  • Handshakes common in business settings with men
  • Wait for an Emirati woman to extend her hand first
  • Business cards are exchanged with both hands
  • Meetings often start with small talk (coffee, dates)
  • First names are used relatively quickly at most companies
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Saudi Arabia
  • More conservative than UAE — formal titles used longer
  • Prayer times (5 per day) pause business activity
  • Strong coffee (qahwa) offered at meetings — accept it
  • Business moves slowly — relationships come before business
  • Gender-mixed offices now common in private sector
  • The Friday/Saturday weekend has moved to Sat/Sun
🇶🇦
Qatar
  • Similar to UAE — highly international in Doha
  • Government entities are more formal than private sector
  • Education City has a distinctly academic culture
  • QatarEnergy has a strong safety and compliance culture
  • Hospitality is important — decline food/drink politely, not abruptly

Dress code

Business dress in the Gulf is formal. While the UAE has become more casual at tech companies and startups, the default for professional settings — meetings, client visits, client-facing work — remains smart business attire.

Men

Suit and tie for formal meetings and interviews. Smart casual (chinos, collared shirt) is acceptable at most offices day-to-day. Shorts are for the beach, not the office. Some tech companies are more relaxed, but err on the side of formal until you've read the room.

Women

Conservative business attire covering shoulders and knees is the norm. In Saudi Arabia, women are not legally required to wear abaya in most settings as of recent reforms, though many choose to in government offices. In the UAE, there's more flexibility, but modest dress is expected in most professional contexts. In DIFC and Dubai Media City, international dress norms are more closely followed.

What's changed — and what's changing fast

The Gulf is transforming rapidly. Saudi Arabia ten years ago looked very different to Saudi Arabia today. Some of the biggest cultural shifts in the workplace:

  • Women in the Saudi workforce have gone from rare to mainstream — female participation has grown dramatically since 2017
  • Entertainment venues, cinemas, concerts, and mixed-gender events are now common in Saudi Arabia
  • UAE has introduced ten-year golden visas for skilled professionals, reducing transience in the workforce
  • Remote and hybrid work has become accepted at many international employers
  • Mental health and employee wellbeing are receiving more attention than five years ago
  • The enforcement of Emiratisation and Saudisation has become stricter and more consequential

Work culture FAQ

Most private sector companies in UAE and Qatar work Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm. Saudi Arabia changed to Monday to Friday in 2023. Working hours are legally reduced by 2 hours per day during Ramadan. Government entities often work shorter hours. At investment banks, law firms, and management consultancies, the culture mirrors global norms — long hours are expected.
Very. Gulf business culture is strongly hierarchical. Decisions flow top-down, seniors are addressed formally, and publicly disagreeing with superiors is avoided. This doesn't mean ideas aren't heard, but the form matters. Express disagreement privately, offer alternatives rather than direct criticism, and always acknowledge seniority in group settings.
There are five daily prayers in Islam. During Ramadan in particular, prayer times affect the rhythm of the workday more visibly. In Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, businesses may pause during prayer times. In the UAE and Qatar, most international offices don't formally pause, but Muslim colleagues will take a few minutes for prayer. Be aware of this, schedule important meetings to avoid prayer peaks, and don't interpret prayer breaks as unprofessionalism.
It varies by country. The UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) has licensed venues where alcohol is sold — hotels, licensed restaurants, and private clubs. You need a personal liquor permit to buy from shops (though enforcement varies). Qatar has very limited licensed venues. Saudi Arabia does not permit alcohol. Kuwait and much of the rest of the GCC is dry. Understanding this matters for how you socialise with clients and colleagues.
All GCC countries criminalise same-sex relationships under law. In practice, the UAE — particularly Dubai — has a large LGBTQ+ expat community that operates discreetly. Public displays of affection are not advisable for anyone, regardless of orientation. Saudi Arabia is significantly more conservative and enforcement is more active. This is a deeply personal decision that individuals must make for themselves with full awareness of the legal context.