Since we had some formal meetings with the client this week, we had an opportunity to observe the traditional greeting between Emiratis. The women simply reach a hand out and clasp (not really a shake, just holding for a minute), very similar to the United States. Women are allowed to touch other women, but men do not touch them at all.
The men touch noses. It was fascinating to watch the Emirati men each walk into the room and then go down the line of other men, very slowly moving the face closer and closer until the noses touch, then move to the next man. I was across the room so I couldn't hear but Tahir said they make a kissing sound at the moment the noses touch too.
Interestingly, the first day we arrived, we were greeting our project sponsors, one of which is a woman (L). As she went down the line of us saying hello, Felipe was right beside me and, like everyone else, he held his hand out too. L giggled a bit and said "well, I'm not supposed to, but ok..." and quickly shook his hand. Then we laughed.
So much fun to see this tiny bit of culture! #ibmcsc uae
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