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• GDP = $2.7 trillion 16% of US GDP⟹ ⟹ 55% of Japanese GDP

• Natural resources: ⟹ 55.8% of the world’s proven oil reserves⟹ 27.3% of the global reserves of natural gas

•22 Arab countries

• Arab Region 13.3 million km² ⟹= 9.6% of the total world area

• Population 370 million people ⟹= 5.2% of the world’s population

• Labour force 130 million ⟹workers (Arab Monetary Fund,2013)

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France2013

Germany2014

Luxembourg2014

UK2013

Belgium2014

Total Exchanges with Arab Countries (billions €)

54,44 49,8 0,23 49,3 18,8

Population (millions) 66 81 0,52 63,5 11,2

Exchanges per capita 824,84€ 614,8€ 442,0€ 776,40€ 1786,65€

Key partners

Country 2012 2013 2014Variation

(%)2013/2014

1 .United Arab Emirates 2.409.913,0 3.244.897,1 3.600.096,1 +10,92 .Saudi Arabia 1.578.122,9 1.826.806,8 1.693.798,1 -7,3

3 .Egypt 1.329.672,5 1.262.589,6 1.166.081,4 -7,64 .Algeria 1.073.806,7 1.075.705,1 1.163.154,3 +8,1

5 .Morocco 828.410,1 803.068,8 819.635,9 +2,16 .Lebanon 307.781,8 378.002,0 381.012,6 +0,8

7 .Tunisia 408.321,5 370.097,0 329.363,3 -11,08 .Jordan 185.638,2 196.085,1 324.915,2 +65,7

9 .Iraq 171.137,8 224.724,5 217.241,7 -3,310 .Qatar 170.864,8 158.026,9 207.611,2 +31,4

11 .Yemen 218.742,5 414.591,8 200.198,5 -51,712 .Libya 244.799,6 230.542,6 175.905,8 -23,7

13 .Kuwait 198.426,6 164.268,8 149.077,8 -9,214 .Sultanate of Oman 290.659,6 187.872,2 145.550,8 -22,5

15 .Mauritania 131.122,4 128.126,3 101.343,2 -20,916 .Bahrain 86.548,0 65.606,7 74.030,4 +12,8

17 .Sudan 54.523,4 51.708,0 43.253,2 -16,418 .Syria 95.541,1 50.684,5 42.599,5 -16,0

19 .Djibouti 13.730,4 15.666,5 18.394,4 +17,420 .Palestine 4.109,4 2.221,1 5.699,8 +156,621 .Comoros 4.835,5 2.718,4 2.449,1 -9,9

22 .Somalia 3.003,9 1.094,9 1.000,3 -8,6TOTAL 9.809.411,7 10.66.144,8 10.687.132,4 +0,2

Ranking of Arab countries according to their imports from Belgium

between 2012 and 2014

Unit: 1000 €

Country 2012 2013 2014

Variation (%)

2013/20141 .United Arab Emirates 2.458.280,3 2.434.988,4 2.428.444,5 -0,3

2 .Algeria 1.935.632,5 1.555.566,6 1.545.253,3 -0,73 .Saudi Arabia 1.335.568,3 1.487.814,2 1.472.641,4 -1,0

4 .Qatar 1.355.032,0 1.291.074,0 965.390,6 -25,25 .Morocco 636.822,7 766.700,7 610.224,8 -20,4

6 .Tunisia 379.870,9 307.108,2 292.650,9 -4,77 .Egypt 297.968,5 302.278,4 236.601,1 -21,7

8 .Kuwait 105.282,0 147.506,4 109.304,3 -25,99 .Bahrain 238.014,6 193.821,2 88.730,1 -54,2

10 .Sultanate of Oman 67.438,3 84.683,7 59.460,2 -29,811 .Lebanon 92.447,0 56.932,2 35.664,5 -37,4

12 .Jordan 14.205,6 20.795,3 24.947,0 +20,013 .Libya 51.146,8 44.225,0 11.413,3 -74,2

14 .Iraq 348,2 347,1 5.962,1 +1.617,715 .Palestine 7.338,6 5.166,3 4.086,5 -20,9

16 .Sudan 5.459,4 3.502,6 3.715,9 +6,117 .Yemen 33.324, 7 52.500,2 2.367,4 -95,5

18 .Syria 8.089,4 3.940,7 2.015,5 -48,919 .Mauritania 33.014,0 769,7 1.808,9 +135,0

20 .Djibouti 31,0 220,7 358,0 +62,221 .Comoros 0,0 78,6 15,0 -80,9

22 .Somalia 0,3 0,4 0,1 -63,9TOTAL 9.058.315,1 8.758.899,7 7.900.414,5 -9,8

Ranking of Arab countries according to their exports to Belgium

between 2012 and 2014

Unit: 1000 €

National Day December 2, 1971

Capital Abu Dhabi

President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Vice-President H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Emirates Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah,

Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al Qaiwain

Languages Arabic – official language

English – widely spoken

Working days Sunday – Thursday

Religion Islam

Currency United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

 

 

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The UAE has come a long way in a short period of time

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UAE

Oil reliant economy BUT entering a new phase of diversification for a post-oil era

Burgeoning financial, real estate, and tourism sectors

Development of new technologies (e.g. renewable energies)

Low Tax Burden

80% of the population = non-locals

Successful policies to attract foreign investors

(e.g. free zones)

Business Business Environment…Environment…

Tremendous economic growth in recent decades

One of the largest construction markets

Very fertile and attractive consumer market

Business Business Environment…Environment…

Prospects remain good, environmentally and financially, for the years to come

High demand for projects and for skilled personnel will continue for the forseable future

How important are intercultural How important are intercultural relations in Business?relations in Business?

What is Culture?What is Culture?

Culture

Religion

Language

Working schedules

Clothes and dressing

Manners

Celebrations

Food

Values

Business Culture in the Business Culture in the UAEUAE

The UAE consists of seven separate Emirates which are

all slightly different in feel and approach

Each of these Emirates has its own identity and

individual characteristics

HOWEVER, THEY SHARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOWEVER, THEY SHARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COMMON FEATURESCOMMON FEATURES

ReligionReligion

• Common religion: Islam permeates all level of society⟹

• Provides guidance, values and rules in personal life, community relations and

ways of doing business

• Prayers five times a day meetings should be fitted around those times⟹

• Friday congregational worship during midday prayer ⟹

⟹ must be performed in the mosque

weekend = Friday – Saturday Saturday – Sunday

• Ramadan working hours shortened⟹

⟹ availability of employees and potential clients is reduced

Keep this in mind when planning a business trip!

GreetingsGreetings

Handshakes can last a long time⟹

⟹ wait for the other to withdraw their hand first

Hand on heart when greeting someone shows respect⟹

Direct eye contact trust not with women⟹

Assalamu alaykum peace be with you⟹

Wa alaykum salam and peace be with you⟹

LINGUISTIC INTELLIGENCE: shows a genuine interest in bridging language barriers

Entering the UAE marketEntering the UAE market

Slow and gradual process

Engagement / dedication continuous proof of interest and ⟹

support

Business is between people not companies

⟹ Relationship building

⟹ Small talk, enquiring about person’s health, family, etc.

Local contacts / Network

Doing favors common ⟹

⟹ never forgotten

⟹ always reciprocated

Entering the UAE marketEntering the UAE market

Tips

• Meetings should not be made far in advance confirm it verbally a few days before⟹

• Meetings can be unpredictable, don’t stick to the agenda

• Meet face to face

• Don’t mail but call and chat (Skype, Viber, Whatsapp, etc.)

• Have one side of your business card translated into arabic

• Prepare a plan and manage your project

• Translate your documents into arabic favour hard copy >< soft copy⟹

• Proper follow-up after meeting

• Respect authority and elders use appropriate titles⟹

• Focus on quality don’t try to beat prices⟹

Entering the UAE marketEntering the UAE market

Tips for advertising

Entering the UAE marketEntering the UAE market

High context cultureHigh context culture

Time perceptionTime perception

Punctuality, responsiveness, and commitment are expected from you if you are running late do not panic as polite excuses will be accepted

What can the Arab-Belgian-What can the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Luxembourg Chamber of

Commerce do for you?Commerce do for you?

• Member of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Arab Countries since 1978

• More than 35 years of Business Synergy

• Independent and Self supporting Organization

• Strongly supported by the Arab Diplomatic Corps in Brussels

•Essential role in the reinforcement of economic relations between Arab countries, Belgium, and Luxembourg

• Around 200 members

• Wide network of contacts: database of approximately 2000 non-members

The ABLCC in a few words…

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Legalization of Commercial Documents

Visa Service and registration of Documents for Saudi Arabia

Translation Service

Facilitation of Business Cooperation

Settlement of commercial disputes

Our services

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Our Major Events:

• Diplomatic days• Economic Missions• Lunch conferences• Arab-Belgian Economic Seminar• Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Forum• Hosting of Arab Delegations

ABLCC Events - Networking

Our Regular Events:

• Business breakfasts• Roundtables• Seminar and conferences• Business workshops• B2B meetings

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Newsletter in English and Arabic Publication of the 11th edition of the

Chamber’s Business Directory. Website of the Chamber: www.ablcc.org Publications of studies about the

Belgian economy

Publications and CommunicationPublications and Communication

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Thank you ! جزيال شكرا

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