Dubai/Middle East Exploration and Mining PHers?

[Reardy Mister]

Hi all.

I have been given a remit to establish contacts in the Middle East in the hard rock mining and exploration industry to help facilitate my company's growth in that region.

To that end, Im attending the MENA Mining Congress 2011 in Dubai at the end of October and hoping to meet with some local consultants or mining companies whilst there.

Are there PHers in the business or who know anyone that is?

Also, whats a reasonably priced but half decent hotel in Dubai, close to the Shangri-La? And can one trust the food out there?

One last thing: Ive now been to the middle east before so any tips on business etiquette from you locals would be most welcome.

Many thanks

[6th Gear]

Some of our shoddy restaurants here in the UAE...

Zuma
Hakkasan
Nobu
Gaucho
Verre (Gordan Ramsay)
Rhodes Mezzanine & Rhodes Twenty 10 (Gary Rhodes)
Ronda Locatelli (Giorgio Locatelli)
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire
Jamie's Italian
La Peitite Maison

Hell we even have Nando's here in the desert.

You will be fine.

[Reardy Mister]

6th Gear said:

Some of our shoddy restaurants here in the UAE...

Zuma
Hakkasan
Nobu
Gaucho
Verre (Gordan Ramsay)
Rhodes Mezzanine & Rhodes Twenty 10 (Gary Rhodes)
Ronda Locatelli (Giorgio Locatelli)
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire
Jamie's Italian
La Peitite Maison

Hell we even have Nando's here in the desert.

You will be fine.

I should clarify: rather than a general question about food in the UAE, I wondered if a washed salad from a hotel kitchen is risk free, as per the lottery of places like Egypt.

[Chilli]

6th Gear said:

Some of our shoddy restaurants here in the UAE...

Zuma
Hakkasan
Nobu
Gaucho
Verre (Gordan Ramsay)
Rhodes Mezzanine & Rhodes Twenty 10 (Gary Rhodes)
Ronda Locatelli (Giorgio Locatelli)
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire
Jamie's Italian
La Peitite Maison

Hell we even have Nando's here in the desert.

You will be fine.

WTF ARE YOU ON ABOUT??????!!!!!!!!!!!!

[6th Gear]

Realising its probably a good time to start the gym again.

[shirt]

6th Gear said:

Realising its probably a good time to start the gym again.

[homer simpson] gime? whats a gime? [/homer simpson]

[6th Gear]

[Harris_I]

Hi Reardy. Can't help with industry contacts but the local business culture is generally very close to western. The same general business etiquette tends to apply. If you meet an Emirati woman (or anyone you meet wearing a headscarf), allow her to extend her hand to you first before shaking her hand, otherwise no contact. People will tell you that it's local "culture" for locals to arrive late for meetings or spend time on their mobile during it. It's not. It's just f'ing rude, irrespective of nationality.

There are one or two things that westerners tend to get consistently wrong it seems: don't gesture in the car, as anything that might be vaguely construed (or misconstrued) as offensive can get you locked up. Don't use the f word. Very bad. Don't be disrespectful of the ruling family. Don't walk around the gym changing room in the nude (even when changing your underwear: do it under your towel or in a cubicle - it's amazing how many Europeans ignore this and risk going to jail).

Food hygiene standards are generally excellent. There are some exceptions but those kind of places get shut down by the municipality very quickly. You can drink tap water as it is biologically as safe as Europe, but it doesn't taste great.

It's a brilliant place. Hope you enjoy it.

[Reardy Mister]

Harris_I said:

Hi Reardy. Can't help with industry contacts but the local business culture is generally very close to western. The same general business etiquette tends to apply. If you meet an Emirati woman (or anyone you meet wearing a headscarf), allow her to extend her hand to you first before shaking her hand, otherwise no contact. People will tell you that it's local "culture" for locals to arrive late for meetings or spend time on their mobile during it. It's not. It's just f'ing rude, irrespective of nationality.

There are one or two things that westerners tend to get consistently wrong it seems: don't gesture in the car, as anything that might be vaguely construed (or misconstrued) as offensive can get you locked up. Don't use the f word. Very bad. Don't be disrespectful of the ruling family. Don't walk around the gym changing room in the nude (even when changing your underwear: do it under your towel or in a cubicle - it's amazing how many Europeans ignore this and risk going to jail).

Food hygiene standards are generally excellent. There are some exceptions but those kind of places get shut down by the municipality very quickly. You can drink tap water as it is biologically as safe as Europe, but it doesn't taste great.

It's a brilliant place. Hope you enjoy it.

Good tips, many thanks for your help.

[Desert Dog]

I have a friend who is a geologist and has some good contacts, however maybe not in the general rock industry, but his mentor is big into thin slices (no Shirt, not a Yorkshire loaf)...

[Reardy Mister]

Desert Dog said:

I have a friend who is a geologist and has some good contacts, however maybe not in the general rock industry, but his mentor is big into thin slices (no Shirt, not a Yorkshire loaf)...

YHM.

[Mattt]

Not sure about hard rock, but if you're looking for sand you've come to right place.

I always did wonder why we had to pay for dune sand, always heard about the phrase 'selling sand to Arabs' but never realised it was true.

[oilydan]

Reardy Mister said:

I have been given a remit to establish contacts in the Middle East in the hard rock mining and exploration industry to help facilitate my company's growth in that region.

I do Geology, core analysis and that type of thing. Mostly oil stuff but can be applied elsewhere.

Reardy Mister said:

Also, whats a reasonably priced but half decent hotel in Dubai, close to the Shangri-La?

The Towers Rotana. Has decent pub and restaurants too.

Reardy Mister said:

And can one trust the food out there?

The only thing that you can trust it to be is expensive. And really rather good.

Reardy Mister said:

One last thing: Ive now been to the middle east before so any tips on business etiquette from you locals would be most welcome.

Never, ever, think that you have seen it all. Someone here will only go and ruin the illusion.

[Reardy Mister]

oilydan said:

Reardy Mister said:

I have been given a remit to establish contacts in the Middle East in the hard rock mining and exploration industry to help facilitate my company's growth in that region.

I do Geology, core analysis and that type of thing. Mostly oil stuff but can be applied elsewhere.

Reardy Mister said:

Also, whats a reasonably priced but half decent hotel in Dubai, close to the Shangri-La?

The Towers Rotana. Has decent pub and restaurants too.

Reardy Mister said:

And can one trust the food out there?

The only thing that you can trust it to be is expensive. And really rather good.

Reardy Mister said:

One last thing: Ive now been to the middle east before so any tips on business etiquette from you locals would be most welcome.

Never, ever, think that you have seen it all. Someone here will only go and ruin the illusion.

Great, thanks. YHM.