In the highly competitive, fast-paced world of corporate lunches, diners don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
“It’s incredibly rude to arrive late,” says Kaveeta Punjabi, managing director of consultancy KGPiee Etiquette Enhancers.
“You must turn up at least 10 minutes beforehand and when you hand over your business card use two hands with your name facing the other person. The Japanese started it and now it’s universal good practice. Using one hand is not acceptable. And maintaining eye contact is essential.”
While the invitation “let’s do lunch” might seem a relatively relaxing prospect – the reality can be quite different. The encounter is a minefield of manners and protocol, says Punjabi, particularly if the meeting is an interview, sales pitch or formal introduction.
“You must take your lead from the person who has invited you and never start eating before them,” she says, “When they finish eating, you finish eating.
“You also shouldn’t order à la carte if it’s a set menu, which business lunches often are. And as for mobile phones, never, ever have them on the table and definitely don’t answer them. Only food, crockery, glassware and cutlery should be on the table at any time – so handbags and even business-card holders should be out of sight too.”
Having first emerged in the 1980s, the business-lunch model is being rolled out at an increasing number of restaurants in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
"Lunch is for wimps," said ambitious stockbroker Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas, in the 1987 film Wall Street – but not anymore according to chefs in the UAE.
“Customers are really driving the popularity of business lunches right now,” says Francesco Guarracino, executive chef at Roberto’s Abu Dhabi. “Why? Because they know they’ll get a light, quick offering that is good value for money. With two courses costing Dh85, I think it’s brilliant value.”
Guarracino’s evening menu focuses on bold Italian flavours with fine-dining execution. His express corporate-lunch menu, in contrast, features delicate, easily palatable options such as soup, salad, fish and pasta.
“The emphasis is still on grandma’s home-cooked food with a twist, but lighter,” he says. “I change the menu weekly, and I’m jealous of my guests at 12 o’clock each day because I know the quality of the produce they’re getting for the price. I want to sit where they are.”
While most diners are familiar with the convention of holding a knife correctly and not talking with their mouths full, they might not know there are also specific food rules to follow for business lunches.
“If you’re inviting someone for lunch it’s important to take potential dietary requirements into consideration,” says Punjabi. “Find out if they are a vegetarian, for example. It’s also best to avoid complicated or messy dishes like spaghetti. While dining etiquette involves a lot of finesse, a business lunch is never elaborate, and whichever restaurant you’re in must be quiet enough for you both to talk.”
Having to sit through long-winded pitches or a corporate tête-à-tête with no goal or objective can be frustrating. The general rule is to keep things short and sweet, says Dubai-based designer Latifa Al Gurg of the label Twisted Roots.
“As a general guideline I’d allocate an hour to one-and-a-half hours, maximum,” she says. “It really depends on the business relationship. If it’s an introduction, a coffee is better and then a meeting might follow. If both parties have a specific business agenda then it’s much better to have lunch.”
As for the potentially awkward issue of who should pay, never presume you are being treated, even when you are the invitee.
“I always offer to pay, even if I’ve been invited,” says Al Gurg. “Whether they let me, depends. We live in a very cosmopolitan society.”
While some social customs are flexible, others are not, says the Emirati-Danish entrepreneur.
“For me, shaking hands at the start and end of the meal is fine,” she says. “But I know many women who, culturally, would either prefer not to or at least have the option with men. So if unsure, a man should wait for a lady to extend her hand first. And if she doesn’t want to shake hands, simply putting his hand on his chest is a good way to acknowledge that.”
Service of business lunches commonly ends by 2pm, so there is a proper way to wrap things up and follow up with your fellow diner the next day.
“I’d recommend sending an email and make it a short thank-you note,” says Punjabi. “If you’ve cracked a particularly big deal over lunch then a small token of appreciation is fine. Never flowers but, instead, an impersonal and corporate gift will do.”
rduane@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Illegal%20shipments%20intercepted%20in%20Gulf%20region
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Sunday's fixtures
- Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
- Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
All%20We%20Imagine%20as%20Light
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series
Fixtures
Thursday, Nov 9 - 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 11 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Monday, Nov 13 – 2pm, Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, Nov 16 – 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 18 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Company%20Profile
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lupita%20Nyong'o%2C%20Joseph%20Quinn%2C%20Djimon%20Hounsou%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMichael%20Sarnoski%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
