Learning about a country’s cultures and traditions before going to work there

Name: Charlie Cassam Chenaï
Current position: Area Manager Travel Retail, Middel East & Indian subcontinent, Godiva Chocolatier
About my company: Food and beverages industry, approximately $765 million, 1001-5000 employees
Degree earned at Audencia: GE 10
Nationality: French  
Residence: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)  

My world
Dubai is an island compared to the rest of the Middle East, in the sense that it is open to foreigners and everything has been made easy for them.
Of course, there are still certain rules -very different from Europe- which you need to be aware and respectful of. I strongly recommend reading about the city, the Arabic culture and tradition before deciding to settle down.

Culture shock: Adapting to a new environment, culture and people are always challenging. From a work perspective, things might not be as rigorous and straightforward as in Europe. You have to understand these differences in order to deliver quickly.

Fun fact: It is always amusing to see the in shopping malls an Emirati woman dressed in her elegant, black abaya next to an expat woman wearing a mini short. There are a lot of prejudices about Dubai, including that women are not allowed to dress like in Europe.

Why choose an international career?
Always wanted to live abroad and discover new cultures. My key learning point was better understanding of the Arab culture and the Middle East in general.