Most Gulf interviews are run in English by multinational teams, and nobody expects you to know every local custom. But small things are noticed: how you greet the panel, whether you accept the coffee, whether you schedule a call for the hour before iftar. Getting them right shows that you have prepared for the place, not just the job.
This guide walks through an interview in the order it happens, then covers Ramadan separately. It focuses on the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where official sources were checked, and notes where practice can differ. Interview clothing is covered in our separate dress code guide, so it is mentioned here only in passing.
Before the interview
Check the working week
Workweeks differ across the Gulf, and getting this wrong can mean proposing a meeting on someone’s day off. The U.S. International Trade Administration’s guide for the UAE gives the workweek as Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday as the official weekend, and notes that business meetings are rarely, if ever, held on weekends or local holidays. Its Saudi guide describes the normal workweek as Sunday to Thursday, with Friday the Muslim weekly holy day. For other GCC countries, check the employer’s own working days before you propose times.
Be on time, even if they are not
The ITA’s UAE guide is clear on this: business visitors are expected to be punctual for all appointments, even though meetings can run late and projects can be postponed. Arrive ten minutes early, and do not read anything into being kept waiting. Bring something to read, stay patient, and keep your phone on silent.
Learn the names and titles
The ITA guide also notes that attention to titles is important in the UAE. Find out from the invitation or the company website how your interviewers are addressed. Use “Mr”, “Ms” or “Dr” with the first name or full name, as given, until invited to do otherwise. If an interviewer holds a title such as “Sheikh” or “Sheikha”, use it.
The greeting
Greetings in the Gulf take a little longer than in many Western offices, and that is part of the point. The ITA’s UAE guide notes that formal greetings can take several minutes and that small talk is expected before business. Expect a question about your journey, your family or how you are finding the country, and answer warmly and briefly. Do not rush to the CV.
Handshakes between men and women
This is the moment that worries candidates most, and the simple rule is to follow the other person’s lead. The ITA’s Saudi guide says women in business or workplaces will shake hands with other women, and sometimes with men, or may place a hand over the heart when greeting. The same gesture is a safe, respectful option in the UAE whenever you are unsure.
- If you are a man meeting a woman: wait to see whether she offers her hand. If she does not, smile, nod and, if you like, place your right hand on your heart.
- If you are a woman meeting a man: you may offer your hand, but do not be offended if he places his hand on his heart instead. It is a sign of respect, not rejection.
- If someone declines a handshake you have offered: lower your hand naturally and carry on. A calm reaction makes a better impression than an awkward apology.
Use your right hand for greeting, and, as the ITA’s UAE guide advises, for offering business cards and gifts.
During the interview
Accept the coffee or tea
You may be offered Arabic coffee, tea or water. The ITA’s UAE guide says the host will offer tea or coffee on arrival and that it is rude to decline. Accept at least one small cup. If you are offered traditional Arabic coffee in a small cup, the same guide says that you shake the cup slightly to show you have had enough.
Mind your body language
Sit upright and avoid crossing your legs in a way that points the sole of your shoe at anyone. The ITA’s Saudi guide specifically advises against sitting with the sole of your foot pointed at your host or another guest. More generally, its advice is to be observant and adapt your behaviour to the customs of your host. Watch how the panel sits, speaks and addresses each other, and match their level of formality.
Answer with modesty and evidence
Confidence is welcome, but heavy self-promotion can sound brash in many Gulf workplaces. Frame achievements around the team and the results. An illustrative line such as “Our team cut processing time by a third; my part was redesigning the approval steps” lands better than a string of “I” statements.
Avoid political commentary, criticism of the country or its leadership, and jokes about religion. If small talk turns to topics you are unsure about, ask questions rather than offer opinions.
Expect relationship questions
Gulf interviewers often want to know whether you will stay and fit in. Questions about your family plans, how long you see yourself in the region or whether you have lived abroad before are common. Answer what you are comfortable sharing. If you have prepared a good answer to “Why do you want to work in the UAE?”, it will carry you through most of these.
Interviewing during Ramadan
Hiring continues during Ramadan, but the pace changes. Working days are shorter, many people are fasting, and the evenings belong to family and community.
Shorter working hours
Under Article 18(4) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, working hours in Ramadan are set by the law’s Implementing Regulation. For Ramadan 2026, MoHRE announced a reduction of normal working hours for private sector employees across the UAE by two hours per day, and said companies may use flexible or remote working arrangements. In Saudi Arabia, the ITA guide says to expect reduced government business hours and closures during Ramadan and the two Eids. Check the employer’s Ramadan hours when you confirm the interview, as of the year you are applying.
Choose your slot carefully
If you are offered a choice, mornings are usually better. Late-afternoon interviews fall when fasting interviewers are most tired, and an interview that overruns into iftar is unwelcome for everyone. Confirm the time in writing, because Ramadan schedules often shift.
Public conduct on the day
The UAE Government portal’s Ramadan etiquette page says non-Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking and smoking in public during fasting hours, and that this includes chewing gum. The ITA’s Saudi guide likewise advises business travellers not to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight or around fasting Muslims. Practice can vary by emirate and venue, but the safest approach on interview day is simple: eat and drink before you leave home, and do not eat, drink or chew gum in the employer’s building, in the car park or on camera.
The u.ae page also advises against playing music in public, aggressive behaviour and swearing, and says you should not refuse a gift or an invitation to join someone at iftar. If an interviewer offers you water or coffee during Ramadan, it is polite to accept graciously if they insist, but do not ask for it.
Greetings and tone
“Ramadan Kareem” or “Ramadan Mubarak” is a warm way to open. Keep your tone calm and your answers concise: a fasting panel will appreciate a well-organised candidate who respects their time.
Dress
The u.ae page advises against inappropriate clothing in public during Ramadan. In practice, lean towards the more conservative end of whatever you would normally wear to a Gulf interview, with shoulders and knees covered.
A one-page checklist
| Moment | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling | Check the local workweek and Ramadan hours | Proposing weekends or the hour before iftar |
| Arrival | Arrive early; be patient if kept waiting | Showing irritation at delays |
| Greeting | Use titles; follow the other person’s lead on handshakes | Reaching for a handshake across genders without a cue |
| Hospitality | Accept coffee or tea; use your right hand | Declining outright, or eating during fasting hours |
| Conversation | Allow small talk; give evidence-based, team-aware answers | Politics, religion jokes, criticism of the host country |
If you are still building the CV you will hand over at the end of the interview, the resume builder can help, and our cover letter guide covers the email that gets you invited in the first place.
Customs and working-hour rules change. This article is general information, not legal advice; for questions about UAE working hours, contact MoHRE on 600590000.
Frequently asked questions
Should I say “Ramadan Kareem” to my interviewer?
It is a common, friendly seasonal greeting in the Gulf, and using it at the start of a Ramadan interview is usually well received from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Say it once, warmly, and then move on to the interview.
Is it acceptable to schedule an interview close to iftar?
Avoid it if you have any say. Interviewers who are fasting may be tired late in the day and will want to leave for iftar. Morning slots are often the better choice during Ramadan.
What if I accidentally use my left hand for a business card?
Do not worry about it. Correct yourself naturally next time. Interviewers care far more about how you answer the questions than about a small slip.
Do these customs apply in video interviews?
Many do. Greet the interviewer by title, allow a little small talk, dress as you would in person, and during Ramadan avoid eating or drinking on camera if the interviewer may be fasting.
Sources
- United Arab Emirates Country Commercial Guide: Business Travel (International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce)
- Saudi Arabia Country Commercial Guide: Business Travel (International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce)
- Ramadan etiquette for non-Muslims (The UAE Government portal (u.ae))
- Reduction of working hours for private sector employees by two hours daily during the holy month of Ramadan (MoHRE)
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationship and its amendments (MoHRE)