Rating: 
Summary: Worthy Attempt
Review: In keeping with the series title "Culture Shock", Gina Crocetti makes a worthy attempt to describe the multi-cultural society to be found in the UAE, yet leaves the longer-staying visitor areas that can be discovered or developed for himself or herself.Gina also manages to include aspects related to women not easily described from experience by male writers. As such, the book deserves to be read alongside those guides holding more factual and reference-type information. One or two items should be corrected - for example, "at least 3" cups of welcoming coffee should read "not more than 2 or 3". Also the "Do's and Don'ts" need to be separated - it's not always clear which is which ! In its second or third re-print from a 1996 edition, the book also needs updating for "current" information, since a lot of content appears dated. I would have been more impressed with Gina's research had reference to Dr. Frauke Heard-Bey, as a foremost published authority on the UAE's historical development, not included four mentions of "he" when Dr. Frauke is a woman. A source of excellent references can be found at the UAE National Library located at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi. The library is "lending" and has a special Gulf archive, which includes a historical summary of the development of Abu Dhabi by Clarence Mann, now long out of print.
Rating: 
Summary: Rather superficial
Review: Ms Crocetti's time in the UAE was evidently not sufficient for her to form a very deep impression of the country. Many of her comments (which I often found to be smug and over-definitive) refer to features of Arab society which can be understood within a short time frame, and a number I simply felt I had to disagree with. I would also question some of her figures - her population statistics in particular. The book is not really suitable for business travellers, who would need a more serious and commerce-oriented guide. However, for Westerners arriving in the UAE for the first time, especially at the start of a period of residence, this is a useful basic introduction.
Rating: 
Summary: Newly republished
Review: The author is right, things are not always what they seem. Like the desert, the culture is a mirage. Following western customs seems to be acceptable but heed Ms. Crocetti's warnings, espectially if you are a woman. It is better to err in behavior in the Emirates on the side of conservatism. And she is also right, you are in for a lot of fun living in this country.
Rating:
Summary: Right On!
Review: The author is right, things are not always what they seem. Like the desert, the culture is a mirage. Following western customs seems to be acceptable but heed Ms. Crocetti's warnings, espectially if you are a woman. It is better to err in behavior in the Emirates on the side of conservatism. And she is also right, you are in for a lot of fun living in this country.
Rating:
Summary: Newly republished
Review: The book has been updated & re-published, get the 2001 version, it has much more information.
Rating:
Summary: A compulsory complement to Emirates plane ticket.
Review: This book should be the compulsory complement to the plane ticket to Dubai and to United Arab Emirates. There are a lot of things to know and to discover having the first cultural contact with those places and that population.Madam Crocetti has been able to concentrate an experience of living into few pages. Madam Crocetti gently introduce the occasional tourist and the becomer resident to the Emiratis culture and particularly to the Emiratis way of life.This guide is not only useful to avoid blunders very easy to do !, as I can state personally, but to find the proper way to live also and above all. Are you considering to spend an holiday at the Dubai beaches ? Are You going to be assigned to Dubai or Jebel Ali branch office ? First of all read this very nice, very sensitive "carnet" and then ... find your way to the people and to this country. Dr. Ezio Lucenti
| 
