I think in my time in Dubai, I met perhaps two non-Gulf Arabs in a professional setting, while every place had Indians and Pakistanis. Even in the Orscom office, an Egyptian company, only the one was Egyptian. The reason is simple; the working language is english and Arabs generally do not have good english language skills, while Pakistanis and Indians business langauges back home is English, and their skills are excellent.
Though this was 4 years ago, maybe things have changed.
I guess my experience has been different, different sector, almost everyone was Palestinian or Leb, and nowadays one finds tons of Arabs expatted to London being transferred to Dubai. In any event, we can agree one rarely meets the “natives.”
Meh. There were a decent number of Gulf Arab professionals there 15 years ago - at least in upper management - and they can’t all have been sent away.
Anyway, the key here is that the OP will meet some Gulf Arabs, and since she won’t immediately know the difference, it’s probably best for her to treat everyone as conservative.
Top management? Sure, the guys who do sit and collect the dividends, wear the big title.
Well, it’s not that hard to tell.
The Levantines have whacky gelled hairdos and cutting edge suits, and speak English real well. And are insufferable but usually harmless womanisers. Also tend to be at the top of the heap, oft London educated. The Egyptians are… Egyptians. And the Gulfies wear their DishDasha “White as Snow, never have to lift a finger” wear, along with the headdress, and rarely show any sign of doing anything actually useful.
But anyway, yes initially treat all as conservative, but she should also get the picture that the place is not Saudi.
BTW waaaaaaaaaaaay more important than worrying about culture - worry about inflation and make sure you don’t get screwed on housing, get a housing allocation tied to inflation, or just housing flat out paid by the employer.