Russian business in the UAE: how professional translation decides the outcome of negotiations

Russian business in the UAE: how professional translation decides the outcome of negotiations
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In entering the markets of the Persian Gulf countries, the decisive success factor is often not only the quality of the product or service, but also the ability to negotiate at a culturally and linguistically sensitive level. One such example is the successful participation of a Russian company in a tender for a major infrastructure project in the United Arab Emirates.

The task was not just to translate — the goal was to create trust between the parties. The traditional approach of hiring a translator who speaks literary Arabic would not work here. Business communication in the UAE is conducted in local dialects, taking into account special phraseological constructions, intonations and cultural norms, where literal translation deprives speech of vividness and meaning.

The Job for Arabists team approached the task strategically: translators who are fluent in the dialect of the Persian Gulf countries were selected, and rehearsals were conducted, taking into account presentations and materials on technical topics. Special attention was paid not only to terms, but also to cultural features, including greetings, pauses, facial expressions and titles.

Working with technical documentation has become an important element. The translators studied the drawings, estimates and specifications in advance, and during the meetings they used adapted formulations, without losing their meaning and clarifying unclear points. This made it possible to avoid misunderstandings in critical discussions.

High-quality technical support was provided for simultaneous interpretation: soundproof booths, noise-canceling equipment and backup equipment, which ensured uninterrupted communication even during a busy schedule of meetings.

The key success was the ability of translators to adapt speech not only linguistically, but also emotionally. The selected formulations, correct pauses and intonations allowed us to maintain a respectful and constructive tone of dialogue, which is especially important when communicating with the UAE government agencies.

As a result, the Russian company received an invitation to participate in the tender and subsequently won the contract. The client noted that translators have become not just a communication tool, but a strategic bridge of trust between the parties.

This case highlights that in Arab countries, a translator becomes a full participant in the business process. And when multimillion-dollar deals are at stake, a mistake in one word can cost the entire project. Therefore, standard services do not work here — deep knowledge of the culture, language and business etiquette of the region is important.