Ahmed Suleiman, intercultural business consultant at Farnham Castle International Briefing & Conference Centre, explains that each of the Middle Eastern countries has its own, very different, culture, which those doing business in the region must respect if they are to be successful.

One main challenge when moving staff to the Middle East is that, in the past ten years, the region has moved on. There is now a new world order, and many of the existing textbooks instructing executives travelling to the Middle East 'not to show the soles of their feet' or to 'avoid using their left hand' relate to a bygone era and are not modern deal-breakers. The old saying 'never compliment an Arab about his possessions' has never resulted in an executive being given a Ferrari!

The rule is now that there are no fixed rules, and cultural considerations are fluid.

Take Dubai, for example, which has become a polyglot of nationalities. Rarely do expats interact and socialise with locals in this international business environment. However, the mix of cultures that staff will encounter, from Egyptians to Pakistanis, can cause its own confusion, and visitors should be prepared to be flexible in their approach.

In Syria, on the other hand, 90% of business will be undertaken with local people. However, the culture is not particularly conservative. Saudi Arabia is much more traditional. Women need to cover up, family commitments take priority, and appointment setting, with the fluid diary system, will present its own challenges.

The key to successful interaction for staff moving to the Middle East is, firstly, for executives to gain an understanding that each country is very different. A business lunch in the Gulf will be short, while in Syria, Lebanon or Jordon, its focus will still be about relationship building but it may last for several hours. In addition, the practical aspects of schooling and facilities need to be considered on a region-by-region basis, as well as the particular society's structure, commercial set-up and social interaction, as these will differ vastly.

From a business point of view, rigid adherence to a set of mystical cultural rules is now outdated. In the Middle East, it is said to be hard to make a friend, but that breaking a friendship is easy. Therefore, visitors need to be aware that the old list of 'dos and don'ts' has been superseded by being able to demonstrate the qualities of cultural interest and respect for increasingly business-savvy and knowledgeable Middle Eastern business executives .

Respect for relationships is particularly important, and this is demonstrated by the intent of action. Small non-intentional cultural mistakes will be overlooked if the executive uses respectful language, avoids talking over his colleagues and being too aggressive, knows when to back off and when to push on, and understands the cultural hierarchy, for example.

However, this level of understanding is much more difficult to achieve than learning a list of what is acceptable from a textbook! Organisations like Farnham Castle run tailored workshops and country briefings for executives, which are run by experts and nationals from every country around the world. For a small investment, the up-to-date level of understanding achieved from such workshops will go a significant way to avoiding costly cultural mistakes that could ultimately spell disaster for a foreign project in the region.

For further information about Farnham Castle's tailored training briefings, visit www.farnhamcastle.com

Lebanon is now an important centre for international workers, but post-conflict international health cover can be hard to arrange, and good hospital facilities can only be accessed with the right cover. International health insurance provider MediCare International explores the issues.

Lebanon is, in many ways, a big draw for expats. With beautiful scenery, a Mediterranean climate and vibrant nightlife, the country is often viewed as an exciting prospect for those looking for something different. However, as was recently demonstrated, the country is still embroiled in conflict from time to time, making everyday life occasionally unpredictable and sometimes dangerous. It is essential that expats living in Lebanon, and particularly Beirut, have adequate medical cover, not only for everyday health concerns, but just in case they are caught in the fallout of conflict.

The country currently has around 6,000 UK expatriates, according to data released by the Institute for Public Policy Research, which works across a range of sectors, from commerce through to charitable work. Lebanon is still home to many who work in post-conflict and reconstruction activities.

Health insurance policies which include limited cover against terrorist attacks are available, but, with conflicts not solely confined to war zones nowadays, effective cover which reflects this new global reality is now even more important.

Malaria is a serious disease that can have long-term effects but is both preventable and curable, says Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director of Bupa International.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is responsible for monitoring malaria around the world, about 40% of the world's population, mostly those living in the poorest countries, are at risk of malaria. Of these, 2.5 billion people are at risk, more than 500 million become severely ill with malaria every year, and more than 1 million die from the effects of the disease.

Malaria is a disease that can be transmitted to people of all ages, but it is both preventable and curable. It is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. There are two kinds of malaria, Plasmodium flaciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The former is a severe type that may kill people, whereas the latter is mild but has long-term effects.

When the parasite enters the human body, it multiplies in the liver before infecting the body's red blood cells. If malaria is not treated, it can disrupt the blood supply to vital organs, and quickly becomes a life-threatening disease. A fever, headache, and vomiting are the best-known symptoms of the disease and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite.

Before going to malaria risk countries, travellers should seek advice from their own doctor or clinic to discuss antimalarial and vaccination requirements, ideally at least eight weeks before travel. By taking other precautions to reduce the chances of getting bitten, for example applying insect repellent (ideally up to 50% DEET) to any exposed skin and sleeping under a mosquito net that has been covered with insect repellent, will give added protection. It is important to remember that antimalarials should be taken after a traveller returns home. The malaria parasite can remain in the body and reproduce rapidly, which potentially leaves a traveller exposed to malaria even when they are back from their trip.

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the basic elements of malaria control. Effective treatment will shorten the duration of malaria and prevent the development of any complications that could result in death from the disease.

Most cases and deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa. However, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected. Travellers from malaria-free regions going to areas where there is malaria transmission are highly vulnerable – they have little or no immunity and are often exposed to delayed or wrong malaria diagnosis when returning to their home country. It is important that returning travellers who are suffering from any flu-like symptoms notify their doctor that they have been visiting a country that is at risk, to ensure a correct diagnosis. There has been a significant rise in the number of cases in malaria-free countries, associated with increased travel and limited precautions.

With death rates from malaria still high and statistics showing that a child dies every 30 seconds from the disease, it is a disease that should continue to be taken seriously the world over.

International medical insurance provider MediCare International has some important advice for expats.

The federation of United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made up of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm-al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. In terms of expat populations, Dubai is currently the number-one destination, with 3.62 million foreigners versus 864,000 nationals. Abu Dhabi is following a similar pattern of growth, and is beginning to rival Dubai as a Middle Eastern hub destination for companies.

This article looks at the healthcare system in Dubai, examining its strengths and weaknesses and explaining what expats should look out for.

Dubai's public healthcare is run by the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), but only provides free or very low-cost medical services for UAE residents. Dubai's health services are internationally recognised to be of good quality, and are generally comparable with those of the UK.

All expats visiting or living in Dubai should have fully comprehensive healthcare insurance. Generally, costs for medical consultations are in the region of £50. The first diagnostic visit to a private doctor usually costs around £40, excluding other required medical examinations. Post-clinic private consultations are charged at higher rates than the normal clinic consultations, and night callouts may run up bills of more than £70. Doctors will issue receipts, which patients can then use to get reimbursement through their insurance.