In the UAE, Family Offices operate on a model of 12 friendship levels 👇 With family-owned businesses making up 90% of the private sector, foreign entities often rely on local family offices to achieve meaningful success in the UAE. But, building these connections goes beyond a transactional approach; these family offices prioritize lasting relationships over short-term gains. So, what kind of friendship do you envision with a UAE family office? Here’s a guide to the 12 levels of friendship as understood by UAE family offices: Qareen – An inseparable friend, someone who understands you completely and vice versa. Safiyy – Your best friend, the person you’ve chosen above all others. Najiyy – A trusted confidant, someone you share your secrets with. Anees – A familiar companion, someone you feel totally at ease around. Khaleel – A close friend whose presence genuinely brings you joy. Sadeeq – A true friend who values the friendship without hidden motives. Rafeeq – A dependable friend, someone you’d consider traveling with. Sahib – A caring friend who looks out for your wellbeing. Nadeem – A casual companion, someone you might enjoy tea with when you’re free. Sameer – A good conversationalist who shares engaging discussions. Jalees – A comfortable presence, someone you can sit with for a while in peace. Zameel – A friendly acquaintance you exchange a simple nod with. No.1 is the closest to you and no.12 is furthest. You could have a zameel that is also your qareen. This approach invites thoughtful consideration—what kind of connection do you aspire to build? Family Office Summit Abu Dhabi December 4th 2024 Sign up here: www.familyofficesummit.ae #familyoffice #UAE
Lesson learned today.
Never seen this before. Very good.
Love the thoughtfulness behind this approach. I wonder how one moves up the ranks and whether moving down is also an option after you've been "best" friends? Life can play many cards.
would love to know how to pronounce that...
Very interesting that there are proper words for each kind of friendship.
Language is the base layer of any culture, and the fact there are 12 different levels of friendship in Arabic tells how important this aspect of life was in the times of scarce resources in the region and is of course passed on to the generations leading the future of the place. Great post!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing Obediah Ayton