Apr 21

Top Tips for Doing Business in the Middle East

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture No Comments »

Much of the Middle East’s wealth comes from oil and natural resources, with banking and tourism following close behind. Although some of the region is still struggling with political turmoil and conflict between differing ideologies, much of the Middle East is thriving with immense opportunities for foreign investment and continued economic growth.

Arab businessman monkeybusinessimages i Top Tips for Doing Business in the Middle East

© istockphoto.com/ Monkeybusinessimages

The diverse countries of the Middle East each have their own unique identity and culture but they share many fundamental beliefs and traditions which are common throughout the region. Successfully doing business in the Middle Eastis impossible without understanding that Islam is a way of life in most Middle Eastern countries and it governs politics, family life, values and business practices. It is essential that you respect Islamic culture, customs and prayer times when doing business in the Middle East.

Personal relationships are highly valued in Middle Eastern cultures and networking is essential to develop relationships before doing business with counterparts in the Middle East. People in the Middle East tend to mix their business and personal life and therefore tend to use personal relationships to get things done.

The following tips will help you ensure that you maximise your opportunities for doing business in the Middle East.

  • Dress conservatively when doing business in the Middle East. This is particularly important for female visitors.
  • Bear in mind that business meetings are less structured in the Middle East than in the West so be ready for later starts, interruptions and deviations from the agenda.
  • Avoid doing business during the holy month of Ramadan. Business activity reduces dramatically during this period as Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk and often participate in celebrations at the end of this period.
  • Don’t forget that the working week usually begins on a Sunday and ends on a Thursday, though it could also begin on a Saturday and end on a Wednesday depending on which country you are doing business with. Always check beforehand.
  • Try to avoid eating pork or drinking alcohol in the presence of your Middle Eastern colleagues and never use your left hand to pass food or drink.
  • Take the time to develop personal relationships with your Middle Eastern partners and ensure you make small talk rather than jumping straight into business discussions.
  • Bear in mind that your ‘word’ will be much more important than a written contract. Make sure you only make promises you can deliver otherwise you risk loss of honour.
  • Remember that while it is polite to enquire about your colleague’s family, you should not ask specifically about female family members.
  • Try not to show discomfort with close proximity or casual touching as this may cause offence.
  • Take time to read about the culture of the country where you are going so you can make educated references to cultural traditions or events they may celebrate. This will show your interest and help give your counterparts in the Middle East a positive first impression.

Considering and respecting the top tips for doing business in the Middle East above is the first step towards building effective relationships with your counterparts from the region. Participating in a cross cultural awareness training course such as Doing Business in the Middle East will give you a deeper insight to the cultural differences you may find in the Middle East and it will improve your ability to anticipate and manage them effectively.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Jan 07

Bribery or Generosity? How Intercultural Training Helps You Avoid the Risks of Giving Business Gifts across Cultures

Cross Cultural Training, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management No Comments »

The Bribery Act, which received the Royal Assent last year, may put an end to Christmas or other business gifts between and within companies according to an article in the Telegraph. The Bribery Act aims to create a better framework to fight bribery and limit the value of gifts and presents individuals can receive in the UK. Offering football tickets, champagne or hampers to domestic and international clients used to be commonplace but with this Bribery Act they may now be illegal and need to be returned to avoid any accusation of bribery.

Gift Artur Gabrysiak i Bribery or Generosity? How Intercultural Training Helps You Avoid the Risks of Giving Business Gifts across Cultures

© istockphoto.com/ Artur Gabrysiak

Indeed, the line between a simple gift of appreciation and a corruption attempt is sometimes thin, especially depending on the intercultural context. What is seen as a sign of appreciation or reward in one culture may be considered bribery in another and vice versa. International businesses need to ensure their employees have the right intercultural training to ensure they have the intercultural knowledge and awareness they need to gift gifts appropriately across cultures.

In the Middle East for instance, being generous is highly valued and offering a gift tends to be seen as a strong mark of friendship as well as a necessary step towards building a profitable business relationship. Generosity is also illustrated by the price and value of the gift, meaning that business presents are sometimes incredibly luxurious in the Middle East. Refusing a present is a terrible faux pas that can lead to a cultural clash or to the end of a promising contract or business partnership. A lack of intercultural awareness on gift giving in the Middle East can significantly hinder the relationship or break organisational policies around gift giving.

At the other end of the scale, some cultures are extremely cautious and even suspicious when it comes to receiving and offering gifts. The Nordic Countries are a perfect example of this trend. In 2010 Denmark was rated the “least corrupted country in the world” and countries such as Finland and Norway are also recognised internationally as models when it comes to fighting bribery and corruption. This reluctance to receive and offer presents can be difficult for anyone who is used to a gift giving etiquette. Seeing their kind gesture perceived as a bribery attempt or refused can result in frustration or offense.

International organisations doing business across cultures need to be prepared and equipped with the relevant intercultural awareness to create and apply adapted strategies around gift giving across the globe. Intercultural awareness training courses such as Doing Business in the Middle East can help organisations to do business across cultures more effectively. Through the analysis of different cultural traits and their impact on business practices, individuals and organisations will be able to handle all aspect of doing business across cultures.

Equipped with this important intercultural knowledge, companies and their employees doing business abroad will be able to adapt to the business etiquette of their counterparts. By adopting the appropriate behaviour and business policies according to the cultures they work with, organisations will be able to avoid fines and suspicions of bribery when giving presents. In accordance with new Bribery Act, it’s important to not only consider how to give gifts to international clients but to also consider what you can receive from them in return. Knowing the gift etiquette of your international clients will also help you to avoid causing offense and build a stronger and more profitable working relationship.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Aug 17

The Impact of Ramadan on Global Business

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector 1 Comment »

It’s the Maghrib hour, just after sunset, and you are sitting on a carpet in a big tent being served juices and mint tea, snacking on dates. There are lots of people around you and the atmosphere is one of fellowship and joy. Any ideas where you might be? You have been invited to an Iftar, a breaking of fast ceremony which you may be lucky to experience in the next month if you are planning a business trip to a Muslim country.

Cairo sunset clu i1 The Impact of Ramadan on Global Business

© istockphoto.com/ Clu

Ramadan started on Wednesday 11 August this year and lasts for one month. If you are doing business in countries that observe Ramadan, such as Saudi Arabia, then you may find things a bit different than the rest of the year. You may find it difficult to arrange business lunches, your Muslim counterparts might be feeling tired or irritable during meetings and shops and restaurants will usually be open only during restricted times. Bank and other services may also be interrupted regularly for prayer times during the day. Being aware of how Ramadan impacts both social life and business will help you avoid any loss of time while you are there.

People doing business in Muslim countries during Ramadan often find a lower level of productivity, increased difficulty in meeting deadlines and challenges scheduling meetings. If you are travelling to a country which observes Ramadan, you may have the honour of receiving an invitation to attend the ceremonies that take place after the fasting hours. Iftar in particular substitutes normal business lunches and being invited is a sign of trust and friendship so you should accept. People with good interpersonal skills, cultural awareness and an understanding of the social etiquette during Ramadan will be more likely to have the opportunity to be involved which can help the relationship-building process.

Doing business in Saudi Arabia or any other country which observes Ramadan requires an ability to identify and understand the expected behaviours and the appropriate topics of conversations that would engage your Muslim counterparts. Communicaid’s Cultural Awareness Training Middle Eastcourses such as Doing Business in the Middle East provide you with the necessary knowledge and understanding to overcome any cultural barriers. Cross cultural training also helps you to develop the skills to be able to learn and recognise crucial factors such as respecting face and status when trying to create new business relationships with counterparts in other cultures.

Although a lot of things may appear closed during this period, not everything is dormant during Ramadan. For example, the Holy Month is a peak season for sweet shops, with sales increasing up to 30%. Some telecommunication companies have also adapted their products for the Muslim market by adding special features such as Islamic chants, videos and ring tones relating to Ramadan.

Another successful initiative was started by Samsung who has agreed to give part of its profits to a humanitarian organisation every time certain products are purchased during Ramadan. “The Holy Month is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and ongoing dedication to helping those in need”, said the head of Corporate Marketing at Samsung.

Being able to relate to the cultural values of a specific market and showing respect towards them will open many oportunities for your business. Building effective business relationships is one of the pillars for doing business in the Middle East successfully, so Ramadan could be the perfect time to approach new ventures. Provided that your cultural understanding is strong, you will find plenty of opportunities to build relationships with your Muslim counterparts during Ramadan.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Aug 09

Ramadan Mubarak! – A Month to Celebrate

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management 1 Comment »

Ramadan is without a doubt one of most important Muslim celebrations. One of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is calculated according to the moon. This is why this 30 days long celebration takes place at a different time each year.

Ramadan is mainly a time of worship and closeness with God. Most people associate Ramadan with a time when Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. Muslims believe this fasting helps them to clean their soul and allows them to practise self control, sacrifice and empathy.

Ramadan is also a time for prayer. Each night 1/30 of the Qur’an is read so that the whole holy book is completed by the end of the month. Generosity is emphasised as well and Muslims are strongly encouraged to act like the prophet Muhammad who, according to the Qur’an, was “as generous as the blowing breeze”.

While some adjustments are made for young children, pregnant women or elderly people, all Muslims are expected to respect the fast and other aspects of the celebrations. Severe punishments can be imposed against people who eat, drink or behave improperly during this period in some strict Muslim countries.

Ramadan is not merely a religious celebration, rather it impacts all aspects of a Muslim’s life for 30 days. In most Islamic countries or nations counting a large Muslim population, the whole social and economic life is affected during Ramadan. Shops have different opening hours and will usually close during the afternoon and reopen during the evening. The same goes for many companies who tend to change their working hours and avoid scheduling important meetings during this period of the year.

Night life activity also increases during the month of Ramadan which often results in a lower performance rate during the day. In fact, the Arab World Institute based in Cairo published a survey showing that employee productivity decreases by 73.3% during the month of Ramadan. Absenteeism also rises as fasting and eating large portions of food once per day can create illness or digestive disorders.

Holy Koran Adem Demir i Ramadan Mubarak! – A Month to Celebrate

© istockphoto.com/Adem-Demir

Investors doing business in countries that observe Ramadan need to be aware of these elements when doing business with Muslim counterparts and avoid scheduling meetings during inappropriate hours of the day. International assignees living in Arabic countries must also adapt. Even if they are not obliged to fast, they should eat behind closed doors and avoid any disrespectful behaviour that might offend Muslims.

It is not only in Arab countries where you need to acknowledge the impact of Ramadan on professional and personal spheres. Muslim employees working in western countries also fast and celebrate the Ramadan traditions. Managers should be aware of this fact to avoid critical incidents or cultural insensitivity. Organising important business lunches or company events with food and drinks in the middle of the day during Ramadan for instance can put Muslims in uneasy or frustrating situations that can damage your business relationship with them.

Cross cultural awareness training programmes such as Living and Working in Saudi Arabia or Doing Business in the Middle East can help managers, international assignees and employees to have a better understanding of their Muslim counterparts. Training is tailored to provide the cross cultural tools and strategies required to deal with and fully understand Ramadan and its impact on business.

If you want to impress your Muslim counterparts by acknowledging this important time of the year, you can now purchase cards (even e-cards for the tech savvy) with Ramadan greetings. Showing your interest in this holiday is a great way to build relationships with Muslim counterparts and colleagues.

Ramadan Mubarak (a blessed Ramadan) to you all!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Apr 27

Challenges of Doing Business in Saudi Arabia

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »

Mecca salem i Challenges of Doing Business in Saudi Arabia

© istockphoto.com/salem

A kingdom built upon and unified by Islam, Saudi Arabia, with its vast plains and endless deserts has fascinated travellers for centuries. Occupying nearly 80% of the Arabian Peninsula and the largest exporter of petroleum in the world, Saudi Arabia hosts a series of buzzing and successful cities. A monarchy with a rich Arab and Muslim heritage, Saudi Arabia is also characterised for its high degree of cultural homogeneity.

Cross-cultural training courses such as Living and Working in Saudi Arabia increase an organisation’s awareness and understanding of some of the potential cultural differences which may act as stumbling blocks for companies working in Saudi Arabia. Intercultural Training Middle East programmes ensure that all concerned create strategies for drawing benefits from these differences.

The following are five of the key cultural concepts international organisations face when setting up or doing business in Saudi Arabia.

Communication Style – Differences in communication styles can often be a cultural challenge and as a result, international organisations doing business in Saudi Arabia without adequate briefing may often find themselves feeling confused and frustrated. The communication style in Saudi Arabia tends to be quite indirect and high context. In other words, this means that communication styles in Saudi Arabia tend to rely more heavily on body language and other non-verbal cues such as tone of voice and the use of silence. When doing business in Saudi Arabia, it is wise to remember that information is rarely explicitly stated, silence is often used for contemplation and a direct “no” is almost never used.

Islam – Islam touches many aspects of society within Saudi Arabia. The country is governed on the basis of Sharia (Islamic Law) and a great majority of the population are Arabs who adhere to the Wahhabi sect of Islam. Islam shapes the values and rules concerning the appropriate way to behave and relate to family, community and business. As a result there are customs and social duties that affect the Saudi Arabian business world and affect the way business is dealt with. In the world’s current climate, several stereotypes are prevalent concerning Islamic faith and therefore when doing business in Saudi Arabia it is important to reserve time to research Islam yourself. Ignorance as to how Islam influences business and every day life could damage relations.

Relationships – Personal relationships are a fundamental aspect of Middle Eastern culture. People take a sincere interest in each other and invest a lot of time in getting to know others. There isn’t a clear line of distinction between business and personal relationships which means that one is quite often used to further the interests of the other. People tend to prefer getting to know a person before trusting them in business. When doing business in Saudi Arabia, remember that a huge emphasis is placed on networks and refusing requests made by friends is often considered rude. Great pride is placed in hospitality with which a person’s character is measured, take advantage of this opportunity to develop personal and professional relationships.

Attitude to time – Although punctuality is expected of foreigners, business in Saudi Arabia has a more flexible attitude towards time and business meetings tend to be less structured in nature. However, it is rare for meetings to intrude on daily prayers and equally, when doing business in Saudi Arabia, considerations must be made to schedule business meetings in a way that does not interfere with prayer times. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the working week begins on a Saturday and ends on Wednesday with Thursday and Friday being the official days of rest.

Hierarchy – Saudi Arabian culture places great emphasis on dignity and respect. Younger people are expected to display this respect to their elders by using the appropriate titles and levels of deference. Within business, leaders distribute power from the top and only those in senior positions have decision making capacity. When entering a room or greeting your Saudi counterparts for the first time you should approach the most senior person first.

In many ways, Saudi Arabia remains a sensitive region in terms of economy, religion and culture. Although an important first step, it is not enough to simply recognise the intercultural differences that exist when doing business in Saudi Arabia. International organisations must also strive to comprehend the reasons behind cultural challenges in order to be able to exploit differences to create benefits. A Cross Cultural Training Middle East course such as Doing Business in Saudi Arabia will help organisations develop strategies to maximise the potential of doing business in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, intercultural training will contribute towards the development of an interculturally competent workforce, a definite advantage in today’s fiercely competitive global business environment.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Apr 20

Challenges of Doing Business in the UAE

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »
Dubai shao weiwei i Challenges of Doing Business in the UAE

© istockphoto.com/ShaoWeiwei

 

Combining the strengths of seven individual states, the United Arab Emirates takes each state’s unique histories and identities to form an innovative, modern and vibrant state. The UAE balances its commitment to forward thinking and modernisation with a strong Islamic tradition, however this can often present challenges for those doing business in the United Arab Emirates without an understanding of the culture.

Cross Cultural Training Middle East programmes such as Doing Business in the UAE will help employees in your organisation raise their level of awareness and understanding of the differences and challenges of doing business in the UAE. The following are some of the major challenges of doing business in the UAE.

Communication Style
Communication styles vary across the world, from country to country and region to region. This can be challenging for organisations operating outside their home country. Organisations doing business in the UAE must be aware of some of the communication differences they will come across. For instance, the multiple meanings of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ may differ greatly from their own cultures. The level of formality and directness in the United Arab Emirates may also be hard to adapt to.

Islam
While the UAE is an increasingly modern state, especially in relation to its Gulf State neighbours, religion still stands at the centre of Emirati culture and society. Islam plays a crucial role in people’s everyday lives, in the office and outside. Islamic customs should be observed and the effects of the Islamic religion on business interactions must be respected when doing business in the UAE.

Attitude to time
In comparison with Europe and the US, timekeeping is viewed with a far more relaxed attitude in the UAE. Meetings, for instance, will often run over, start late or be cancelled at the last minute without any warning. Another important difference in business culture in the United Arab Emirates is that the working week is different from that of Christian countries, running from Saturday to Wednesday, with the ‘weekend’ covering the Muslim Sabbath.

Hierarchy
Hierarchy remains a very important concept that you should consider when doing business in the UAE. It is essential to respect people’s titles and position in society. Most businesses have a top-down hierarchy, with one important individual making most of the decisions.

The UAE is modernising rapidly but traditional Muslim practices are still at the heart of Emirati society. Organisations doing business there must understand the balance between the new and the old. Participating in a cross cultural training programme for business management such as Communicaid’s Doing Business in the UAE will help you develop strategies for operating effectively in the UAE thereby enhancing your organisation’s success.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Apr 14

Challenges of Doing Business in the Middle East

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »
Saudi Man Worldtrecker i Challenges of Doing Business in the Middle East

© istockphoto.com/Worldtrecker

 

The Middle East is a vast region, comprising a multitude of cultures, religions, nations and peoples. This complex mix can sometimes be hard for outsiders to comprehend. Any organisation planning to do business in the Middle East needs to have an in-depth understanding of these complexities.

Cross Cultural Training Middle East programmes such as Communicaid’s Doing Business in the Middle East training can help organisations and individuals acquire the cross cultural skills and knowledge to deal with culturally sensitive situations which might arise when doing business in the Middle East. Some of the key challenges of doing business in the Middle East include the following.

Hierarchy
The general business structure in the Middle East is very hierarchical, with a clear separation of levels, i.e. senior management, middle management and their teams. Respect for titles and seniority is crucial when doing business in the Middle East.

Religion
Religion is an ever-present issue in the Middle East. Whether your Middle Eastern counterparts are Jewish, Christian, Muslim or of another faith, religion will have some influence on their lives and your business dealings with them. An example of one such influencing factor is Sabbath days. In the Islamic Middle East, the Sabbath days (days when businesses tend to close) are Thursday to Saturday. In Israel, the Jewish Sabbath means that businesses close and no work is done on Fridays and Saturdays.

Restrictions
Restrictions on activities and operations vary across the Middle East. When setting up operations or sending international assignees to the Middle East, it is essential to make yourself or your international assignees aware of any culturally sensitive restrictions they are likely to encounter when doing business in the Middle East. Cross cultural awareness training programmes can help.

Attitudes towards Time
Punctuality is not as important to the communities of the Middle East as it is to Europeans or Americans. For this reason you should expect and be tolerant of time delays, late starts and meetings running over the agreed time limits.

The Middle East is a complex region for doing business due to the combination of history and tradition, the variety of different communities and cultures, and the current economic and political climates in the region. Now more than ever before it is imperative that any organisation doing business in the Middle East is properly prepared for what can be a minefield of cultural and practical challenges. Cross cultural awareness training programmes can ensure that organisations and individuals doing business in the Middle East have the required skills and knowledge to be successful.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Mar 19

Benefits of Doing Business in the UAE

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources No Comments »

iStock monkeybusinessimages 000010566659Medium4 300x199 Benefits of Doing Business in the UAE

© istockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages

The United Arab Emirates is located on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula and is made up of a number of diverse sheikdoms. The country itself is at the forefront of modernity and twenty-first century innovation. Since the discovery of oil in the 1930s, the UAE has become one of the wealthiest states in the region.

In recent years tourism and a diverse economy have made the UAE a regional hub and an attractive country for foreign investors. Doing business in the United Arab Emirates has never been more rewarding. Here are some of the key benefits of doing business in the UAE.

Access to a Diversified Economy

The UAE’s economy has seen a great deal of diversification in the past few years. Whilst the petroleum industry is still very important to the country’s economic success, the United Arab Emirates has seen sustained growth in tourism, science and technology. On top of this, the Emirati government has recently allotted $13.4 billion to the development and expansion of non-oil related industries, a sizeable proportion of which will be dedicated to the virtual technologies sector.

A Central Point for World Trade and Commerce

The UAE is located at the centre of some of the world’s most important trade and commerce routes. Historically this has always been true and remains very much so today, making it a world class trading hub. By establishing your business operations in the United Arab Emirates, you will have access to the markets of Asia, Africa, Southern and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The country has the necessary facilities to accommodate international trade, with state-of-the-art air and maritime ports, making doing business in the UAE an attractive endeavour.

Low Taxes

The UAE’s government offers attractive tax incentives to businesses doing business in the country. There are currently no foreign exchange controls, trade barriers and no personal or corporate taxes which can help take a significant financial and administrative burden off of international businesses.

A Vast Array of Twenty-First Century Technological Solutions

Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates has made a name for itself as a place of excellence for telecommunications and IT. With the most modern facilities and infrastructure, such as the Dubai Media City, the country is the perfect place to advance your operations.

Companies that have operations in the United Arab Emirates will gain enormously from Communicaid’s cross cultural training programme Doing business in the UAE. Knowledge of the local culture and national business culture is absolutely vital in order to operate successfully abroad. Equipping your employees with this information prior to their secondment will help international assignees work efficiently and successfully with their Emirati counterparts. Both can be achieved by cross cultural training programmes provided by Communicaid, tailored to the specific characteristics of UAE business culture.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Mar 11

Benefits of Doing Business in the Middle East

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector 1 Comment »

The Middle East is an enormous geographical and cultural region stretching from the Mediterranean coast of North Africa to the Afghani border with Pakistan. The region is home to many races and religions including Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Baha’i.

A varied history of dominance and subservience has created a diversity of opinions, attitudes, traditions and cultural norms. Politically too, the Middle East boasts modern and free democracies and also endures theocratic autocracies.

For the past three decades the Middle East has been at the centre of global interaction, be it global conflict or global trade. Doing business in the Middle East can offer a number of key benefits, including the following.

 

Map of Middle East Juanmonino i 412x300 Benefits of Doing Business in the Middle East

© istockphoto.com/Juanmonino

 

Rapidly Modernising Markets
Recent years have seen a trend towards the modernisation of markets across the Middle East in a bid to attract and keep foreign investment. The idea of economic diversification has also begun to spread as many of the oil producing nations become aware that revenue from oil will not last forever. Diversification has come in the form of tourism, telecommunications and I.T solutions which have all increased foreign investment potential for anyone doing business in the Middle East.

An Abundance of Natural Resources
As would be expected with a region spanning the area that is occupied by the Middle East, there is an abundance of natural resources, creating a profitable environment for industrial and economic growth. In fact, according to the BBC 62.5% of the petroleum produced globally comes out of the Middle East.

A Crossroads for International Trade
For millennia, the Middle East has been at the centre of global international trade. Whether the ancient ‘Silk Road’ or 21st century oil trade, the Middle East has always boasted first-class port facilities and today can also claim to have some of best trade facilities in the world.

An Educated Workforce
An educated workforce is a successful workforce. This is a concept that rings very true across the Middle East. Education is highly valued. In many of the countries in the region, the work force comprises people educated up to and beyond university level.

The Middle East is a vast, complex mix of cultures. Any organisation doing business in the Middle East should gain an understanding of the differences which exist. A Communicaid cross cultural training programme such as Doing Business in the Middle East will give your organisation an introduction to the complexities and challenges of doing business in the Middle East and strategies to maximise your chances of success.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Feb 22

Camels on a Catwalk: Cultural Differences in the Concept of Beauty

Cross Cultural Training, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management No Comments »

A recent BBC news article describes how in the Middle East whole families attend beauty contests held in the middle of the desert. These, however, are not beauty contests as you might know them where glamorous models parade on a catwalk like in Paris, London or Milan. Instead, these are beauty contests attended by Saudi families who come to admire camels.

These camel beauty contests, also known as camel competitions, can be huge events which attract hundreds of families in the Middle East who all come to watch, buy or sell camels. This year the competition was so big there were over 28,000 camels being presented.

istock 000003344979small1 300x199 Camels on a Catwalk: Cultural Differences in the Concept of Beauty

©istockphoto.com/Klaas Lingbeek- van Kranen

Owning camels in the Middle East can be a sign of prestige and wealth. This is particularly true if the length of the camel’s neck, the firmness of its ears or the colour of its skin are right making it worth more than $2 million in some cases.

At such a price, camels can unsurprisingly be considered a status symbol for whoever can afford one. As such, Saudi families fiercely bid against each other to buy the most beautiful camel on display in the same way Europeans might bid for a Van Gogh canvas.

Understanding cultural traditions like this and being aware of the impact they may have on individuals is extremely important when doing business in the Middle East. If your Middle Eastern colleague proudly tells you his brother or uncle is the owner of a herd of camels, it’s important you recognise this is as a marker of status and wealth. In hierarchical societies like Saudi Arabia or the UAE, respect is an invaluable asset shown to those with status gained through wealth or family connections.

This is just one Middle Eastern tradition that might impact your business counterpart’s behaviours and attitudes. A cross-cultural training programme such as Doing Business in the Middle East will help you understand a plethora of other cultural customs. By simply being aware of some of these cultural customs, your ability to build relationships with your counterparts in the Middle East will improve and your understanding of the culture will help you be more successful doing business in the Middle East.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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