The historical journey which led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of triumph and misfortune. Prior to the emergence of Islam, the peninsula was divided between various nomadic Arab tribes and subject to invasion from a number of outside cultures.
Saudi Arabia Today
The historical journey which led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of triumph and misfortune. Prior to the emergence of Islam, the peninsula was divided between various nomadic Arab tribes and subject to invasion from a number of outside cultures. The creation of modern Saudi Arabia dates from 1932 when the late King Abdul Aziz AL-Saud unified the surrounding regions as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To this day the monarchy remains the central institution of the Saudi Arabian Government, governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari’a). Saudi Arabia has fascinated travellers for centuries. From its vast deserts and barren plains emerged the monotheistic religion of Islam, the Arab race and the country’s distinctive Arab culture.
Occupying approximately 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, today this monarchy, rich in Arab and Muslim heritage and characterised by a high degree of cultural homogeneity is home to a plethora of successful, oil-rich cities. A sound knowledge of Saudi Arabia and of its cultural background, is essential to understand the principals which have guided the Kingdom’s business development.
Saudi Arabian Culture – Key Concepts and Values
Islam – In order to comprehend fully the culture of Saudi Arabia one needs to understand the extensive influence of religion on society. The overwhelming majority of the population of Saudi Arabia are Arabs who adhere to the Wahhabi sect of Islam. Islam, which governs every aspect of a Muslim’s life, also permeates every aspect of the Saudi state. As a result, Arabian culture is often described as detail-orientated whereby emphasis is placed on ethics and expected social behaviour such as generosity, respect and solidarity. These are customs and social duties that also infiltrate the Saudi Arabian business world and affect the way Arabs handle business dealings.
Face – In a culture where confrontation and conflict are to be avoided, the concept of face is a fundamental issue of daily life. Dignity and respect are key elements in Saudi Arabian culture and saving face through the use of compromise, patience and self-control is a means by which to maintain these qualities. The Saudi Arabian culture utilises the concept of face to solve conflicts and avoid embarrassing or discomforting others. In a business context, preventing loss of face is equally important.
High Context Communication – Saudi Arabia is considered a very high context culture. This means that the message people are trying to convey often relies heavily on other communicative cues such as body language and eye-contact rather than direct words. In this respect, people make assumptions about what is not said. In Saudi Arabian culture particular emphasis is placed on tone of voice, the use of silence, facial cues and body language. It is vital to be aware of these non-verbal aspects of communication in any business setting in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Doing Business in Saudi Arabia
The discovery of oil in the 1930s transformed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from a purely trade-based economy to one of the largest exporters of petroleum in the world. This economic revolution paved the way for a greater industrial base and opened up the country to the business world. As the petroleum sector currently accounts for 80% of budget revenues, the government is pursuing economic reforms to diversify its economy. In addition, Saudi Arabia joined the WTO in 2005, started to substantially invest in training and education and promotes foreign investment. For those wishing to benefit from this impressive economic development by doing business with Saudi Arabia an understanding of Saudi etiquette and the personal manner in which business is conducted is essential.
Saudi Arabia Business Part 1 - Working in Saudi Arabia: Working practices in Saudi Arabia
Structure and hierarchy in Saudi Arabian companies.
Working relationships in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia business Part 2 - Doing Business in Saudi Arabia: Business practices in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian business etiquette (Do's and Don'ts)
DO address your Saudi Arabian counterparts with the appropriate titles Doctor, Shaikh (chief), Mohandas (engineer) and Ustadh (professor) followed by his or her first name. If unsure, it is best to get the names and correct form of address of those you will be doing business with before hand. The word ’bin’ or ‘ibn’ (son of) and ‘bint’ (daughter of) may be present a number of times in a person’s name as Saudi names are indicators of genealogy.
DO abide by local standards of modesty and dress appropriately. As a sign of respect, it is essential to wear the proper attire during business meetings in Saudi Arabia. For men, conservative business suits are recommended. Women are required to wear the ‘abaya’ (the long black robe) anywhere in public throughout the Kingdom and ‘shayla’ (headscarf) in most public environments.
DO maintain strong eye-contact with your Saudi counterparts and expect a closer distance during conversation in both business and social settings. Both forms of communication are ways in which to strengthen trust and show respect in Saudi Arabia.
DON’T appear loud or overly animated in public. This type of behaviour is considered rude and vulgar. It is important to show humility and behave conservatively at all times.
DON’T rush your Arabian counterparts during business negotiations. Communications occur at a slower pace in Saudi Arabia and patience is often necessary.
DON’T assume during business meetings that the person who asks the most questions holds the most responsibility. In Saudi Arabia this person is considered to be the least respected or least important. The decision-maker is more often than not a silent observer. For this reason, if you are in a business meeting, it is advised not to ask all the questions.
Saudi Arabian Culture Quiz - true or false
1. It is not uncommon for men to walk hand in hand in public. It is purely a sign of friendship.
2. Before commencing a business meeting in Saudi Arabia it is customary to engage in some initial ‘small talk’. This helps create a more relaxed and familiar environment to conduct business in.
3. Saudi Arabians place great emphasis on written agreements and in accordance with the business culture in Saudi Arabia a final agreement is nonnegotiable.
4. According to Islam, the left hand is considered unclean and reserved for personal hygiene. Arabs traditionally use the right hand for all public functions including shaking hands, eating, drinking and passing objects to another person.
5. The western ‘OK’ sign is also a positive expression used in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian Culture Quiz - Answers
1. True.
2. True.
3. False. In Saudi Arabia the spoken word has much more weight than written agreements. An agreement is only final when both parties have parted. Until then it is open to negotiation, even if the contract has been signed.
4. True.
5. False. In Saudi Arabia the ‘OK’ gesture is an insult meaning ‘the evil eye’.
Saudi Arabia Today
The historical journey which led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of triumph and misfortune. Prior to the emergence of Islam, the peninsula was divided between various nomadic Arab tribes and subject to invasion from a number of outside cultures. The creation of modern Saudi Arabia dates from 1932 when the late King Abdul Aziz AL-Saud unified the surrounding regions as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To this day the monarchy remains the central institution of the Saudi Arabian Government, governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari’a). Saudi Arabia has fascinated travellers for centuries. From its vast deserts and barren plains emerged the monotheistic religion of Islam, the Arab race and the country’s distinctive Arab culture.
Occupying approximately 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, today this monarchy, rich in Arab and Muslim heritage and characterised by a high degree of cultural homogeneity is home to a plethora of successful, oil-rich cities. A sound knowledge of Saudi Arabia and of its cultural background, is essential to understand the principals which have guided the Kingdom’s business development.
Saudi Arabian Culture – Key Concepts and Values
Islam – In order to comprehend fully the culture of Saudi Arabia one needs to understand the extensive influence of religion on society. The overwhelming majority of the population of Saudi Arabia are Arabs who adhere to the Wahhabi sect of Islam. Islam, which governs every aspect of a Muslim’s life, also permeates every aspect of the Saudi state. As a result, Arabian culture is often described as detail-orientated whereby emphasis is placed on ethics and expected social behaviour such as generosity, respect and solidarity. These are customs and social duties that also infiltrate the Saudi Arabian business world and affect the way Arabs handle business dealings.
Face – In a culture where confrontation and conflict are to be avoided, the concept of face is a fundamental issue of daily life. Dignity and respect are key elements in Saudi Arabian culture and saving face through the use of compromise, patience and self-control is a means by which to maintain these qualities. The Saudi Arabian culture utilises the concept of face to solve conflicts and avoid embarrassing or discomforting others. In a business context, preventing loss of face is equally important.
High Context Communication – Saudi Arabia is considered a very high context culture. This means that the message people are trying to convey often relies heavily on other communicative cues such as body language and eye-contact rather than direct words. In this respect, people make assumptions about what is not said. In Saudi Arabian culture particular emphasis is placed on tone of voice, the use of silence, facial cues and body language. It is vital to be aware of these non-verbal aspects of communication in any business setting in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Doing Business in Saudi Arabia
The discovery of oil in the 1930s transformed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from a purely trade-based economy to one of the largest exporters of petroleum in the world. This economic revolution paved the way for a greater industrial base and opened up the country to the business world. As the petroleum sector currently accounts for 80% of budget revenues, the government is pursuing economic reforms to diversify its economy. In addition, Saudi Arabia joined the WTO in 2005, started to substantially invest in training and education and promotes foreign investment. For those wishing to benefit from this impressive economic development by doing business with Saudi Arabia an understanding of Saudi etiquette and the personal manner in which business is conducted is essential.
Saudi Arabia Business Part 1 - Working in Saudi Arabia: Working practices in Saudi Arabia
Structure and hierarchy in Saudi Arabian companies.
Working relationships in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia business Part 2 - Doing Business in Saudi Arabia: Business practices in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian business etiquette (Do's and Don'ts)
DO address your Saudi Arabian counterparts with the appropriate titles Doctor, Shaikh (chief), Mohandas (engineer) and Ustadh (professor) followed by his or her first name. If unsure, it is best to get the names and correct form of address of those you will be doing business with before hand. The word ’bin’ or ‘ibn’ (son of) and ‘bint’ (daughter of) may be present a number of times in a person’s name as Saudi names are indicators of genealogy.
DO abide by local standards of modesty and dress appropriately. As a sign of respect, it is essential to wear the proper attire during business meetings in Saudi Arabia. For men, conservative business suits are recommended. Women are required to wear the ‘abaya’ (the long black robe) anywhere in public throughout the Kingdom and ‘shayla’ (headscarf) in most public environments.
DO maintain strong eye-contact with your Saudi counterparts and expect a closer distance during conversation in both business and social settings. Both forms of communication are ways in which to strengthen trust and show respect in Saudi Arabia.
DON’T appear loud or overly animated in public. This type of behaviour is considered rude and vulgar. It is important to show humility and behave conservatively at all times.
DON’T rush your Arabian counterparts during business negotiations. Communications occur at a slower pace in Saudi Arabia and patience is often necessary.
DON’T assume during business meetings that the person who asks the most questions holds the most responsibility. In Saudi Arabia this person is considered to be the least respected or least important. The decision-maker is more often than not a silent observer. For this reason, if you are in a business meeting, it is advised not to ask all the questions.
Saudi Arabian Culture Quiz - true or false
1. It is not uncommon for men to walk hand in hand in public. It is purely a sign of friendship.
2. Before commencing a business meeting in Saudi Arabia it is customary to engage in some initial ‘small talk’. This helps create a more relaxed and familiar environment to conduct business in.
3. Saudi Arabians place great emphasis on written agreements and in accordance with the business culture in Saudi Arabia a final agreement is nonnegotiable.
4. According to Islam, the left hand is considered unclean and reserved for personal hygiene. Arabs traditionally use the right hand for all public functions including shaking hands, eating, drinking and passing objects to another person.
5. The western ‘OK’ sign is also a positive expression used in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian Culture Quiz - Answers
1. True.
2. True.
3. False. In Saudi Arabia the spoken word has much more weight than written agreements. An agreement is only final when both parties have parted. Until then it is open to negotiation, even if the contract has been signed.
4. True.
5. False. In Saudi Arabia the ‘OK’ gesture is an insult meaning ‘the evil eye’.
