Arabic Business Culture
- Business introductions are social affairs.Turkish coffee. image by Crusted from Fotolia.com
Initial business meetings are almost entirely a social affair in the Arab world. Don't put too much on the agenda for a first meeting. According to Soumaya Khalifa, a diversity consultant specializing in Arab countries, during an initial meeting, you may find more coffee drinking and friendly chats than actual business discussion. The point of the initial meeting is to get to know one another on a personal level. Personal relationships are of paramount importance in Arab business deals. - Arabic cultures tend to have a relaxed attitude towards time, even within the business and professional world. Lateness beyond what is considered acceptable in the United States or Europe is not uncommon. Meetings may also be interrupted, even multiple times. Because of this relaxed attitude, it is considered very rude to look at your watch during a meeting. If possible, try not to schedule any engagements directly after business meetings as time constraints are rarely enforced, and your meeting may go longer than expected.
- Even if you don't speak Arabic, it will be greatly appreciated to learn some basic phrases and greetings. If you have a translator, be aware that spoken dialects vary from country to country within the Arab world. If you are speaking in English, try to avoid idioms and slang as they may get lost in translation. Unless your host has significant experience with idiomatic English from your country, stick to basic, formal English. You don't want to accidentally offend prospective business partners by using an informal expression that they can misinterpret as an insult.
- A mosque is the holy place of prayer for Muslims.mosque 3 image by Dusan Radivojevic from Fotolia.com
You can find followers of many faiths in the Arab world, though according to the Federation of American Scientists, Islam is the most prevalent. Be aware that religion has a varying impact on business practices depending on the country. In every Arabic country, try to avoid scheduling meetings on Fridays. Friday is the holy day of rest in Islam and the day when many Muslims visit the mosque to pray. Ramadan is a holy month whose dates change yearly based on the lunar calendar. During Ramadan, practicing Muslims traditionally fast from sunrise to sundown. If you must do business in an Arab country during the month of Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in the presence of Muslim colleagues or business associates. - Learning some Arabic will endear you to your hosts.peace! in arabic: salam image by Tristano Ajmone from Fotolia.com
When traveling and completing international business deals, it is always a good idea to be as culturally sensitive and aware as possible. However, it is quite common for many business professionals to have previous experience with Western associates. Some may have university or work experience in the United States or Europe. They may have some familiarity with Western business practices and thus be forgiving of any faux pas you may accidentally commit.
