Notes on Saudi Culture, Customs, and Business Etiquette

SOME USEFUL WEB SITES ON SAUDI CULTURE & CUSTOMS

The web sites listed below are recommended reading for business visitors to Saudi Arabia, especially first-time business visitors.  They present an overview of Saudi culture, customs, and etiquette.  Saudi culture is very different from the American and is intertwined with the state religion, Islam, to a degree that is surprising to most Americans.  A foreign business person who is either ignorant of, or insensitive to, Saudi customs and etiquette, and is perceived as ignorant and/or disrespectful of Islam, needlessly jeopardizes his company’s prospects in this country.  An elementary knowledge of the everyday Arabic-language greetings is also useful, although not required.  We hope that CS clients will find the contents of these web sites useful as they prepare for a business trip to Saudi Arabia or for dealing with Saudi business travelers in the United States.

Kwintessential — Saudi Arabia: Language, Culture, Customs, and Etiquette

Excellent general-purpose web site especially helpful for first-time travelers to Saudi Arabia, with features on “Language,” “Islam,” “Family Values,” “Meeting Etiquette,” “Gift-Giving Etiquette,” “Dining Etiquette,” Buisness Meeting Etiquette,” “Business Negotiating,” etc.

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/saudi-arabia-country-profile.html

Other useful websites include:

The Saudi Network — Business and Social Customs in Saudi Arabia

http://www.the-saudi.net/business-center/business-etiquette.htm

Culture Crossing — Saudi Arabia

http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=178