A Cross Cultural Briefing

Destination: Saudi Arabia

Agenda

• History and Background• Social Customs• Cultural Orientation• Business Practices• Final Tips• First Hand Account of an American in Saudi Arabia

History and Background

Government: Islamic monarchy

Language: Arabic; English secondary

Religion: Wahabi branch of Sunni Islam

Law: Unofficially, the Koran

Social Customs

- Greetings- Titles- Gestures- Gifts- Dress

Cultural Orientation

- Cognitive Styles- Negotiation Strategies- Value System- Issues of Equality/Inequality

ISLAM

Saudi Culture

Business Practices

Business Practices

- Punctuality, Appointments- Negotiating

Business Practices

- Punctuality, Appointments- Negotiating

Geert Hofstede ScoresSaudi Arabia

Final Tips

-Before you go…

Tara FoleyForeign Affairs Officer for U.S. State Dept.

An Abaya

“”

From their point of view, they were expressing respect for me by refraining from physical contact. This is something that I comprehend intellectually, but struggle to truly understand in my heart. Culturally, it's just ingrained in me. No matter how much I intellectualize it, it is very difficult for me to accept someone’s signal that they do not view me as an equal– even if that inequality is considered a sign of respect in itself.

-Tara Foley, Foreign Affairs Officer for U.S. State Dept.