A Cross Cultural Briefing Destination: Saudi Arabia.
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Transcript of A Cross Cultural Briefing Destination: Saudi Arabia.
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.