DOING BUSINESS IN THE ARAB WORLD

Dr Bakr Ahmad AlserhanQatar UniversitySteyr, May 2014

Geography and demography

22 countries

370 million

Challenges• Bureaucracy • Wasta• “Reserved’ businesses or business sectors• Commissions• Lack of information

• Research • Lack of consultancies that actually understand

Opportunities• Huge and young market• High unemployment rates• Access to skills that are relatively affordable• Access to finance• Overhauling or renovating entire economies• …..Most active sectors: Education, health, & infrastructure• …..Most promising sectors: all parts of the “Islamic

economy” including: Islamic Hospitality, Islamic Finance, Halal Pharmaceuticals,

Business etiquette• Hand shakes.• Dress conservatively. How much skin to show? (Shorts &

miniskirts…NO!)• Foreign businessmen should wear suits.• You can agree but you cannot disagree openly• Don’t offer alcoholic drinks• Avoid talking about politics• Don’t look at watch too often• Meeting take longer and they have a social aspect to them• Arabs have a better understanding of western culture

than westerners do of Arab culture

Conclusion• If you have a good offer then you need to:

• Religion.• Be patient. Things take longer. They will be done when they will be

done• Use common sense. Apologize if you need to.• Be respectful • Relax. The Arabs are not what you see in the media• In sha Allah, body language, non-verbal communications

http://www.arab-business-etiquette.com/politeness-towards-arab-business-partners.php