Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
change this polite form to your surname. The correct formal address (or equivalent of Mr) is usually
asayid
(meaning
sir) or
asayida
(meaning madam).
Preliminaries
Exchange pleasantries about the weather and ask after health and family for several minutes before turn-
ing to the subject in hand. It's considered rude to go straight to the point. Men, however, should never enquire after an-
other man's wife or daughters. Exchange business cards (which are a must) with your right hand; do not use the left
hand, which is reserved for ablutions.
Negotiating
Bargaining is an important part of discovering value to the buyer weighed against worth to the vendor. The
concept of a fixed price is a largely Western concept that is considered quite alien to the highly social and personal inter-
action of reaching a deal in the Middle East.
Agreement
Although some of the gentility of reaching agreement has vanished during the recent global depression, an
Arab word is his bond and, similarly, those who give a promise should keep it as a matter of honour.
Problem Solving
Keep smiling, keep your temper and avoid raising your voice. Confrontation, criticism, blaming and
swearing are highly insulting in public as they involve loss of face for those concerned. Equally, making and forcing
apology is a Western concept best avoided.
Socialising
Take your cue from the host and avoid asking for alcohol unless it is offered. Never refuse a cup of tea or
coffee as refusal may offend. Before any kind of transaction - at the checkout in a supermarket, if the traffic police stop
you, before a meeting begins, even on the telephone between strangers - people greet each other thoroughly and prefer-
ably enquire after the other person's health.
Conversing
Avoid politics, sex and religion as topics of conversation, and if you are drawn into such discussion, keep
your comments general, not personal. Also, avoid any comparisons of people with animals, even in jest, especially dogs
(which are considered unclean by many Muslims) and donkeys (used as a common insult).
Closing
The exchange of gifts is an important aspect of conducting business in the region. Well-crafted tokens repres-
enting an aspect of your home country are the normal currency of leave-taking; poorly made items will do more damage
to your agenda than good.
