Below is an article downloaded from this website:http://www.the-saudi.net/business-center/business-etiquette.htm

It is essential for Westerners doing business in the Kingdom to understand Saudi etiquette and the personal manner in which they conduct their business. Preparation, and some basic knowledge of Saudi business culture, can make the difference between a successful business deal and a failed negotiation. It is important to note, however, that a majority of Saudi business executives and government officials have studied and/or worked abroad, many of them in the United States. They are therefore familiar with Western culture and are comfortable with its differing approach to business, provided respect is shown for Saudi customs.

Some Saudi business executives and officials may be reluctant to schedule an appointment until after their visitors have arrived in the Kingdom. Business visitors should inform their Saudi hosts of their travel plans and agenda, but may have better success scheduling a specific meeting once they have arrived in Saudi Arabia. The religious holidays of Ramadan and Hajj and the daily prayer breaks should also be taken into consideration when scheduling business meetings.

Saudi businesses are unlikely to finalize any serious negotiation without such a face-to-face meeting, as doing business in the Kingdom is still mostly personal. Proper attire at business meetings is essential, as it is a sign of respect for the person withwhom you are meeting. Conservative business suits are recommended. Business cards exchanged are usually printed in English on one side and Arabic on the other. Meetings are conducted at a leisurely pace, with the parties involved enjoying cordial discussion over coffee and tea. Saudi business executives like to feel comfortable with their business partners before agreements or contracts are signed. This can mean a number of initial meetings where no substantive business is discussed. However, these meetings can be as important as serious business negotiations. Substantial time should be allotted for such business appointments, as they are often long in duration. Saudi business executives are also prone to welcome visitors and outside phone calls during such meetings; a lack of privacy is not uncommon in personal appointments. Confidentiality is likely to increase when it comes time to actually finalize an agreement.

Saudi custom regarding greetings is rather ritualized. When entering a meeting full of people, a Saudi will greet each person individually with a handshake while standing. The same is expected of visitors. Learning some appropriate Arabic phrases for such occasions is appreciated.

In Arabic, an individual is addressed by his or her first name, and any title they possess. A "Dr. Ahmed Bin Al-Rahman" would be addressed as "Dr. Ahmed." The word "bin" or "ibn" means "son of" and may be present a number of times in a person?s name, as Saudi names are indicators of genealogy. Another common name structure is having "Abd" followed by an attribute of God with the definite article "al-." Hence, "Dr. Abd-Al-Rahman Al-Hajj" would be addressed as "Dr. Abd Al-Rahman" and not as "Dr. Abd" or "Dr. Abd Al." Saudi ministers are always addressed as "Your Excellency" and members of the royal family as "Your Highness."

Many Saudi business executives have an impressive history of trade experience, experience with the West, and a command of the English language. They prepare carefully for meetings and have a good grasp of the important details surrounding negotiations, relying more heavily on memory than on papers and notes. The Arab people are very hospitable and will go to great lengths to make guests feel welcome and comfortable. Foreign business executives can expect to be served first and will be ushered first through doorways. If an invitation is extended to a Saudi colleague for a meal or coffee, it is customary for the person who issued the invitation to pick up the bill. Some Saudis will decline an offer at least one time out of politeness.

When engaged in conversation, Saudis tend to stand much closer to one another than Americans, North Europeans, and East Asians do. Their conversational distance is more similar to that of Latin Americans and Southern Europeans. Arabs will also employ some body contact to emphasize a point or confirm that they have your attention. It is important not to draw back, however. This may be interpreted as a rebuff or rejection of what is being said. Respect is a value that is held very highly by the Arab people, and this shows in both business and social settings.

Various social customs are well known in the Kingdom. Arabs traditionally use the right hand for all public functions ? including shaking hands, eating, drinking, and passing objects to another person. Talking with one?s hands, or gesticulating wildly, may be considered impolite. It is also impolite to point the sole of the foot at the person to whom you are speaking. It may be discourteous to ask about a man?s wife and daughters. One should ask after his "family and children." When tea and coffee are served, it could be considered impolite not to take at least one cup. When one is finished drinking, one should oscillate the cup to signal that a refill is not desired. If one is doing business in the Kingdom during Ramadan, it is best to refrain from drinking and eating when in the company of someone observing the fast.

Doing business in Saudi Arabia is somewhat more challenging for women. There is gender separation in the Kingdom. Many public places, like hotels and restaurants, will have family rooms where women are served with their husbands. Women are expected to dress conservatively, with long skirts most appropriate, sleeves at elbow length or longer, and necklines that are unrevealing. It is generally uncommon for a Muslim man to shake hands with a woman or engage in the conversational body contact that is common when speaking to another man, although Saudis who have experience with Western culture may be inclined to do so.

I hope this helps for your reference.

 [jeddahprojects]:

Reading into this article and in between the lines, there are a number of questions I want to ask to clarify and confirm my understanding and to know the bussiness protocols.

Am I right to say that we have first to gain a level of communication with the Saudi buyers before going into the subject on product presentation?

From my understanding, many projects are handled by main contractors or Listed Vendors, and for new comer to get into the supply chain, the entry point would be through the main contractor, who may not of an Arabic ethnic origin.

Should we make appointment, while in the Kingdom, as to the suggestion:

• when is the best time to call by phone, or send a fax, or an email as pre-appointment arrangements.
• What venue is most acceptable by the Saudi prospect?
• What is the best time for the meeting?
• Should an interpretator be joining the meeting?
• Should we bring some gifts and which gifts will be best?
• How many people should be present from our side?
• If females are not appropriate, how can we settle to have our secretary to come along?

Gold is for women, and platinum or silver for the men. For example, to give a MONTBLANC pen.. am I right?

Street Smart

Replying to [jeddahprojects]:
Dear All ,

Good day,

We, are Muslim and we are not conservative for women, please to be notify for us, in Shortly We, are not conservative, for your kind information.
Our Prophet Hazrat Mohammed Mustafa peace be upon him,
says women and men have difference,

especially this type of dress gives women to protect to themselves.

if any have any question please kindly talk to me directly.

We ARE NOT CONSERVATIVE PLEASE KINDLY BE NOTIFY ,

I DONT WANA GOES IN DEEP, THANKS

REGARDS

MAHTAB YAQUB

Replying to [Street Smart]:

Dear All ,

We, are Muslim yes but we, are not conservative, please modify your Language, Please be noted. it, thanks

Gold is for women why ? I let you know it why? because female have different from male, female makes for male not for female. while she wear gold she becomes like women and while man wear gold his inside becomes like animals. its God gifts. its nature really its nature truth.believe it. or not.

and while male wear silver they got strenght, please kindly read twicely and discussed it with us, please kindly be noted that Our Quran never says Wrong.

Please kindly be notify it. its nature truths.

If you want to discussed its better

I am willing to your reply and please kindly be notify that this alibaba.com is not a criticized for any other religious.

its business site.

I hope you or any other do not critisized to any religious hitting.

I am not saudi but I like Saudi Peoples they are very nice people's.

If you wana discuss with then please you are well come.

we, are over to do business instead of any types of Politics.

thanks

regards

mahtab yaqub

Replying to [Street Smart]:
Dear All,

Good Day,

Please kindly you can contact me on phone thanks

regards

mahtab yaqub

Replying to [Street Smart]:Dear Street Smart, you have gone so much in details. I agree with Mr. Farhan's concern. Let us deal with business only. The article posted was downloaded from the website and this is in general. Actual practice varies from company-to-company and how they are managed, or who manages them.

You are correct that most vendors have to deal with the main contractors and most of them are foreign-based with local partners. My company is a main contractor. In one case, we invited a vendor from Malaysia and concluded a deal with them. We also visited their facility in Selangor.

To cut it short, what business are you in and what product are dealing with? Maybe, we can start something and you learn the culture as you go along.

Replying to [farhan]:

Mr. Farhan your explanation is quite amusing
"Gold is for women why ? I let you know it why? because female have different from male, female makes for male not for female. while she wear gold she becomes like women and while man wear gold his inside becomes like animals. its God gifts. its nature really its nature truth.believe it. or not. "

Means If women don't wear gold they are not women
What do you mean female makes for make?

Our Quran never says Wrong. No holy book says wrong, but the preacher tell them there meanings not Quran meaning..

And there is no critics or mole played in this article.

Replying to [farhan]:http://www.the-saudi.net/business-center/business-etiquette.htm
This is your dubai person website and they are saying this..

jeddahprojects

Dear Sir:

Here we are discussing culture and business protocols, something which seems difficult to be segregated from one's beliefs and religion.

Thank you for your frank and candid observation about the Saudi Business Culture taken from a website written by someone in Dubai. .. again another city where foreigners are doing the operation of the facilities.

I thought much has been said about myself, and to repeat, not to advertise my business, but as you asked. I am running a small business servicing the marine shipping business, more on tankers carrying crude oil, product oil, chemicals and anything that is liquid cargo. My principal, who used to be my employer, is in Busan, South Korea, in the heart of the biggest shipbuilding industry in the world.

Our main activity is to service the after-sales for a portable tank gauging instrument to determine the integrity of the cargo and differentiate oil and water and measure temperature at the same time. But we supplement our income with sales of the new instrument and other products on this theme of portability. We took a Oil Test Kit product from the United States, to test the alkalinity reserves of Lube Oil, and to test the water content in oils (fuel, lube and hydraulic oil). We had another product range from Germany for Engine monitoring of speed, pressure, temperature and safety protection and data acquisition system.

Street Smart

Quoting from [MioBoy]:


Replying to [jeddahprojects]: i think in doing business with any country it is important to be polite and respect others. it is always our betterment in learning the customs of friends from other countries as friends or business associates.

MioBoy,

You are correct, there is no doubt about the requirements, but what is considered as polite to us may be impolite to the culture of others.

Let me give you an example. It is considered good manners to touch and stroke the hair of a child, but it is not acceptable to do that to an Arab boy.

It is good manners to stand up at dinner tables and pick up pieces of food for your guest with the chopsticks, but it is not polite to do this in front of the Americans. They prefer to take the food themselves and if they cannot reach them, they will ask the person nearer to pass the dish.

The right hand rule for a muslim is very sensitive issue, to pass something to them with the left hand is considered an insult and may enrage the Middle Eastern host. When pointing to some item, always use the right thumb instead of the index finger, and never use the middle finger, which is very rude.

Street Smart

 

Replying to [Street Smart]:
Funny topic. I like....