Date: 2016-08-12

Business in the Middle East - Tips to Doing Business

Lucas Blankenship

Doing business in a foreign country or region can be challenging, especially when the culture is substantially different from what one is used to. Thus, informing oneself of the cultural norms and the way business is conducted in a given country can be extremely beneficial and help to prevent mistakes that could damage business relationships. When conducting business in the Middle East, there are several things a businessperson should keep in mind. This blog post highlights some of the key cultural differences to be aware of.

Islam is the most prominent religion in the Middle East and can affect the way business is conducted in the region. In particular, it is recommended that one avoids doing business in the Middle East during the month of Ramadan. During this time period, business activity is often reduced, as fasting during the daylight hours and reduced sleep contribute to a decline in workforce productivity.

It is also important to consider the gender roles in the Middle East. Gender roles tend to be much more defined in the Middle East than in Western societies. For example, public interaction between the two sexes is often looked down upon and men should avoid physical contact and long periods of eye contact with women.

In the Middle East, great value is placed on spoken words. In fact, spoken words carry more weight than written agreements – a stark contrast to most Western nations. Contracts are generally not considered binding and are viewed as details of understanding rather than a fixed agreement. In addition, scheduled meetings and appointments should be confirmed verbally at a time close to the meeting date to ensure personal circumstances have not led to a schedule change.

Hopefully these tips were helpful in providing insight into doing business in the Middle East. Check out the country culture pages for Middle Eastern nations such as Iran, Jordan, and Egypt to obtain country-specific culture information. Stay tuned the remainder of this week for more blog posts related to business in the Middle East!

Previous: Business in the Middle East - Iran Preparing for Business Growth in Post-Sanction Era
Next: Abenomics´Stealthy Comeback and the Evolving Nature of Quantitative Easing

Hot Products:

Product Model	Inside Diameter	Outside Diameter	Thickness
CRV36X/3AS NTN	22.225	57.15	33.3
CRV32X/3AS NTN	22.225	50.8	33.3

【TradeBearings News Statement】

1.The news above mentioned with detailed source are from internet.We are trying our best to assure they are accurate ,timely and safe so as to let bearing users and sellers read more related info.However, it doesn't mean we agree with any point of view referred in above contents and we are not responsible for the authenticity. If you want to publish the news,please note the source and you will be legally responsible for the news published.
2.All news edited and translated by us are specially noted the source"TradeBearings".
3.For investors,please be cautious for all news.We don't bear any damage brought by late and inaccurate news.
4.If the news we published involves copyright of yours,just let us know.