SAUDI ARABIA

MIDDLE EAST
SAUDI ARABIA
KINGDOM OF THE MIDDLE EAST
 FORM OF GOVERNMENT: MONARCH
KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD
PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN AL SAUD
 CAPITAL: RIYADH
 OFFICIAL RELIGION: ISLAM
 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: ARABIC
 OIL RICH MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY
 HOME OF HOLIEST CITY (MECCA AND MEDINA)
 34.2 MILLION (JULY 2020 EST.) NOTE: IMMIGRANTS/FOREIGN
WORKERS MAKE UP 38.3% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, ACCORDING
TO UN DATA (2019)

NO. OF FILIPINOS/ OFW’S IN SAUDIA ARABIA:

2.3 MILLION
(APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2018)
CULTURAL
METAPHOR
BEDOUIN JEWELRY
IMPORTANT TERMS/ EXPRESSIONS
• ‫(السالمعليكم‬As-sa-lam a-lay-kum)
Meaning: Hello (literally ‘God’s peace upon you’)

This is a general and slightly more formal way to say hello. With friends you can say ‫(مرحبا‬mar-ha-ban), though generally
sticking with this greeting will work well. This said with a hand over the heart can be considered respectful in most Islamic
countries.

• ‫(شكرا‬shoo-kran)
Meaning: Thank you.

A very handy phrase to use especially when said with a smile it will always be greeted with warmth and often it will be
waved away as if it was no trouble at all.

• ‫( كيفحالك؟‬kay-fa haloka/ haloki [male/female])

Meaning: How are you?

Often heard amongst friends or acquaintances on the street, a good answer to this phrase is

‫(بـخيـر‬bi-khair) meaning fine or good.

 COMMUNICATION STYLE
HIGH CONTEXT
Characteristics/Meaning
• There is a great deal of contextual
information that is known about the
people with whom one interacts and
does business.
• Their society fosters relationships
where everyone takes responsibility
for fellow members of their group.
• Emphasizes personal relationships
and interdependence.
Communication Characteristics/Strategies
• There is often a shared understanding among members of a group.
• Building relationships and earning trust is important before
discussing business.
• Touches more often In conversations.
• Using only the right hand when it comes to greetings and
giving/receiving items, the left hand is considered dirty.
• People motion to one another to come nearer with an extended
arm, palm down, and making a scratching motion with the finger.
An upright finger can be viewed as an insult.
• Hand under the chin and flicked forward indicates annoyance.
 IMPORTANT CULTURES
RAMADAN
• The holy month
• Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day during the month.
• This occasion moves around accordingly to the lunar calendar.

RELIGION
• Religion is a massive part of Emirati culture and
customs and visitors should be highly respectful of
it.
ARCHEOLOGICAL HERITAGE
• ARCHITECTURE
ARCHEOLOGICAL HERITAGE
• CALLIGRAPHY
SAUDI ARABIA HAS A HIGH
POWER DISTANCE
Saudi Arabia has a high power which means
they accept a hierarchical order.
SAUDI ARABIA IS CONSIDERED
A COLLECTIVISTIC SOCIETY
• Saudi Arabia manifest in a close long-
term commitment to the member
“group”, be that a family, extend family,
or extended relationships.
 SAUDI ARABIA HAS A
MASCULINE SOCIETY
 In Masculine countries people like Saudi
Arabia in their mind “live in order to work”,
managers are expected to be decisive and
assertive, the emphasis is on equity,
competition and performance and conflicts
are resolved by fighting them out.
 SAUDI ARABIA SOCIAL DIFFERENCES

Attitudes towards work and success

Respect and friendship are values that are held very highly
by the Arab people. In a business setting, favours based on
mutual benefit and trusts are ways of enhancing these cultur
values.

Roles and Status

Saudi Arabia is the most gender-segregated country in
the world and public places such as shopping malls,
restaurants and the workplace have entire areas which are
female-only. Female businesswomen meeting male
counterparts in public locations are expected to be
accompanied by another male.
 Manners
 When shaking hands or accepting refreshment, for
example, the right hand should always be used, as the left is
considered unclean. In the same way the soles of the shoes
or feet should never be shown as this is perceived as insulting
to the host, and highly offensive. Therefore feet should be
kept flat on the ground or extreme care should be taken
when crossing legs.

Concept of time
Business meetings should always be arranged a few
weeks in advance and if possible scheduled in the morning.
Punctuality from foreign visitors is expected although it is
considered acceptable, in keeping with the Saudi’s flexible
view of time, to keep them waiting, and meetings can
often be cancelled. 
 DO’S AND DONT’S IN SAUDI ARABIA
DO’S
• Dress conservatively.
• Keep your touching and displays of
affection in private.
• Food first before business.
DON’T’S
• Do not drink in public and smoke in
unauthorized places.
• Do not wear skimpy attire outside of the
pool and designated areas.
• Never take pictures of vital military
installations, security forces and the like.
• Don’t be a litterbug or jaywalker.