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Arab World

PDI IDV MAS UAI

Denmark  18 74 16 23

Arab World 80 38 52 68 

Values: 

· Shake with the right hand (left is offensive and considered reserved for bathroom functions)

and never show an Arab the soles of your feet.

· Respect the hierarchy and address the senior executive

· The most important aspect of customer service for the Arab is personal attention.

Rituals:

· Religion has an impact on the everyday life for the Arab world; one of the main rituals is

that they pray five times a day.

· When Muslims greet each other, instead of saying, “good morning” or “hello” they say

“Assalamo Alaikum,” which means “May peace be upon you and may God's blessings be

with you.” This greeting makes a Muslim aware that he has to spread love and peace

wherever he goes.

· Punctuality is not prized in the Arab world and the Arab may be testing your commitment to

doing business with him by keeping you waiting.

Heroes:· Allah (God)

· Mohammed the prophet

· Heroes are those who have shaped Dubai in the last decades and changed the country

 beyond recognition. For instance: The current ruler of Dubai - since January 4th, 2006 – 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum have received big credit for advancing Dubai´

s infrastructure and economy, while maintaining the important traditions for emirates in

Dubai.

Symbols:

· Men should stick to formal business attire, and modest, lightweight casual clothing.

· Women should stick to longer hemlines and sleeves. Appropriate female dress varies in the

Arab world from country to country, so check before you go. In many Gulf countries,

women are obliged to cover their hair in public.

· Western ads that include women in revealing clothes are considered offensive in the Arab

world (French perfume companies often run different versions of their ads, with fully

dressed women, in the Middle East).

· Half moon is a symbol for Islam and therefore also a symbol of the Arabic world.

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In several Arab countries in the Gulf, (where there are virtually no women in the corporate world) it

will be simply impossible for women to do business due to the MAS

Holders of passports containing Israeli visas will absolutely be refused entry in all Arab countries

except Jordan and Egypt. If you are on a trip in the Middle East region including Arab countries and

Israel your best options are to visit Israel last or to obtain two separate passports.

Don't arrive on Friday and expect to do business. Since Friday is the holy day of the week in Islam,

all public and most private sector offices are closed in Arab countries. Office hours in the private

sector tend to be 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Arab countries tend to have hot climates and

have a tradition of an early start to the day followed by a long lunch and siesta.

Avoid humour at all costs. The Arab sense of humour is almost unfathomable to Westerners and

vice versa.

Don't plan an important business trip during Ramadan, the annual monthly fast in Muslim countries.

Consumption of food or water in public between dawn and dusk is illegal for all, including

foreigners, in most Arab countries.

Strategy proposals

1. Management style = Less empowerment because of the high, expect to tell the employees

what to do all the time. PDI

2. Women as secretaries and men as top managers MAS

3. Less self service because of the cheap labor and the high PDI

4. Make employees feel like they are a part of a bigger whole and don’t point out individual

 performances because of the low IDV 5. Be sure to make brakes for prayers.

6. Longer work hours (break in the middle of the day)

7. Respect the arab norms and values including the Ramadan and the “dresscode”. UAI

(Edward T. Hall)

High context communication. (Body language and touching)

Polychronic, (time thing). Do many things at the time. Not punctual(linked to high context

cultures)Slow messages (takes time to get to know a person) Uncertain Avoidance

(Richard R. Gesteland)

Relationship focused culture (low individualism)

Formal Culture (power distance)

Expressive culture (loud speaking in communication to be heard) (Small bubbles of space, Hallpersonal space)