Saudi Society & CultureIslamIslam is practised by all Saudis and g overns their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam was born in Saudi Arabia and thus is visited by millions of Muslims every year. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of Go d's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, A braham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many companies also close o n Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday. During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar). The festivities often continue well into the night. In general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate on a reduced schedule. Business Etiquette and Protocol Relationships & Communicatio n. Saudis do not require as much personal space as most western cultures. As such, they will stand close to you while conversing and you may feel as if you r personal space has been violated. . Saudis prefer to work with people they know and trust and will spend a great deal o f time on the getting-to-know-yo u part of relationship building. . You must be patient. . Since Saudis will most likely judge you on appearances, dress and present yourself well. APPEARANCE Visitors are expected to abide by local standards of modesty however, do not adopt native clothing. Traditional clothes on foreigners may be offensive. Despite the heat, most of the body must always remain covered. A jacket and tie are usually required for men at business meetings. Men should wear long pants and a shirt, preferably long-sleeved, buttoned up to the collar. Men should also avoid wearing visible jewelry, particularly around the neck. Women should always wear modest cl othing in public. High necklines sleeves at least to the elbows are expected. Hemlines, if not ankle-length should at least be well below the knee. A lookof baggy concealment should be the goal, pants or pant suits are not recommended. It is a good idea to keep a scarf handy, especially if entering a Mosque. BEHAVIOR Avoid admiring an item to an excess, your host may feel obligated to give it to you. When offered a gift, it is impolite to refuse. Often shoes are removed before entering a building. Follow the lead of your ho st. Alcohol and pork are not consumed by those that observe the Muslim religion. There are several styles of greetings in use , it is best to wait for your counterpart to initiate the greeting. Men shake hands with other men. Some men will shake hands women, however it is advisable for a businesswoman to wait for a man to offer his hand. A more traditional greeting between men involves grasping each others right hand, placing the left hand o n the others right shoulder and exchanging kisses on each cheek. The left hand is considered unclean and reserved for hygiene. Gesture and eat with the righthand. Do not point at another person.
