Cultural intelligence training · Middle East
Doing business in the Middle East.
In the Middle East, trust comes before the contract. Personal relationships seal the deals, not just the numbers. I help UK people and businesses build that trust, in person and from afar, wherever in the region the work takes them.
One region, many cities.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are busy business centres, but they are not the whole story. A meeting in Riyadh does not feel the same as one in Dubai, and Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the Levant each have their own pace, formality and way of building trust.
If you are heading to Manama, Doha, Muscat or Amman, the same foundations still apply: cultural intelligence and personal relationships. I teach you how to adjust without treating the region as one place, and without leaving anywhere as an afterthought.
I mentor people and businesses in the UK who work with counterparts across the Middle East. Much of that work now happens by phone, video and email, so I also teach you how to build those relationships from afar.
Hospitality in practice.
Hospitality is often a point of pride across the region, and hosting a visitor well is a way of showing respect. Customs vary by country, city and family, and many people are relaxed with visitors, so treat these as common patterns rather than rules.
Accept what is offered.
Tea, coffee, dates or water are often offered at the start of a meeting. Accepting at least one cup is usually the easiest way to show that you value the welcome, because a quick refusal can feel like turning down the relationship as well as the drink.
Arabic coffee in the Gulf.
In many Gulf settings, small cups of Arabic coffee are topped up until you signal you have had enough, often by gently tilting or shaking the cup. It is a small detail, but knowing it lets you relax and follow your host’s lead.
Time before business.
Conversation about family, travel or the day is not a delay. It is how people decide whether they can trust you, so allow time for it before turning to the agenda.
Paying the bill.
Hosts may insist on paying, and rushing to pay can feel like rejecting their generosity. Accept graciously, and return the gesture later, when the relationship allows it. Even then, expect a friendly fight over the bill.
Related reading.
Some of the questions that come up most often have their own pages: understanding wasta and gatekeepers, women in Middle East business, and advice on relocating to the region.