Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1. Their Way of Communication

Saudis are very hospitable, usually open minded and friendly to foreigners.

2. Their Appearance and Style of Dress

They usually wear national dress even to business meeting. For example, men wear the white Thawb. Men also wear Ghutra An Iqal on their heads. This is a square head cloth with a double circle of black rope or cord to hold it on their heads. Women and girls in Saudi Arabia wear a long dress with long sleeves. It is called Jallabia (or sometimes a thawh). It comes in different colors. The dress is long so that it can cover every part of the body because their religion doesn’t allow them to show any parts of the body.   

3. What, When and How They Eat

Their main dish is meat-beef, lamb (not pork because Saudi Arabia is Muslim country) with rice. They prefer eat food at home, not in the restaurants because about 95% family have 1-3 housekeepers, but on the weekend or holyday usually all family go to the restaurant. Their food timetable is

Breakfast: some hot drink (coffee, tea) with fried eggs, toast or croissant-between 7AM to 9AM

Lunch: salad, soup and meat with vegetable or rice-between 2PM to 3PM

Dinner: salad and soup or dish with meat and rice-between 8PM to 9PM

4. Their Commitment to Time Schedule

They are usually punctual. You have to know that on Friday and pray time everything is close even shops and business meeting. Each business room has a room for pray. Saudi Arabia is very strict about alcohol, you can’t find in Saudi Arabia any nightclub, bars pubs. You have to know that you can’t use you left hand for shake hands, for give something, if you use your left hand, it means no respect. 

5. How Much Space They Like Around Them

When men meet they kiss each other to the cheeks 2-3 times. If you had business with Saudi business for 2nd time, you should kiss your business partner on the cheeks. Before business meeting you can ask them about their children, but not about wife because wife is private life.

6. How They Like to Be Recognized and Rewarded

They work in team

7. Their Relationship With Others and Authorities

Saudi Arabia is a kingdom. They very respect their king, so you cant say something negative about the king. They respect their king because education in this country if free and a lot of services for Saudis are free too.

8. Their Outlook and Attitude Toward Life

In Saudi Arabia only 20% of women work as teachers, doctors, nurses. You can find a businesswoman as a head of company but usually men do business from her name. However, men can work with foreigner businesswomen. Saudi Arabia is very rich country. You can’t find Saudis work on low position as janitorial because the salary is so low for them. Usually these kinds of works do by foreigners. They like to spend free time with friends. Relative relationship is very important for Saudi. They like camping and go to farms.