Family and tribe are the basis of the social structure. Greeting between two men is to shake hands, two women may hug, but a man and women who don’t know each other should not greet each other in public. The notion of personal space is different in Saudi Arabia, people will stand very close to you while talking. Any social situation will be single-sex, or the sexes will be in neighbouring rooms.
You will need a sponsor to get into the country. They will help you to arrange meetings and will introduce you to influential contacts. Relationships are slow to develop and meetings tend to be prolonged. They will begin with detailed small talk about families, although do not mention colleagues’ wives.
Saudis are tough negotiators and will often haggle vigorously over price but they find it difficult to say no, so bear in mind that a ‘yes’ actually means ‘perhaps’.
Business men will be expected to wear a suit, and a woman should make sure her knees and collarbones are covered and that her clothes are loose fitting so as not to emphasise the body shape. Business cards are given out frequently. Have one side translated into Arabic.
