Understanding the Arab Culture: A Practical Cross-cultural Guide to Working in the Arab World (Working With Other Cultures)

225 Pages·2010·1.13 MB·English

by  Jehad Al-Omari

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The right of Dr Jehard Al-Omari to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

© 2008 Dr Jehad Al-Omari

First published 2003
Second edition 2008
First published in electronic form 2008

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84803 302 3

Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions, Tavistock, Devon
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NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance
and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in
particular circumstances on statements made in the book. Laws and regulations are
complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the
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Contents
Preface ix
About the author xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Introduction xvii
1 A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE 1
The place of generalizations 2
The dangers of stereotying 7
Emerging with common sense 9
The role of the cross-cultural theory 11
Exaggerating the role 13
2 TEN CROSS-CULTURAL REALITIES 15
Recognizing the complexity of culture 15
Going beyond visibles 17
Holding your judgement 18
Appreciating Gandhi’s dilemma 20
Accepting culture shock 21
Knowing yourself 23
Seeing yourself as others see you 24
Working with stereotypes 26
Mentoring and solving problems 27
Packing your sense of wonder and humour 29
3 THE ARAB CULTURE IN A GENERIC CONTEXT 31
Writing about culture 31
The four cultural determinants 32
Relationships in collective cultures 34
Business practices in collective cultures 35
Hierarchy in power distant cultures 39
Business practices in high power distant organizations 41
Communicating with high context cultures 44
Communicating across cultures 46
Business tips for high context cultures 50
Managing time in polychronic cultures 51
Business Tips for Working with Polychronic Cultures 53
4 THE BUSINESS PYRAMID 56
Increased complexity 56
Building a communications strategy 57
v
vi / UNDERSTANDING THE ARAB CULTURE
Managing meetings effectively 61
Doing business and negotiating 67
5 AN ARAB PERSPECTIVE 70
The Arab world 70
The Arab League 71
Sources of unity 73
Terms of Reference 76
The Arab peoples 78
The levels of diversity 80
The Arabic language 82
Learning the language 83
Learning tips 85
Translating into Arabic 86
Some useful phrases 88
Arabic numbers 90
6 FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH ARABS 92
Cultural quiz 92
Before you travel 93
Getting there 95
What’s in a name? 96
The rules of formality 98
Understanding family names 99
Interpreting body language 101
Establishing eye contact 103
Reading the tactile culture 103
Appreciating gender differences 104
Increasing women’s roles 106
Aspects of dress code 107
7 VALUES AND ATTITUDES 110
The position of hospitality 110
Sampling Arabic coffee 114
Hospitality tips 116
The role of the family 118
Making conversation 120
Conversation tips 121
8 EXPERIENCING ARABIA 124
Socializing with Arabs 124
Attending weddings and festivals 125
Visiting the Majlis 128
Going on desert outings 130
CONTENTS / vii
Sampling Arabic food 132
Shopping and bargaining 135
Getting out and about 136
Living conditions 138
9 ISLAM: AWAY OF LIFE 140
Islam in the world 140
Islam today 141
The meaning of Islam 144
The oneness of God 146
Mohammed (PBUH): Seal of the Prophets 147
The belief system 149
Family code 149
A way of life 150
The meaning of Shari’a 151
Praying – Salah 152
Fasting during Ramadan 153
Pilgrimage to Mekkah – Hajj 155
Useful tips 156
10 DOING BUSINESS 159
The business environment 159
Business is personal 162
The spoken word 163
The meeting 164
Circular meetings 166
Pleasantries and small talk 167
Organized chaos 168
Flow and tempo 170
Breaking bad news 171
Punctuality 173
Inshaalah 176
Confrontation avoidance 177
Decision-making 178
Waasta and favours 179
Exercise – making a presentation 181
Epilogue 185
Recommended reading 202
Index 203
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Preface
Onewhoknowsaboutoneselfandaboutotherswillrecognise:
OrientandOccidentcannolongerbeseparated.
Tomovecomfortablybetweenbothworlds,
BetweentheEastandtheWest,thatisthebest.
J. W. von Goethe
How do you define culture and who are the Arabs? Is it possible
to exaggerate the role of culture, and can we generalise about the
Arabs? Is it possible to write about your own culture and remain
unbiased? Where do generalizations end and stereotypes begin in
a work like this? Can a book of this type give the Arab culture
some justice in the eyes of the Arabs themselves and in terms of
its usefulness to non- Arabs? Where does this book fit in the
overall global environment which every nation is supposedly
undergoing? How does this book contribute to the overwhelming
need for a better understanding of the Arab culture and Islam in
view of recent events?
I believe that all the above questions are legitimate questions in
assessing a book of this type. However, as important as these
questions may be, they are not in themselves questions that this
book pretends to answer. In writing this book, I had one
objective in mind: to better inform Western expatriates and
business-people who are relocating to the Arab World about some
facets of the Arab culture which are of great relevance to them, in
a simple, practical and concise manner.
In writing this book, it was inconceivable to ignore the bigger
picture that underpins the choice of subjects and angles of
discussion: namely the cross-cultural theory, its objectives, tools,
limitations and failings. The book addresses the key issues that
ix