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General Notes and Etiquette Guidelines for Conduct in Saudi Arabia

Most people in Saudi Arabia are familiar with Western/American culture and have an affinity with it due to education, exposure, or both. Saudi Arabians take pride in visits by foreigners to their country and are generally happy to inform them about Saudi Arabian culture and tradition. The majority of the population is at least conversational in English. Most businesspeople, including the ones we will meet with, are fluent in English and quite familiar with Western customs. In general, what is considered customary in the US can be considered acceptable and customary in Saudi Arabia with a few exceptions and special cases noted below.

Body Language and Right vs. Left

In Arab culture, the right side is always considered preferable to the left. When eating with their hands or with cutlery, Saudi Arabians eat with only with their right hand. It is OK for foreign visitors to eat with either left or right hand. However, when giving or receiving anything (business cards, documents, gifts, a cup of tea or coffee, a plate of food, etc) one should always use the right hand and never the left. Similarly, when two or more people are walking side by side down a hallway and must enter through a door, the person on the right always enters first. Therefore, when walking side by side, the more senior of the two should be walking on the right side (or in the front).

Body language in Saudi Arabia is mostly similar to the US. Being forthright and looking at the person you are speaking to directly is appropriate. When sitting both men and women should avoid raising one leg so that the bottom of their shoe faces any of the guests, as this is generally considered rude.

Attire

Both men and women in Saudi Arabia dress reservedly and rather formally. Most Saudi Arabian men wear a thobe (the long white robe with long sleaves) and a shmagh (the white or red-checkered head cover). Women also dress modestly (closed top, long skirt or pants, long sleeves) on top of which they wear a thin silk dark-colored (generally dark gray or black) abaya robe and head scarf (tarha) on top which may have subtle embroidery. In the conservative central region many Saudi women also wear a face veil.
Saudi Arabia has many foreign business visitors, both men and women, so your presence will not be unusual. Visiting foreign women can wear the head scarf if they wish, or they can instead place it on their shoulders and leave their heads uncovered. They are expected to don the abaya robe on top of formal business attire. The appropriate attire for visiting foreign men is a Western-style business suit.

Greetings and Relationship between Genders

Saudi Arabia is a conservative country. In general, interactions with the opposite gender tend to be more formal. Gender segregation is the norm, especially in the central region Najd where the capital Riyadh is located. Women who work often normally do so in different quarters so that they can be more comfortable. Full gender mixing in the workplace is slowly expanding, however, as the pressures of the marketplace increasingly dictate that men and women work jointly and closely. In any case, visiting Western businesswomen will not be subject to gender segregation; they will have as much access to people and places as their male counterparts.

Among Saudi Arabians of the same gender, kissing is considered an appropriate greeting among friends. Handshakes are more appropriate among business acquaintances and associates including visiting foreigners.

Conservative Saudi men consider any physical contact with a woman who is not a relative inappropriate and disrespectful of the woman. Therefore during introductions Western women should not initiate a handshake with a Saudi man who may be conservative (usually having a beard is a good indication). If their Saudi male counterpart does initiate a handshake, then she should extend her hand in response and shake hands. Otherwise, verbal greetings suffice. Similarly, visiting foreign men should not initiate a handshake with a Saudi woman. If she extends her hand, then it is OK to respond to her initiation and shake her hand. If she does not, then verbal greetings suffice. For both genders, placing one’s right hand on one’s heart while speaking these greetings is considered an appropriate alternative to shaking hands, but it not strictly necessary.

Appropriate and Inappropriate Subjects of Conversation

Most subjects of conversation are fine. It is appropriate and customary to engage in small talk prior to delving into business discussion. Saudi Arabians will appreciate hearing their country complimented by visiting foreigners. They will be impressed at a foreigner’s knowledge of Saudi Arabian history, geography, customs, tradition, economy, etc. so if you have a few hours on the plane that would be an excellent time to skim a guidebook on Saudi Arabia (see suggestions below) but this isn’t necessary. Speaking in positive terms about previous meetings and engagements with your counterparty will leave a positive impression. Asking questions about Saudi Arabian culture or customs is welcome and most Saudis will be happy to offer the best answer they can.

It is generally advisable to avoid discussing religion and politics. However, as always, common sense prevails. Take your queue from the person or persons you are speaking with. In general, owing to the long-standing relationship, educational, and business ties many Saudis have with the US, public opinion in Saudi Arabia is favorable of the US. It is generally not favorable towards Israel nor Iran, so it is advisable to avoid discussing both.

Hospitality

Hospitality is a central part of Saudi Arabian culture. Your hosts will either invite you to meals, or at least tea/coffee and will apologize if unable to do so (owing to time constrains for example). They may offer to host you at evening excursions, etc. Insisting on the matter is considered appropriate hospitality towards visitors and is a hallmark of a proper host. If your time allows, you should gracefully agree. However you need not feel pressured to attend these invitations unless you desire to do so. If you would like to decline, an appropriate excuse is jetlag, fatigue, need to attend to work, or a previously confirmed engagement with a more senior figure (for example a senior prince).

Gifts

Bringing a gift that is reflective of your background will be considered a positive and a welcomed gesture by the Saudi Arabians you meet with. Saudi Arabians often offer gifts of incense and musk which are used in formal functions in the country when they are hosted by other Saudi Arabians. An appropriate gift by a visitor from the US may be something with sentimental or historical significance, or a fancy pen. Most Saudi Arabians do not drink alcohol (in fact alcoholic beverages are illegal in the country) so wine is not an appropriate gift.

Addressing Saudi Arabians

It is generally appropriate to address your counterpart by Mr. XYZ, Mrs. XYZ, Miss XYZ, or simply by their first name. There is no strict convention. If unsure and it is not clear from the context it is OK and appropriate to simply ask.
If the person being addressed is a PhD holder, it is expected and customary to address him or her as Dr. XYZ. XYZ can be his or her first or last name (both are acceptable).

Saudi Arabians take a lot of pride in their children. Among friends, it is common and appropriate to address men and women by the name of their eldest son. For example, if you have a friendly relationship with Mr. Abdulla Al-Omar, and his eldest son is called Zaid, he will be pleased to be addressed as ‘Abu Zaid.’ Abdulla’s wife can be addressed Um Zaid.

If the Saudi Arabian man or woman has a daughter and no sons it is equally acceptable to address him or her by the eldest daughter’s name. For example, if Mr. Nayef Al Amer has a single daughter called Yasmine, it is appropriate to address Nayef as Abu Yasmine and his wife as Um Yasmine.

Addressing Royalty

There are two tiers of royalty in Saudi Arabia: descendents of Saudi Arabia’s founder King Abdulaziz, and their relatives. Technically and in official correspondence, the former are to be addressed by ‘Your Royal Highness’ and the latter ‘Your Highness.’ However, in regular conversation ‘Your Highness’ is appropriate for all royalty. If referring to a prince in the third person ‘the prince’ or ‘Prince XYZ’ is fine. There is no need to say ‘his highness.’

Ministers should be addressed by ‘Your Excellency.’ However, if the Minister is also a prince he should be addressed by ‘Your Highness.’

If a prince or minister requests to be addressed differently, for example, by his first name then that is OK.

Suggestions for reading on the plane ride to Saudi Arabia:

• A Business Guide to Saudi Arabia (http://www.amazon.com/Business-Guide-Saudi-Arabia/dp/B000AR8UJQ)

• Cultureshock! Saudi Arabia (Cultureshock Saudi Arabia: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (http://www.amazon.com/Cultureshock-Saudi-Arabia-Survival-Etiquette/dp/076142508X)

• Saudi Arabia: The Business Traveller's Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/Saudi-Arabia-Business-Travellers-Handbooks/dp/1566566983/)

Uprooted by Joan Sparling... I haven't actually read it yet

"Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Conspiracist Underground" by Jonathan Kay is pretty great. It tries to understand conspiracy theorists' motivations and reasons for thinking the way they do in a non-mocking way, as many of them (9/11 truthers in particular) are actually pretty intelligent and patriotic, wishing for the rule of law to prevail over whoever they believe really did 9/11.

http://www.amazon.com/Among-Truthers-Cognitive-Underworld-American/dp/0062004816

Also: "The Great Derangement: War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire" by Matt Taibbi has a section about his time immersed in the 9/11 truther movement, followed by a pretty biting and hilarious analysis of the fundamental logical failures that underpin all 9/11 conspiracy thinking.

http://www.amazon.ca/The-Great-Derangement-Terrifying-Politics/dp/0385520344

TO ALL STILL MODERATELY RATIONAL PEOPLE IN THIS THREAD

Read The Great Derangement by Matt Taibbi. He completely and logically deconstructs the truther movement, and explains (quite humorously I think) why it is all complete BS.

The author has a book due to be released on May 6, I'll probably buy it :-)

The Great Derangement, by Matt Taibbi

Pump the brakes there tinfoil...and clearly you like me, if you're going through and reading my comment history.

But yea, only a dipshit conspiracy theorist would think there is no thought involved in the game of baseball. Shouldn't you be watching "ow, my balls" right now anyway?

What to read...

There's so much!

"The Ancient Near East" by Amelié Khurt is a great overall history.

Someone already mentioned History begins at Sumer and Ancient Iraq, they're a bit dated but still quite good. For a simple synchronic overview with nice maps look at Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia by Michael Roaf. Also another good history book A History of the Ancient Near East by Marc Van de Mieroop.

Regarding texts, there's a great book that does the history of Mesoptamia through primary sources The Ancient Near East: Historical Sources in Translation ed. Mark Chavalas.

That should get you started. Those book are all quite current or still very usable, let me know if you need anything else. As for later periods (i.e. post-Achaemenid) that's not my field... I read A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani which was quite good and as far as I understand a well respected overview of later Mesopotamian history.

I really liked this book - Learn to Read Persian (Farsi) in 5 Days https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988800005/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_Woj3DAfBWUVUd

> Ehud Rosen

A government employee of Israel..

https://www.amazon.com/Mapping-Organizational-Sources-Delegitimization-Campaign/dp/9652180947

> Andrew Gilligan

Known for being sued for defamatory comments against Mosques in the UK.

>In May 2018, The Sunday Telegraph paid “substantial damages” to Mohammed Kozbar, general secretary of Finsbury Park mosque following an article by Gilligan in March 2016. Gilligan tweeted that the Telegraph had wrongly "capitulated" to Kozbar, stood by the claims in the article and invited Kozbar to sue him if he was wrong.[28] The Harry's Place blog published evidence supporting the claims about Kozbar and described the settlement as an act of "lawfare silencing" done to "avoid a costly court process," even though the story had been "accurate and fair."[29]

"Sue me if i'm wrong, but let's settle out of court"

> Anshel Pfeffer

A British reporter for an Israeli newspaper.

Maybe you can find an unbiased source for reviews.

A good book in regards to this theme in the quote is Matt Taibbi's The Great Derangement.

As for the article the quote is from, it just looks like blog-spam. Meh.