When in the Arab World: An insider's guide to living and working with Arab culture

by Rana Nejem

Overview

FULL REVISED AND EXPANDED SECOND EDITION

This book is a practical map that will help you understand the people and demystify the culture of the Arab world - the beliefs, values and social structures that determine how business is conducted and how things are done.

This is not a sterile list of dos and don'ts. This book will help you develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the motivators of behaviour. It will also widen your perspective and arm you with the knowledge that will enable you to float with ease and confidence from one situation to the other.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781912892099
Publisher:	Yarnu Publications
Publication date:	11/02/2018
Pages:	282
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.64(d)

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 1

Why this book?
Who would benefit from this book?
Culture shock
What is culture?
Acceptance is key
I experienced it first hand
Unintended consequences
Yalla, are you ready?

1 WELCOME TO THE ARAB WORLD 13
What is the Arab world?
The Arabian Gulf
Oil and God
The Arab Spring
Terrorism
The War on Iraq
The Arab-Israeli conflict
What I now know and wish I knew then

2 SOCIETY IN THE ARAB WORLD 29
The family and tribe: a social force
Family and business
The family is private
The family and tribe: a political force
What is a Jaha?
The generation gap
Women in Arab society
Women in the workplace
There is no honour in crime

3 VALUES, BELIEFS AND VIEWPOINTS 48
Honour, respect and reputation
A different concept of honour
Saving face
The blame game
The downside
Relationships and trust
The community and the individual
What do you think?
The ascribed status
What really matters
Work-life balance
The wasta
Avoiding conflict
Faith and fate
Inshallah
The evil eye

4 LIVING IN AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY 71
What it means to be a Muslim
The Five Pillars of Islam
Five daily prayers
Sunni and Shia
Islamic and Sharia law
Unique to Saudi Arabia
Ramadan
The Hajj
Religious holidays
Arab Christians
Religious tolerance

5 COMMUNICATION STYLES 88
Directness and saving face
Direct talk
Face to face
Pleasing the boss
Yes, no, I don't know
Bad news
Agendas, meetings and presentations
The condescending attitude
Negotiating and bargaining
Body language and gestures
Silent or loud
Topics of conversation
Stories and gossip
Conspiracy theories
Humour
Language and useful words

6 DECISIONS, RISKS AND CONTRACTS 120
A decision is made
Keeping the balance
Caution and risk
Rules and regulations
Putting it into context
Contracts

7 THE CONCEPT OF TIME 133
Time or people
Is it wasting time?
Flexibility and the right timing
Many things at once
Plans and planning
Perception of deadlines
It's urgent
Time as status
Time and the past

8 ETIQUETTE, PROTOCOL AND HOSPITALITY 148
Names, titles and forms of address
Greetings
Appearance and dress codes
Public safety
Rules on the road
If you are involved in an accident
Taxis and buses
Hospitality
Food and guests
Coffee and tea
Al Majlis, Diwaniya and Diwan
Cafés and restaurants
Dogs and pets
Weddings
Gifts
Funerals

9 SPORT, MEDIA AND THE ARTS 191
Sport
The media
The internet, mobile phones and social media
Film and television production
Music
Dance
Poetry
Art

10 BEFORE YOU GO 207

APPENDIX: THE MOST POPULAR DISHES IN THE ARAB WORLD 213

Editorial Reviews

'The book's strength is that it has been written by an Arab practitioner, with deep knowledge of the customs and traditions of the Arab world. It is comprehensive in the areas it covers, and effectively uses testimonies from people around the world to make its points. It is essential reading for anyone wanting to live, work or study in this region.' Dr Marwan Muasher, director, Middle East Programme, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace


'This guide is a must-read for anyone conducting business in the Middle East region. It expertly provides insight on Arab culture and business practices and even helps those with experience navigate what can otherwise be rocky waters. Nejem shares her own and others' stories in an enjoyable and accessible manner.' Per-Ola Karlsson, partner, Strategy&, part of the PwC network



'A lively, insightful and expert guide for anyone spending time in an Arab country. A great shortcut to avoid the frustrations and enjoy the fascinations of this compelling region.' John Casson, British ambassador in Cairo and former foreign affairs private secretary to the prime minister



'The book is chock full of practical advice on the specificities of living and working in the Arab world yet it resonates broadly - far beyond the region. On the one hand, the book carefully guides the reader on important practices and traditions, even zooming in on variations in the distinct sub-regions of the Arab world. On the other hand, it provides valuable wisdom about getting along in a foreign culture that, with some modifications, could serve as a general guide for encountering new people and places throughout the world.' Melani Cammett, professor, Department of Government, Harvard University

From the Publisher