By Rana Nejem
I don’t think that anywhere in the word is more fraught with misconceptions and stereotypes as the Middle East – especially when it comes to women. As a professional woman in today’s multinational business world, you are bound to have some sort of business dealings with this vast part of the world.
For starters, let us clear two basic misconceptions:
1) The Arab world is not one big lump – it is made of 22 different countries – each with its own unique local culture and traditions. Having said that, there is a common thread of cultural beliefs and values that ties the region together that might justify some generalizations.
2) Arab and Muslim is not the same thing. In fact, only 20% of Muslims are Arab, and not all Arabs are Muslim. Arab Christians are indigenous to the region and many are descendants of pre-Islamic Christian Arabian tribes.
The key to Cultural Intelligence is to have an open mind and to approach situations with a degree of curiosity while accepting that things are neither better nor worse but simply different. Remember that we deal with people not cultures and each person has his or her own self-culture and should be treated and respected as an individual.
Making a first impression
While the level of social conservatism varies from one Arab country to the other, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Saudi Arabia is the only country which requires women of any nationality to wear the “abaya” – a long black cloak that you wear over your clothes – and in most areas in Saudi women are also required to cover their hair with a loose black scarf when out in public. This dress code only applies in Saudi Arabia but not in any other Arab country where you can wear your regular business attire keeping in mind to avoid anything that is too tight fitting, short or revealing.
To shake hands or not?
Starting off on the right foot is very important in setting the general tone of the meeting. The handshake is the accepted greeting in the business setting across the Arab world, however, for various religious and social reasons, a man may choose not to shake hands with a woman and would instead place his right hand over his heart with a slight nod of the head as a sign of greeting. Do not be offended by that and simply respond with the same gesture. In order to avoid any awkwardness, if you are meeting someone for the first time do not put out your hand first, wait and take your que from him.
Communicating in a male dominated society
While there is still plenty of room for development, Arab women have made remarkable strides in businesses and government across the Arab world. Still, it remains a patriarchal and hierarchal society which favors the indirect style of communications that helps people avoid confrontation and conflict – a major motivator of behavior across the Arab world. Here, the priority or objective is not about “saying what I mean and meaning what I say”, but rather about maintaining harmony and saving face of the other person while the message is being delivered. This is done in several ways, sometimes using a third party that may have influence on the people involved or by using parables, similar examples or stories from which the person can reach the proper conclusion and message. This applies across the board but is more sensitive if you are a woman dealing with a senior male executive. You need to be extra considerate and careful not to appear to be confrontational or disrespectful while at the same time being assertive.
Business in the Arab world is personal and depends heavily on relationships of trust, and it takes time and commitment to build those relationships.
Personal freedom
The concept of ‘personal freedom’ or ‘the freedom to choose’ is a Western cultural belief, and is central to the way of life in many nations. However, other cultures, including Arab culture, place more value on identification with one’s place and role in society. It is important to keep this in mind while interacting with people, especially on the complicated issues related to gender equality.
Freedom, right and wrong, honor and shame are not universal concepts. They mean different things to different people and carry completely different references in different cultures. Please do not fall into that trap and do not rush to make assumptions about Arab women and what they need based on your own cultural beliefs and values.
About Rana Nejem
Author and Social and Cultural Intelligence coach, Rana Nejem started out her career as a broadcast journalist. After working with CNN during the First Gulf War, she moved to the Royal Hashemite Court where she was responsible for the International Media Department for 2 years. Rana then moved into the field of communications and public relations leading the public diplomacy and communications work of the British Embassy in Amman for 18 years. She is the author of the new book When in the Arab World http://www.yarnu.com/