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Can An American Start A Business In The Arab World?

Many Americans have lived and worked in the Arab world, and there are examples of American businesses which have experienced excellent success in Arab countries. This does not mean that it is easy for an American to start a business in the Arab world, however. Anyone who is familiar with doing business in America will have a lot to learn when they enter the Arab market, where the language, the culture, the social norms, and the rules which govern business are all very different. In order to succeed in business in the Arab world, it is important for the American businessperson to be ready to learn and to change.

One important consideration for Americans considering doing business in the Arab world is that many Arab countries are unused to dealing with women and that there may be restrictions on the roles which women will be able to take in the business. In some countries, it can be completely impossible for women to do business. In others, they may simply be treated as another man. It is important for Americans in the Arab world to understand the gender divisions in a particular country in order to avoid giving offense and ruining a deal. Complimenting a business partner's wife may be a good tactic in America, but in the Arab world it is usually best to avoid paying attention to the female half of the family, even if you have been invited into their home.

Clothing in the Arab world tends to be conservative, for both men and women. Men should dress in formal business wear at work, and they should wear lightweight, but modest clothing when dressing casually. Women should wear modest clothing with long sleeves and long hems. In some Arab countries, women should also cover their hair when in public, with a hijab or scarf. It is important to check whether this is required in a particular country, and if you're a woman considering a business startup, it's vital not to piss people off by not following important traditions...

Another important restriction is that alcohol is prohibited in some Arab countries. It is not possible to buy alcohol in certain countries, and it can be illegal to bring alcohol into the country. Even if alcohol is legal, drinking it may not be considered socially acceptable. Similarly, there may be restrictions on bringing material that would be considered sexually explicit into the country. This does not just cover material that would be considered pornographic in America. The types of images that appear in women's fashion magazines can also be considered offensive in the Arab world.

When entering an Arab country other than Egypt or Jordan, anyone who has an Israeli visa in their passport will usually be refused entry. If you need to visit both countries, it is sensible to use two different passports, or to arrange your trip to Israel after your visit to the Arab country.

Religion is very influential in the Arab world. Ramadan is a particularly important time of year. It is best to avoid doing business during this month if possible, but if you must work in an Arab country during Ramadan, you should be aware that people will be fasting between dawn and dusk. You should therefore avoid offering food or drinks during any business meetings, or eating in front of your Muslim colleagues or clients. Business hours are usually limited during Ramadan in Arab countries, and you should expect everything to proceed more slowly because of this.

Similarly, you should not expect to do much work on Fridays, since this is the holy day in Islam. Public offices and many private businesses are closed on Fridays. Even on the other days of the week, people tend to work different hours in the Arab world than in America. Business hours are typically between 9am and 1pm and then between 4 pm and 8pm, in order to avoid working during the hottest period of the day. Muslims are expected to pray five times a day, and they will usually get up and leave to pray in the middle of a meeting, without necessarily excusing themselves.

You should expect to find differences between the ways in which your Arab employees, colleagues and coworkers do business and what you are used to at home. Most business meetings, outside Ramadan, begin with a sort of bitter coffee, which should be downed in one. Punctuality is often less important in the Arab world. A late arrival is sometimes used as a test of the commitment of a businessperson, but it can also be a result of the more relaxed attitude to timekeeping. Business also tends to progress more slowly in the Arab world. People tend not to make quick decisions, and it can often seem to an outsider that an Arab businessperson is not seriously interested when in fact they are just playing the normal game. It is also very important for businesspeople to develop a personal relationship with each other. This means that changes in personnel can cause difficulties, as the relationship needs to be built up all over again. Formality and a respect for business hierarchies also tends to be very important.

Your relationship with your local employees will also tend to be very different in the Arab world. A CV or letter written by a potential employee in the Arab world will look very different from an American resume, notably in the fact that it may avoid saying much about the applicant's credentials and it may be designed with humility in mind.

There are many cultural rules which anyone who wants to do business in the Arab world should explore. For example, you should never touch anyone with your left hand, or even use it to pass something to another person. The left hand is considered offensive because it is associated with using the bathroom. You should also avoid showing the soles of your feet in public.

The language barrier can be just as important as the cultural differences. It is usually best to avoid using idioms and making jokes since these tend not to translate well across cultural boundaries, and you may even end up insulting someone.

Arabic and similar languages are written from left to right. You should bear this in mind when creating graphics for presentations since your Arabic speaking colleagues will tend to examine a graphic in the same direction as they write.

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