Social Customs In Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION: BUSINESS FORMAL/INFORMAL INFORMATION ON SAUDI ARABIA

This research was prepared to better inform American travelers and businesspeople about the social customs, family life, class structure, economy, and values of the Saudi Arabian culture. My report is specifically designed to answer the following questions:

• What are the basics of casual and formal social norms in Saudi Arabia?

• What does the average Saudi Arabian family look like, and what roles and responsibilities do women have in this family structure?

• What is the hierarchy of the social structure in Saudi Arabia? Is discrimination a problem?

• What are the main products the Saudi Arabian economy supplies, and does technology have an affect on the economy?

• What

It is important for American travelers to understand and respect these differences in order to avoid any improprieties or confrontations. There are two different types of social customs: informal and formal. Informal customs include acceptable behaviors during causal meetings or conversations. Formal, or business-like, customs are used during face-to-face business settings. Day-to-day social interactions in Saudi Arabia are stricter than Americans may be accustomed to. There are accepted standards of social interaction in Saudi Arabia. Similar to American customs, Saudi men will shake hands with other men, and women will greet close female friends with a hug and a kiss. However, unlike in America, unrelated Saudi men and women do not greet each other in public (“Saudi Arabia,” n.d.) Gender segregation is so strict that men have certain times of day they can go out and women and children under ten have certain hours of the day they can go out (Arianna, n.d.). Any public display of affection between a man and a woman, even between married couples, is frowned upon and seen as immoral (Arianna, n.d.). In a casual setting, such as dinner at the home of a Saudi Arabian, there are a few customs Americans should keep in mind and follow: remove shoes upon entering the home, dress in a conservative manner, partake in pre-dinner Arabian coffee and dates, and only eat with the right hand (“Saudi Arabia,”

The Saudi Arabian upper class consists of the monarchy, the wealthy, and influential members of society (Arianna, n.d.). Foreigners, including Americans, are automatically considered upper class, regardless of their career position or monetary worth (Arianna, n.d.). Government employees, members of the military, and businessmen compose the middle class (Arianna, n.d.). Farmers and those living in poverty are considered members of the lower class (Arianna, n.d.). These social classes carry certain responsibilities and standards to uphold in public. For example, members of the upper class do not engage in any manner of labor in public (Arianna, n.d.). Some will do work in their household, but it is more common to have hired help to complete tasks such as gardening, cleaning, or driving. Members of the different social classes do not socialize with each other (Arianna, n.d.). Prior to recent years, social status was primarily based on bloodline and occupation; however, now there is more of an emphasis on wealth to determine social status (Philby, n.d.). This change, as well as an increase in technology, has caused some social unrest among the classes (Philby, n.d.). When handling business with Saudi Arabia it is important to understand their strict class structure, and follow social guidelines based on class