Business culture in Saudi ArabiaĮven though about half of the Kingdom’s workforce of 13 million is expat, business culture in Saudi Arabia dances to a decidedly local tune. Therefore, developing a sixth sense about the rules of engagement in business is a vital ingredient to success. Yet it remains a conservative country with conservative values, and business etiquette in the Kingdom reflects that. In late 2017, for instance, it launched a high profile campaign targeting members of the royal family, ministers, and top businessmen recovering $106 billion worth of assets.īusiness culture in Saudi Arabia is adapting to this spirit of openness. Government initiatives have helped to root out corruption. Meanwhile, foreign investment in non-traditional economic sectors is rising. The highly ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 development plan is accelerating the economy’s integration into the global system. Every year CEOs of the biggest companies converge at the Future Investment Initiative (dubbed Davos in the Desert) in Riyadh.Įntrepreneurship is flourishing in the country, too, as the government prioritizes the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Kingdom continues to open its doors to the global business world far beyond oil. But petrochemicals, power, telecoms, healthcare, and even tourism are big business now, attracting foreign investment and injecting new life, and business opportunities, across this vast land.

This has traditionally been through oil exports which even now account for 90% of state income. Saudi Arabia has been doing business with the outside world for decades. Business corruption and fraud in Saudi Arabia.Businesses in the community in Saudi Arabia.

Business strategy, planning, and decision-making in Saudi Arabia.

Organizational structure and hierarchy in Saudi Arabia.

Working hours and conditions in Saudi Arabia.

This detailed guide explains all, including the do’s and don’ts when doing deals and working in the country. Business culture in Saudi Arabia is unique, and understanding how things are done in the Kingdom’s boardrooms, offices, and meeting venues is central to successfully doing business in the Arab world’s largest economy.īusiness etiquette in Saudi Arabia is different from anywhere else on earth.

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