Saudi Arabian Business Culture: What Westerners Should Know

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a lucrative place for investments and for doing business. This can be seen in the fact that more than 154,000 commercial businesses were opened in the first quarter of 2025. 

If you’re also considering opening a business there, you need to be aware of the correct etiquette and Saudi Arabia business culture. This knowledge will help you successfully navigate your business relationships and build a successful business. You can apply for a Saudi Business Visa after you learn about these aspects. 

The Foundation of Saudi Business Culture

Saudi Arabia’s business values are unique in that they combine elements of Asian, Western, and Islamic values. The first thing you should know is that Saudi Arabian culture is centered around familial values. 

That’s why they place a great value on people who manage to become like family to them or gain their trust. In fact, it is a common thing in Saudi business culture for professionals to ask about your family members during business meetings. You will also be respected more if you have a well-balanced social or familial network of your own. 

Second, Saudi people place great importance on factors like gender and age. That’s why it is unusual to find many women when you visit the country for business interactions.

Apart from that, you should be ready for interruptions during business meetings if the other person is senior to you in age. Third, Saudi Arabian organizations have a strict hierarchy. So, decision-making can take time, since all senior management officials have to approve it. That’s why you should be patient.

Fourth, it is better to be aware of the various inter-tribe relations that exist between the people. That knowledge will help you navigate the communication more effectively. 

As you can see, the Saudi business culture is oriented towards relationship building and trust. So you would do well to focus on these things when you go for a meeting.

Building Relationships Before Business

Since you’re new to Saudi Arabia business culture, you might find the thought of forming meaningful relationships with Saudi business people intimidating.  However, we’ve covered the basics for you below. 

Saudi people appreciate meetings conducted in person or people taking an interested approach. That’s why you should ensure that you follow up any emails you send with at least a phone call or video conference. 

You should also be ready to engage in casual small talk for several meetings, or for the first few meetings. That’s because Saudi people place great importance on this, when they are getting to know you. 

So you should not be impatient and rush directly to the topic, as it is considered highly disrespectful in Saudi business culture. We would also recommend accepting the tea or qahwa (Arabian coffee) as it is an integral part of their culture. You should also not be worried when your Saudi business counterparts become silent during a meeting. That’s because the silence indicates that they are thinking about the points discussed.  

Business Etiquette & Protocol

Saudi Arabian business people place great importance on greeting each other, or their counterparts, before a meeting begins. That’s why you should learn some common Arabic phrases to foster a meaningful connection. 

Greetings

You can begin by wishing or asking: 

• ‘As Salaamu Alalikum’ (Peace be upon you)
• Sabah Al-Kheir (Good morning) or Masa Al-Kheir (Good evening)
• Kayf Haalak/Haalik (How are you for males/females)

In case your business counterparts use these greetings on you, then you can return these greetings by saying:

• Wa Alaikum Assalaam (Peace be upon you too)
• Saba an-noor or Masa an-noor (Response to ‘Good morning’/ ‘Good evening’)
• Alhamdulillah (Praise Be To God; Response to Kayf Haalak/Haalik)

You should also not forget to shake hands. Since Saudi Arabian people are hierarchy-centric, you should shake hands with the oldest person in the room. After that, you should shake hands in descending order, starting with the senior-most management executive. Expect your Saudi Arabian counterparts to enquire about your family members once the round of greetings is over. 

You should not ask about their female family members, since it is generally considered offensive. Don’t forget to greet them by their correct titles, since they consider it a respectful way to greet people.

Appropriate Dress Code for Men and Women

As a man, you should wear appropriately ironed shirts, polished shoes, and formal ties. If you’re a woman, you should wear skirts and comfortable but loose-fitting dresses that do not expose your ankles. 

However, you would do better to wear a ghutra (Arabian headgear) with a Thawb/Khameez (Arabian ankle-length robe) as a man. On the other hand, you should wear an abaya (a ankle length black robe) with a hijab (a head scarf wrapped around the face and head). 

This will endear you to the Saudi people more and help you boost your professional reputation. 

Giving Gifts

In case you’re carrying any gifts, make sure you offer them with your right hand. Avoid gifting alcohol or anything made out of the skin of pigs. That’s because both of these things are considered offensive in Islamic culture and the Saudi Arabia business culture. 

Gender Roles 

If you’re a woman, you need to be aware of the correct dress code. Apart from that, do not expect to meet many female counterparts during business meetings, due to the dominance for males in business. 

Meetings & Decision-Making

Saudi Arabian business people are not overtly punctual. So you can expect delays to take place as a normal routine. Apart from that, expect meeting cancellations or schedule changes. 

This sudden change in schedule can be due to either prayers, such as during Ramadan or unavoidable social meetings or calls. So you should accept this as part of a normal routine. 

In case your meeting gets interrupted midway, smile and agree to pick up the meeting at a later time.    

You might have to attend multiple meetings to make any worthwhile progress. That’s because of the strict hierarchy in Saudi Arabia. So your decision, proposal, or pitch would have to be accepted by all the senior-most members.

You should also remember to take your time and not be impatient. Saudi Arabian businesspeople value decisions made through in-depth discussions. 

Religion & Daily Practices

Saudi Arabian businesspeople are quite faithful, regarding their religion. That’s why you should be aware of their prayer timings so as not to disrupt any business proceedings. 

There are five prevalent prayer periods on any given day when your Saudi counterparts will be unavailable for meetings or discussions. These are:

• At dawn, before the sun rises, known as Al-Fajr
• At midday, after the sun has crossed or reached its midday point, known as Al-Zuhur
• During the late afternoon, known as Al-Asr
• Immediately after sunset, known as Al-Maghrib
• The time period between midnight and sunset, known as Al-Isha

You can find these timings printed daily in the local newspapers.  Apart from that, take note of Ramadan. The Saudi Arabian people do not eat or drink anything during this period, from early dawn to sunset. That’s why you can expect business operations to take place from late in the morning till the early hours of the afternoon.

You would also do well to not turn down any invitations to Iftar (the breaking of the fast in the evening) offered by your hosts or Saudi Arabian business people. However, we would recommend scheduling any important discussions or meetings for after Eid. 

Ready to Establish a Professional Relationship in the KSA? 

After you thoroughly understand all these tips, you should apply for your Saudi Business Visa. To apply for this visa, click on the relevant link by selecting ‘Saudi Arabia’ as the country. Once there, click on the ‘Apply Now’ link.

You will be redirected to the Saudi Visa Application form page. Fill in all details, pay the fee payment, and submit the form. Your visa will arrive by email once it’s approved. 

Ensure to compile all the necessary documents before filling out your Saudi Visa Application form for your business visa. Click here to see these documents. 

Finally, pack all the necessary clothes and other important documents as important to your business negotiations. Good luck!