Comments on: Ultimate Insult?

By: sailor1

sailor1 — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:03:19 +0000

If you are a non Arab and you want to be successful while working here in the middle east and you are offered a business card , just take it and wet it with your tongue and stick it to your forehead, just take my word , they will take you for nuts , but if you believe the story above , you are nuts any way
salam

By: Madame Mansour

Madame Mansour — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:15:22 +0000

The shirt is fab but you need to cut your nails!

By: khair

khair — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:33:34 +0000

Saudi Jawa // Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 13:41

Khair:
… you will be instructed on how to behave towards them (kiss the hand, or kiss the shoulder, or just shake hands) by their handlers…

so far, none of the handlers told me anything. so I just kiss right left and right and pretend to smile all the way through this awkward moments.

I understands very few Arabic words, mostly from learning the translation of a few surahs a long long time ago. My friends and I, we felt very left out when all the people started conversing in Arabic.

sometimes they turn to us and laugh. I just smile back. Hopefully they are not insulting us while conversing in Arabic he he he

By: ige

ige — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:27:05 +0000

It seems he/she crawling for attention, don’t you think?

By: hissweetheart

hissweetheart — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:27:59 +0000

What,
That’s redicolous!!

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:46:59 +0000

Receiving ones business card during a business meeting is viewed as part of the protocol and expected to be treated with respect. If at a table I usually keep the business card in front of me until the meeting is over and then place it into my card holder. I may even make a note such as adding the date/place of meeting illustrating the importance of this card to me. I agree with the comments that receiving a card and then simply inserting it into ones pocket does not leave a professional image.

As Saudi Jawa pointed out, if one is going to meet with Senior Royalty, a protocol officer will give advise on how to behave or act on meeting and greeting as noone wants any mistakes to occur.

Best Regards,
American Bedu

By: Boyd R. Jones

Boyd R. Jones — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:52:58 +0000

I worked in Asia before coming to KSA. For sure in East Asia receive cards with both hands.

By: Saudi Jawa

Saudi Jawa — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:41:26 +0000

Khair:
Kissing the cheeks would mean a bit more familiarity, so stick to just shaking hands, which is the professional choice. Royals now are a different matter, but don’t sweat it. Should a royal be visiting, you will be instructed on how to behave towards them (kiss the hand, or kiss the shoulder, or just shake hands) by their handlers.

By: Maya

Maya — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:17:45 +0000

Well said Abid- completely agree.

Upon further thinking I realized that stuffing something right into your pocket isn’t all that professional. Don’t know why but someone who would do that would come across as a sloppy or disorganized person. ALOT of professionals have namecard holders and many who don’t usually put the card into the inner pocket or the top outer pocket of their blazers. Anything in close proximity to the pubes or the rear isn’t appreciated- duh! Guess its more of a symbolic thing than anything.. Madry walla..

By: (S)wine

(S)wine — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:47:58 +0000

weird. on another tangent, however. have you seen this: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/executions-in-saudi-arabia-quadruple-amnesty-says/