◄One edition, 8 reprints, 3 covers

• ISBN-10: 186063074X, ISBN-13: 978-1860630743

Motivate Publishing 1998, soft-back, 8.75" x 6", 124 pages)

Now in it's 8th reprint!
Korean version (press release), click here

For a list of other books about Arabs and the Gulf, click here.

ENDORSEMENTS

"… so take this book as a guide, the best I know …. Trust it without fear … be very cautious about departing from its advice … it is full of information, common-sense and good manners, all reliable. What I particularly like … is that it gets the tone right."
Sir James Craig GCMG, President of the Middle East Association, London.
"... admirable book. It struck me as concise, accurate and relevant."
Sir Andrew Green, recently Her Majesty's Ambassador, Riyadh.
"… This excellent book captures the essentials in a most complete and readable form and has become required reading for all our executives who do business in the region."
Sir Charles Masefield, Director of Marketing, GEC.
"We recommend this book to all those who come to our Centre"
Abdullah bin Eisa al Serkal, Director, The Shaikh Mohammad Centre of Cultural Understanding, Dubai.
"Our HR Department has made this book mandatory reading for all our Gulf people."
Norman Wells-Shepherd, Caltex Regional Manager, Middle East, and Editor of the magazine of the British Business Group in Dubai & Northern Emirates.
"This is a wonderful book … well written … it corrects some stereotypical images of the Gulf - a superb effort."
Dr Obaid Ali Bin Butti, Director Gulf Section, Juma al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage, Dubai.
"I give this valuable guide to many IBM executives concerned with the Middle East."
John. C. Scully, Director of Services, Africa and Middle East, IBM Global Services.
"I bought 25 of [these] books after I arrived here and have distributed them to colleagues and friends." 
Art Condill, President, Motorola Saudi Inc., Riyadh.

REVIEWS

Review by Morley Price, cross-cultural trainer at The Centre for International Briefing Farnham with extensive experience of working at senior management level in the Middle East, reviews a new guide to living and working in the region:

"'Don't they know it's Friday?' by Jeremy Williams represents a welcome addition to the abundance of literature available on living and working in the Arabian Gulf. The book is written in a clear and, at times, humorous style and will prove to be a mine of information not only for new expatriates to the Gulf but also for frequent business travellers to the area. All major cross-cultural issues are addressed and perceptive insight is applied into the Arab psyche. This should assist all who are dealing with Gulf Arabs in gaining a greater understanding of the cultural issues waiting to challenge the unprepared or ill-informed. Jeremy's credentials for writing this book are undoubted in that he has lived and worked in a senior capacity in the Gulf accompanied by his family for over 12 years."

Review by Aqoul click here

Review by Kristiina Mayra of Dubai Licensed Tour Guides , click here

Mention by Lonely Planet Guide on Dubai click here

Review in 'Caroline's' blog click here

Mention by The Economist click here

Review by The National Centre for Language Training, in Australia click here

Rating by  Multiply Inc USA, click here

Review by Flight Center, Australia, click here

WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?

• Professionals and business executives residing in the Gulf.

• Business and government people who visit the Gulf.

• Human resource staff and others who have responsibility for the selection, tasking, evaluation and funding of Gulf personnel.

• Men and women who need to know how to behave with Gulf Arabs in business generally, in negotiations and in personal etiquette.

• Business and other executives who need an insight into the Gulf Arab mind.

• Professionals who have to arrange a visit by Gulf Arabs to a Western country.

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

This business book addresses in useful detail the cross-cultural aspects of Westerners’ experiences with Gulf Arabs in the Gulf countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman. Moreover, it deals with the realities of business practice, and the mental stresses and strains of operating in the Gulf as a Western visitor or expatriate.

It encourages a bond of understanding between managers at home and their staff in the Gulf. It describes, in a straightforward manner, the effects of Islam upon the daily life of the expatriate, and is a useful reference book even for people who might think they already know how to behave in the Gulf.

THE BENEFITS OF THE BOOK

The book offers invaluable advice on the realities of Gulf life and business, thereby saving months - even years - of wasted time, effort and money.

THE BOOK'S TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword: Sir James Craig GCMG, President of the Middle East Association (see below).
The Scope of the Book and General Background: The importance of Islam, Arab geography.
The Expatriates: Types and numbers, international presence, Gulf nationals' employment.
The Selection Process: Patience and resilience, recruitment costs, stress, risks of failure, women and the selection process.
Preparing to move to or visit the Gulf: Some basic advice, visas, passports, culture shock.
Behavioural Differences: West v. Gulf, clothing, patience, paternalism, driving habits, gifts, photography, face, taking the blame.
Personal Behaviour - Body Language: Shaking hands, feet, gestures, kissing, crossing legs.
Time and Timing: Time keeping: the biggest frustration, younger Arabs, Islam's influence on time, time or timing, the right moment, working week, Fridays.
Language and Names: Study of Arabic, please and thank you, Muslim names, first name usage, addressing 'shaikhs'.
Business Behaviour - The First Steps: Preparation, standards required, translation, clothing, demeanour, essential coffee, the right way, presentational techniques.
Business Behaviour - The Next Steps: Business is personal, business and pleasure, bargaining, access, agendas, one-liners, loss of temper, silence.
Business Behaviour - The Final Steps: The sport of bargaining, tough but courteous, concluding the deal, saying 'no', local business law, sponsor selection.
Desert Heritage: Behavioural background, reputation, memory, face and reputation, desert dangers.
Food: Hospitality, fasting, eating left/right hands, pork/alcohol.
Entertaining: Invitations, attendance, generosity.
Law, Tax and Banks: Law breaking, shariah law, imprisonment, tax, banking, probate, Islamic banking.
Arranging a visit for Gulf Arabs to a Western country: Preparation, timing, escorting, which hotel, food, prayer rooms.
Muslim Life: Islamic states, definition, conduct, pillars, calendar, calls to prayer, Ramadan, pilgrimage, festivals, diet.
Appendix: Arab groupings: The Arab League, GCC, OIC, OPEC, OAPEC.
Index.

THE BOOK'S FOREWORD BY SIR JAMES CRAIG

"Some time ago a professor at the American University of Beirut wrote a book called 'Towards a Simplified Arabic' in which he recommended the removal of various irregularities in Arabic vocabulary and syntax so as to make the language easier to learn. On the day of publication he distributed complimentary copies to his colleagues in the Department of Arabic Language and Literature. One of them looked at the title and protested ruefully: "Professor, you're taking away our bread and butter."

I feel the same way about this book. Heavens above, it has taken me fifty years to learn something of the secrets of Arab society, Arab manners, Arab psychology. Is it all to be revealed in 140 pages by Mr Williams?

What I particularly like - rather grudgingly - about the book is that it gets the tone right. Some readers may think that it is too kind, too accommodating to the Arabs: the Westerner, for example, must be punctual at his appointments but suppress his wrath if the Arab is not. Yet the bottom line (if I may be allowed one contemporary vulgarism) is that when you go to another man's country you have to play by his rules.

Ah well then, doesn't it all boil down to the old proverb: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do?' No, the book explains that it is more complex, more subtle than that. If Mr Smith wears Arab dress in Arabia he will be in trouble. Chapter [18] warns that if you use an Islamic greeting some Muslims may take offence. As well as simple rules, you need judgement, discretion, experience. Shakespeare can break the laws of English grammar but Mr Smith had better not - not, at least, till he has written a few plays and sonnets and begun to feel at home with the subjunctive and the conditional apodosis.

So take this book as a guide, the best I know. Trust it without fear in your early days when you are new to the region. Be very cautious about departing from its advice, for it is full of information, common sense and good manners, all reliable. But be prepared to adjust, modify and learn, as you go along, from your Arab friends, customers, agents, employees, bosses. The Arabs are not one homogenous entity. Quot homines tot sententiae, as we used to say when the world was educated."

James Craig

Formerly lecturer in Arabic at Durham University; principal instructor at the Foreign Office School of Arabic in the Lebanon; member of the British Diplomatic Service in Dubai, Beirut, Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur; Head of the Near East and North Africa Department in the Foreign Office; British Ambassador in Syria and Saudi Arabia. Formerly visiting professor in Arabic at Oxford; President of the Middle East Association and President of the British Society for Middle East Studies. 

TO ORDER THE BOOK

1. To buy a copy signed by the author online now please click here.

2. In the Gulf, the book is available from most bookshops throughout the Gulf countries or direct from the publishers: Motivate Publishing, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel: Dubai.

3. DISTRIBUTORS
Worldwide, the book is available from the publishers' international network

The author can help you obtain copies
Handshaikh Ltd
PO Box 488 WINCHESTER
Hampshire, SO23 3BS.
Tel: +(44) (0) 1962 890674
mail@handshaikh.com
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