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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 Dina Medland, Financial Times. 'In
conversations with British expatriates in the Middle East one piece of
advice recurs: read Dont they know its Friday? by former British
soldier and diplomat Jeremy Williams.'
click here.
Review by Morley Price, cross-cultural trainer at
The Centre for International Briefing
Farnham Castle: "'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
Review by
The National Centre for Language Training, in Australia
click here
Rating by
Multiply Inc USA,
click here
Review by Denise Dea on Facebook,
click here.
Review by K. Saleh ('Amnesia' on
iloveqatar.net)
click
here.
Review by lenglenggirl's blog
click here
Review by Joe Bradford's blog
click here
Review on
Facebook by 'Peggy' 'This is a title of a short handbook addressing
customs and norms, written by an ExPat. While most of the reading pertains
to business being conducted. I found it to apply to living in the UAE. It
is an excellent read - like the "One-Minute Manager" '
Review by Goodreads
click here.
Review by LibraryThing
click here.
Review on Amazon UK
click here.
Review on Amazon Canada
click here.
Review & comment in The National (Abu
Dhabi)
click here.
Review in German on Amazon Germany
click here. In English:
'[In] all that we have as a company so far read on the
subject, this book is by far the most useful. There are specific
situation (s) [covered], for example; [How to Negotiate] [Making a
Presentation] are explained [as well as the likely Arab reaction].
Everything is in small sections succinctly presented and easy to read and
catchy. When reading this book I have the impression [and the] feeling
[for and] understanding [of] the culture - and also the correct way of
dealing with the mentality [one should develop]. The idea of what one
might expect will be much clearer. Price-performance ratio is right.'
Review on
ReviewingBooks&Movies by Dr. Geoff Pound 'For anyone
travelling to the Gulf to do business
Dont they Know its Friday? should be the first thing to put into
the suitcase.'
Review by 'Grapeshisha' 'Another great cross-cultural
eye opener that gives the Westerner an eye in on why things are done a
certain way. The style and tone are spot on with a very simplistic
approach to cover some difficult issues.'
click here
Buy!
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 by Sir James Craig GCMG 20 Authors preface to the second
edition 23
CHAPTER 1: The scope of this book 25
What does this book cover and for whom? 25 Gulf-resident executives
& frequent visitors to the Gulf 25 Non Gulf resident managers or
infrequent visitors to the Gulf 25 General readers 26 Arab readers
26 Reading this book 27
CHAPTER 2: General background 28
The importance of Islam 28 The pace of change in the Gulf 28
Personality the main factor? 29 GEOGRAPHY 29 Complications 29
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries 30 What do you mean by
MENA? 30 The Middle East wheres that? 31 The Arab world 33
What is an Arab? 33 We are not Arabs! 33 Whose Gulf is it? 34 The
three tiers of the Arab world 36 Other Arab geography 36 The seven
Emirates of the UAE 36 Map of the UAE 37 POPULATION 38 Gulf
nations emergence and wealth 38 The Gulf is young 38 The Gulf is
small 38 Arab groupings 38 Gulf nationals employment 38 Gulf men
39 Gulf women 40 Restrictions on Gulf women reducing 41 A nice
government job 41 FURTHER STUDY 41 Discreetly study the
sensitive subjects 41Learn Arab opinion on 42 Common GCC currency and
Customs regime 42
CHAPTER 3: Starting out in the Gulf 43 VISIT AND ENQUIRE 43
Major effort and cost 43 Business with non-Gulf Arabs 43 Do you have
something for sale thats really wanted? 44 BUSINESS TRIPS TO THE
GULF 44 Silly or sensible programme? 45 Planning a Gulf tour 46
Targeting your sales pitch 46 Come now! 46 Poor visitor, we live
here! 47 Now I see you now I dont! 48 Not just a consumer market
48 Preparation of documents & presentation material 48 CLOTHING AND
APPEARANCE 49 Mode of dress and demeanour 49 Western clothing 49
Modesty is not just a matter of clothing 51 Visiting managers take
heed 51 Clothing in Saudi Arabia 51 THE GULF ARABS OFFICE 52
Getting past the gate 52 How to behave in an office 53 Office
behaviour: new visitors learn from the locals 54 A handshake, then sit
in the right-hand chair 54 The give and take of Gulf seating 54
Coffee and tea in the office 55 Young Gulf Arabs 57 YOUR SALES
PITCH 57 When, how and how not to talk business 57 Young and
busy 57 Laptop, projector and 220/240 volts 58 The first steps 58
Presentation techniques 58 A definition? Please write it 60 See and
touch 60 Dont tell the client what he wants 60 We have a very fine
chef 61 Not so expert after all 62
CHAPTER 4: Your Gulf Office 63 TYPES OF BUSINESS 63
Business status examples 63 Commercial Agent. 63 Distributor. 63
General Partnership. 63 Joint Venture. 63 Limited Liability Company.
63 Partnership Limited by Shares. 63 Private Shareholding Company.
63 Public Shareholding Company. 63 Simple Limited Partnership. 63
SELECTION OF AN AGENT OR SPONSOR 63 Local knowledge 63
Sponsorship 64 Im very close to the boss now 64 DUE DILIGENCE 65
Enquire fully 65 Gulf confidence and its risk 66 COMPANY
ORGANISATION 66 Listen to your Gulf Uncle 66 Not by Sector alone
67 Relationships between Head Office and staff in the Gulf 68
Safety plan 69 Trade unions and strikes 69
CHAPTER 5: The expatriates 70
Gulf-based staff or none at all? 70 International presence 70
Expatriates national types 71 Western expatriates the two types 71
Skilled Western worker status 71 Western managerial or professional
status 72 Long-term Western expatriates 72 Inflation and financial
downturn 72
CHAPTER 6: Selection and briefing 74
Differences and stress 74 Work permits in Saudi Arabia 75
Recruitment costs 75 Culture shock 75 Brief everyone 76
EXPATRIATE CONCERNS 76 Patience, resilience and hassle 76
Patience costs money 77 Four or five or more years in the Gulf? 78
Gulf pre-appointment reconnaissance visits 79 Destination reception
companies 79 Expatriate allowances 79 WOMEN 80 Women and the
selection process 80 Guardian in Saudi Arabia 80 PARTNERS 81
Ability to ignore 82 Partners and risk of removal 81 Living together
82 Other relationships 82 LEAVE THE CASH 82 Take your leave,
not cash 82 You not the Gulf could be the problem 83
CHAPTER 7: Travel 84
Introduction 84 Travel 84 Reconfirm your flights 84 Visas (entry
permits) 85 Visa types 85 Passport validity 85 Iqama 86 Copying
& retention of passports 86 Photos 87 Exiting the Gulf 87 DRIVING
IN THE GULF 87 Driving licences 87 Driving habits 88 Fog in
the Gulf 88 Pedestrians 88 The car horn: only a nanosecond away 89
Traffic accidents 89 Camels as road hazards 90 Are you insured, sir?
90 Driving during Ramadan 91 TRAVEL AND NEW RESIDENT CHECK-LIST 92
Beforehand 92 Arriving 92 Arrived 92
CHAPTER 8: Behaviour and attitudes 93 GENERAL BEHAVIOUR 93
The West and the Gulf 93 Patience and the benefit of study 93
Awareness and tolerance of the West 94 Shaikh Rashid of Dubai 94
Sense of humour 94 Personal interest 95 Gulf Arab grooming 95 Holy
men 95 GULF EDUCATION 96 Quick and intelligent 96 On the
other hand 96 Islamic education 97 Rote learning 97 Private
education 97 GULF NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT 98 We can do it all and
now! 98 We expect you to do well naturally 98 ANNOYING TO GULF
ARABS 99 Condescension and the dangers of paternalistic attitudes
99 Reputation 100 Honour and respect 100 Photography 101 Take
the blame; take the favour 102 Careless talk can cost you 102
ANNOYING TO GULF WESTERNERS 102 We just wanted to make you happy
102 Queue? You mean Form a line? 103 I know my rights (but not my
responsibilities) 104 Financial Services sector not welcome? 104
INTRIGUING GULF ARABS 105 Modern technology 105 Intrigue
everywhere 105 Clear-sighted 106 The demands of the desert 106
Instinct 107 Falconry 107 Camel racing 107 Horse racing 107
Judging and trusting you 108 Poetry please 108 GIFTS 108
Accepting and giving gifts 108 Sales gifts 109 Thanks but not to
you 109 Saying Please and Thank You 109
CHAPTER 9: Personal behaviour, body language 111 SHAKING HANDS 111
Man to man 111 Men and women Western circumstances 112 Men and
women Gulf circumstances 112 Hand over heart 112 Holding hands 114
RELATIONSHIPS 115 Sexuality 115 Kissing 115 Four wives 116
FLESH, FEET AND FINGERS 116 Exposed flesh 116 Religious
police 117 Feet, soles and shoes 117 Beckoning with the fingers 118
Crossed legs 118 Shway, shway 119 The right way 120 Other
gestures 121
CHAPTER 10: Time and timing the biggest frustration? 122 TIME ITSELF
122
We leave in two hours 122 Islams influence on timekeeping 122
ATTENDING MEETINGS ETC 123 Be on time 123 Gulf Arabs know the
West 123 No show no matter? 124 Mother 124 Saying no 125 No
one came to our presentation they all went to the airport instead!
126 THE GULF TODAY 129 Times are changing 129 The younger
Gulf Arab 129 Some of us mean business 130 ITS NOT TIME THAT
MATTERS ITS TIMING 130 When the moment is right 130 WEEKS
AND DAYS 131 Tomorrow has already started 131 Gulf time zones
131 The former working day 131 The working week 131 Gulf weekends
132 Telephoning the Gulf on a Friday 132 Business and pleasure all
together? 133 Public holidays (GCC) 133
CHAPTER 11: Language, names & writing 134 ARABIC 134
Local language 134 Calligraphy 134 Study of Arabic 135 Arabic or
not? 135 Signing Arabic documents are you mad? 136 TRANSLATION
136 Control your translator 136 Business cards 137 Routine
Arabic 137 Complex Arabic 138 Check their Arabic 138 JUST A FEW
WORDS OF ARABIC 138 Greetings and Replies 138 In Sha Allah
139 Ma Sha Allah 139 ARABIC WORDS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD
140 Allah 140 Fatwa 140 Halaal and Haraam
140 Hareem 140 Jihaad 140 Wasta 141 SPEECH
141 I want and Give me 141 Ululation 142 Loud means
sincere? 142 Arab theatre 142 MUSLIM NAMES AND YOUR NAMES 143
Muslim name sequence 143 And grandfather makes three 143 Names in
Gulf forms 143 Which Abdullah? 145 No hyphenated names 145 Gulf
genealogy 145 Tribes and families 145 Tribal map146 Mr Arab,
please call me John may I call you by your first name? 147 Meaning
of Muslim names 147 Hello Mister John 148 Names of sons and
daughters 148 Wives keep their fathers names 148 Bin or not 148
How do you like your name, Muslim? 149 How hotels and airlines cope
with Muslim names 149 Spelling 150 Muslim names in Western databases
etc. 150 Gulf royal titles 150 Honoured name s 150 Servant of God
151 TALKING ABOUT & WRITING TO GULF ARABS 151 Dont say that -
say this! 151 Not good 151 Better 151 The title Shaikh 152
Shaikh or Sheikh or Shaykh but never Sheek? 152 Shaikha 152
His Excellency and Your Excellency 152 Your Highness and His Highness
153 His Majesty 153 GULF COMMUNICATIONS 153 Phones 153
Delivery and collection of mail 154 Couriers 154 Examples of formal
letters and faxes 154 Two languages, one page? 156 Why dont I get a
reply to my letters and emails to the Gulf? 156 Security of Gulf
communications 157 Censorship 157
CHAPTER 12: Gulf business how it all works 159 DECISION-MAKING NOT
DECISION-TAKING 159
Consult then decide 159 Youll never understand the Gulf maze,
Westerner! 159 Delay? not possible! 160 Well move the highway
just for you! 161 Islamic endorsement in Saudi Arabia 161 TRUST AND
LOYALTY 161 Trust the family first 161 Trust the useful
stranger? 162 Trusted/Known Untrusted/ Unknown 162 Hospitality,
friendship and trust 162 Let me have all your Gulf Arab contacts 163
COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS 163 Committees are safe 163 Agenda
nibbling 163 Grazing the agenda 163 GULF MEETINGS 164 Testing
the water 164 ATTENDING MEETINGS 165 Loss of temper 165
Impatience 166 Silence 167 Saying no is rude 167 Never say no
168 Cant say No or I dont know! 168 Post-meeting
follow-up 168 MAJOR SALES, EXHIBITIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND TRIALS IN
THE GULF 169 Sequence of a major Gulf sale 169 Gulf exhibitions
and demonstrations 170 Trials and tribulations 170 Offset 171
CHAPTER 13: Gulf business bargaining and getting paid. 173
The sport of bargaining 173 How to bargain 174 Oneliners always
ready 174 Local authority to conclude deals 175 Everyone bargains
176 You cant raise your price later! 176 Tough but courteous 177
Arab bargaining techniques pure theatre? 177 Senior bargaining
techniques 178 Concluding the deal a walk-out? 178 Contractual
obligations v. personal trust 179 GETTING PAID 180 No prompt or
full payment? wheres the contract? 180 Get it right all of it 180
Copyright? Why should I pay you just for thinking? 180 Performance,
retention bonds, sureties and bank guarantees 181 Disputes 181
CHAPTER 14: Gulf society - whats wasta? 182
The importance of wasta 182 Gulf societies 182 Desert
democracy 183 Centralism and its power 183 If centralism is a
problem, wasta is an answer 184 Me deputise? I think not! 184
Wasta and the expatriate manager 185
CHAPTER 15: Food 186
The importance of hospitality 186 EATING 186 Gulf food 186
Typical food found in the Gulf 187 Picnics 187 Right hand 187 Left
hand 187 Fasting 188 MEAT 189 The sheeps eye 189 The
goats tongue 189 Pork 189 Forbidden food: not just pork; its all
non-halaal food 190 Vegetarians 190 ALCOHOL 191 Gulf
countries attitudes to alcohol 191 Selling alcohol 191
CHAPTER 16: Entertaining 192
Abdullah, come to dinner; meet the wife! 192 Saudi wives attendance
192 Invitations 193 Official receptions 193 Attendance and seating
193 Satiated guests 195 Be generous 195 Going Dutch 196 Smoking
196 Entertaining Gulf Arabs in a Western country 196 Arab weddings
196 Henna 197 Hair and sword dancing 198 Belly dancing 198
CHAPTER 17: Coping with visitors 200 GULF VISITORS TO YOUR FACTORY IN
THE WEST 200
Large and small companies 200 Arrival in your country 200 VISIT
ORGANISATION AND PREPARATION 201 Preparation for the visit 201 A
director to direct the visit 201 Visit escort 201 The task of the
escort 202 Drivers 203 Walk the course! 203 TRAVEL AND
ACCOMMODATION 204 Travel with the delegation? 204 A three or
four-day week with you 204 Before and after you 204 A smooth,
personal airport arrival 205 Which hotel old or new? 205 Who pays
for what? Two accounts? 205 An effortless hotel check-in 207 The
directors welcome 207 THE VISIT ITSELF 208 On the day 208
Arrival at the factory etc. 208 Reception staff 208 The factory tour
209 Good, prepared speakers 210 HOSPITALITY 210 Lunch
surely the caterers know about pork and alcohol? 210 Some more dog
meat, sir? 211 Prayers and prayer rooms 211 AFTER THE VISIT 212
Evenings free? 212 Football (soccer) 213 Escort to withdraw but
not the driver(s) 213 CONCLUDING THE VISIT 213 Departure
discussions in the chairmans car 213 The visitors own report on your
company 213 Now keep in touch 214 IMPORTANT WESTERN VISITORS TO YOU
RESIDENT IN THE GULF 214 Cross-cultural tensions 214 Dealing
with your visitors to the Gulf 215 Western arrogance 215 Stamps as
gifts 216 Welcome visitors 216 We trust him to sign contracts! 217
COPING WITH A VIP VISIT TO THE GULF 217 Go visitor, go! 219
CHAPTER 18: Stupid things to do in the Gulf & the desert 220 THE LIST OF
STUPIDITIES 220
Extraordinarily stupid 220 Particularly stupid 221 THE LIST OF
DESERT STUPIDITIES 222 Acclimatisation 223 Heat stroke and heat
exhaustion 224
CHAPTER 19: Law, death, tax, insurance, bonds & banks 225
Gulf laws 225 SHARIAH LAW 225 Secular legislation 225 Gods
law 225 Nature and significance of Islamic law 226 Sources 226 The
sections 226 GULF LAW COURTS 227 The quiet approach is best 227
MODERN BUSINESS LAWS 228 Impact of WTO rules on Gulf business
practice 228 Bribery and corruption 228 Transparency of payments 228
OECD convention 229 FCPA: go straight to jail? 229 UK Bribery Act:
go straight (and longer) to jail? 229 Sponsors invoice items 230
Other anti-corruption laws 230 We pay the invoice and nothing else
230 DEATH AND TAXES 231 Death 231 Coping with a Gulf death
231 Tax 232 Withholding tax 232 Zakat 232 VAT 233 Service
charges 233 Utility charges 233 GCC Customs duty 233 BANKING 233
Islamic banking 233 Islamic financial products 234 Ijara 234
Ijara wa iktina 234 Musharaka 234 Murabaha 234 Mudaraba 234
Islamic finance 235 INVESTMENTS 235 Sukuk 235 INSURANCE 235
Islamic insurance 235
CHAPTER 20: Muslim life 236
Introduction 236 Avoid discussion on Islam 236 All Arabs are Muslims
so all Muslims are Arabs 237 Islamic nations 237 Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)
237 Definition and background 237 People of the book 238 Gods
will 238 The three holy places of Islam 238 The Quran 239 Respect
the Quran itself 239 Pillars or Duties of Islam 240 Islam
everywhere 240 After the Prophet 240 The Sunnis 241 The Shia 241
Gulf Muslim sects 241 CALENDAR 242 Lunar months 242 The
Muslim calendar 242 Conversion between AD and AH and vice versa 243
AH advances ten or eleven days into AD 243 Fridays 243 PRAYERS 243
Prayers and their observance 243 The Qibla 244 Prayer
timings 244 Five prayers per day why are six shown in the
newspapers? 245 Worry or prayer beads 245 The call to prayer 245
The words of the calls to prayer and their meaning 245 RAMADAN 246
The holy month 246 Fasting and other abstinence 246 Thoughts
and deeds 246 When does Ramadan start? 247 Dawn, sunrise and the
black and white threads 247 Breaking the fast 247 Ramadan nights 248
Non-Muslims consumption during Ramadan 248 NonMuslims behaviour
during Ramadan 248 Iftar and other calls 248 Ramadan hours of
work 249 Tiredness and Ramadan road safety 249 When does Ramadan
end? 249 PILGRIMAGE 250 Duty of pilgrimage 250 Pilgrimage
clothing 250 Women travelling alone 251 The Pilgrims route 251 The
Pilgrims route 251 Umrah 251 FESTIVALS 252 Eid
al-Fitr 252 Special Eid al-Fitr mosque 252 Eid al-Adha
252 Eid Mubarak! 253 Celebration of the Eids in the
West 253 Eid texts and cards 253 HOLY DAYS 253 Dates
253 Restrictions 254 Lailat al-Qadr 254 Lailat al-Miraj
254 Mawlid al-Nabi 254 Ras as-Sana New Year 255
Ashura 255 MUSLIM RULES ON DIET 255 Halaal and
Haraam 255 ISLAMIC NAMES FOR GOD 256 APPENDIX: Prayers, names
for God, Arab groupings and clothing 257 The calls to prayer and
their meaning 257 The 99 names for God 258 The League of Arab States
(The Arab League) 261 The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) 261 The GCC
and the European Union 262 Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
262 Muslim World League (MWL) 262 World population map percentage
of Muslims 263 List of Muslim countries The OIC 264 Organisation
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 265 Organisation of Arab
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) 265 Arab and Muslim clothing 266
MEN 266 Agal 266 Shemagh 266 Taqiyah
266 Bisht 266 Thobe 266 WOMEN 267 Abaya
267 Niqab 267 Headband niqab 267 Half-niqab
267 Burka 267 Hijab 267 Al-amira 268
Shayla 268 Chador 268 Khimar 268 Further
Reading 269 Index 270
Buy!
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.
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