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Handshaikh Ltd provides, at your premises worldwide, customised cross-cultural seminars and consultancy for Westerners who have business and other interests involving Arabs particularly in, or from, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. More

▲Roll your mouse over the pic! Why does he do that?					What's this book about?
▲ Do you know how to behave? ▲

The first edition of Handshaikh Ltd's book Don't they know it's Friday? (Motivate Publishing Dubai, 1998) was reprinted 13 times. The second edition was released in November 2010. Press release. Dina Medland writes in the Financial Times "In conversations with British expatriates in the Middle East one piece of advice recurs: read Don’t they know it’s Friday? by Jeremy Williams." Buy from these shops, or from Amazon UK (Choose Edn 2). If you have an interest in this second edition and have difficulty in finding a copy, please email DTKIF2 (at) handshaikh.com

PODCAST 11 May 12 Contributions to BBC World Service 'Have Your Say'. US Army staff college attitudes to Islam. Download 20 min podcast.Courtesy BBC World Service Podcasts
Click (WAV format) Bahrain hunger striker riots on 6 Apr 12, courtesy BBC Five Live 'Morning Reports'	▲ Bahrain riots 18 Feb 11 This video is here on YouTube Courtesy of BBC 4 World News Today		▲Libya Mousa Kousa 31 Mar 11 This video is here on YouTube Courtesy of BBC 4 World News Today

▲(In Arabic) Libya: Sirte surrounded 2 Sep 11. Courtesy of BBC Arabic	▲(In Arabic) Royal Navy training team departs Iraq 25 May 11.Courtesy of BBC Arabic		▲Mumbai bombings & security 27 Nov 08 Courtesy of BBC News


▲Cross-culture: business with Arabs; Sudanese Teddy bears 7 Dec 07. Courtesy of BBC World News	▲Piers Morgan sacked; fake Army torture pictures Iraq 24 Dec 07. Courtesy of BBC News	▲Attacks on expats Saudi Arabia June 2004.Courtesy Sky News

Watch BBC News channel			Watch Sky News


See nothing wrong in these pictures? - then take your cross-culture test!			How Gulf Arabs see Westerners! Dominated by 'Time'	Is it 'The Arabian Gulf' or 'The Persian Gulf'?

When is Ramadan this year? Doesn't Ramadan mean 'fasting' in Arabic? What does 1427AH mean? Arabs are all the same, aren't they? All Arabs are Muslims, surely? We need to book an appointment in three days' time, don't we? What is an Eid? What should I wear? They all speak such good English the proposal can be in English, can't it? Excuse me Mr Abdullah, but what is your Christian name? Iranians are Arabs, aren't they? He seems to be very nice so shall we have him as our Agent/Sponsor? If you ask these ▲ or similar questions, don't go to the Gulf yet! Speak to Handshaikh Ltd first (especially the last three!).

Take your cross-culture test

Public holidays Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE	Question				What's this for?
	Which qualities do you rate higher in a candidate for a job in the Gulf? :- A. Professional competence or B. Patience & resilience.

Much more GCC info					In many hotels etc. Qibla calculation

Have you any idea at all what these tables are for? Are they important? Click for other cities.



Time now in Washington DC	Time now in London				Time now in Dubai

Free text messages from your PC!					Question: Why are there two British Embassies in the UAE? In Abu Dhabi and in Dubai? Click