Business Etiquette in the Middle East

The dominant religions are Judaism in Israel and Islam in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and the Arab countries. Some Christians are found in Turkey and Israel.Since religion is so much a part of daily life in most Muslim countries, you can expect certain differences, some mundane, some extraordinary. For example, neither alcohol nor pork is consumed, the work week in most Muslims countries runs from Saturday to Wednesday or Thursday morning, and prayers are said five times a day, during which time business stops. Period. But the most extraordinary difference is the separation of man and women in the vast majority of Muslim countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman being exceptions). In Arabic countries in particular, women are rarely seen, and when they are they're heavily veiled.For Muslims Sabbath is Sunday; for Jews, Sabbath is Saturday; for Muslims, Sabbath is Friday.
Handshakes
Among Jews handshakes are standard greetings. Among Arabs hugs and kisses are standard. If you're not Arab, you may get a handshake, but it's less like a handshake than it is a handhold, usually with both hands. Don't get nervous and don't move away. And remember that Arab men often hold hands as a gesture of friendship.
Names and Titles
Use full names and all appropriate titles upon meeting.
Business Cards
Expect to exchange business cards with everyone. In Arab countries, it's polite and expected that your business card will be in English in one side and Arabic on the other and Arabic on the other. Present your card Arabic up. In Israel, engraved business cards are preferred to printed ones.
Meetings

Meetings can be long, chaotic and even pointless to an American sensibility. In Turkey and Israel, punctuality is prized, and meetings typically start on time. But "meeting time" is a rather loose term in Saudi Arabia, where you may wait an hour or more before your host appears.

When he (or in Israel, sometimes, she) arrives, you will begin with banter and conversation centered not on business but in many other topics. Once you get down to business, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of argument and haggling. Whether Jew or Muslim, people in the Middle East love to talk, discuss, wrangle, and argue.
And if no decision is made on the spot, do not be disturbed. The decision will come, sometimes weeks, sometimes months later.
The following are some general rules for meetings:
1. Never say no directly; it causes shame. Find other ways to express disagreement.
2. Age is important in Turkey. Defer to the oldest person.
Business Attire
In Israel, business casual is acceptable in a wide range of businesses. In Turkey and the Arabic Countries, go conservative with dark suits and subdued ties. Business women may have a hard time in the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia in particular. If you're a woman brave enough to risk being ignored or shunned, remember that your knees and elbows must be covered at all times and that a high collar is required.
Dining and Entertaining
Across the Middle East, hospitality is a means of demonstrating generosity, wealth, and power. As a result, Jewish and Arab hospitality sometimes appear extravagant to Americans. Accept the inevitable, and enjoy the prodigious feast to which you will be hosted.
In Muslim Countries:
Dining is taken seriously in most of Europe as an expression of generosity. In some countries, such as Italy and Greece, this generosity can reach stupefying levels; it can be virtually impossible to pick up a check in Italy and virtually impossible not to overeat or overdrink in Greece. But it's rude to refuse dinner invitations or any of the sumptuous items proffered to you at a dinner.