𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆!

I had the privilege of delivering a 60-minute expert-led webinar titled “Understanding Business Culture in the Middle East”, created to equip UK exporters and SMEs with the knowledge and cultural intelligence needed to succeed in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar — three of the most dynamic and opportunity-rich markets in the Gulf region.

This session combined both strategic trade insights and hands-on cultural guidance to help businesses adapt, localize, and build trust-based relationships across the GCC.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:

• 𝗚𝗖𝗖 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 – Deep dive into trade flows, diversification plans, investment trends, and major regional strategies like Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE’s innovation & sustainability initiatives.

• 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 – Understanding how loyalty, trust, personal relationships, and family influence in decision-making shape business success in Gulf countries.

• 𝗘𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 & 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Differences between Western and Gulf time management approaches, tips for meeting protocols during Ramadan, and respecting local expectations in business settings.

• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝘀 – Key norms around verbal/non-verbal communication, the significance of face-to-face dialogue, and maintaining balance between professionalism and personal rapport.

• 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 – How to tailor your message, product, and marketing strategies for the Middle Eastern audience. Plus, case studies on brands that got it right — and those that didn’t.

• 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 – Sector highlights in renewables, technology, luxury, and e-commerce, plus how consumer psychology differs from Western markets.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
The Gulf is full of opportunity — but success hinges on cultural understanding. Whether you’re building client relationships, pitching a service, or expanding into new markets, knowing how to navigate the cultural landscape gives you a powerful edge.

The session ended with a highly engaging Q&A, where we explored real-world scenarios and challenges shared by UK exporters.

📌 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 :
👉 https://www.business.gov.uk/export-academy/events/understand-business-culture-in-the-middle-east-09-july-2025

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻!

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