Our experienced English to Arabic translators help you communicate with your Arabic-speaking target group.

• Doing business in North Africa

  New opportunities

  North Africa offers an increasing degree of political stability combined with low labour costs, a well-educated population, increasing privatisation, the rapid improvement of infrastructure, and a strategic location, meaning that it is a wonderful place for foreign investment. Many international organisations focussed their attention on Algeria and Libya after oil was discovered there. Partly as a consequence of this, other sectors such as infrastructure, telecom, finance, mining, industry, and tourism will become more important.

• Doing business in the Middle East

  Doing business in an entirely different part of the world demands the ability to be able to adapt and place yourself in someone else’s shoes. Many aspects of Middle Eastern business culture contrasts with the Western way of doing things. In order to help get you started, our translators have set out a few tips for you.

  Tip 1: How business is seen

  In the Arabic world, doing business is seen as a personal thing. People are less focussed on the company behind the person than the person themself. It will always work better therefore if there is one permanent point of contact for the company, someone who also has a permanent backup in place. You will be able to build up a good rapport in this way so that your business partner will be more likely to place their orders with you.

  Tip 2: Practices and customs

  Shaking hands is an important and positive gesture in most business cultures and that applies here as well. The hand is shook firmly and not too briefly. Pleasantries are exchanged at the same time and a positive wish is often expressed, for the health of the entire family, for example.
  Business gifts are only exchanged at a subsequent meeting. When the purpose of the meeting is to get to know each other first then it isn’t necessary to bring a gift with you but, if you do, it shouldn’t be too expensive. A bunch of flowers would be sufficient, for instance.

  Tip 3: Communication

  Diverse languages are spoken in the Middle East, such as the Persian Farsi and Dari, Arabic, and Urdu, and a choice of other languages which are spoken by various minorities. Our translation agency will be happy to help you identify that right language for the area to which you are heading and to translate your business documents.

  Religion

  Islam is an important religion in practically all of the Middle Eastern countries. It is therefore important to take this into account. It wouldn’t be sensible to try and conduct business on Islamic holidays, for instance. Make sure that you know enough about the Muslim faith and its rituals and customs in order to avoid making mistakes.

  Personal contact

  Personal contact is very important in the Middle East. There is much less of a distinction between one’s personal and professional life than there is in the UK. It is therefore important to take the time to establish and build relationships. It is also important to be careful with your choice of words. The Koran places a lot of emphasis on verbal agreements, although contracts remain important, of course.

  Important customs

  There are some other important customs in the Middle East which you need to know about if you are going to do business in the region. It is not advisable to smoke or drink, for instance. There is less of a structure in organisation and meetings, which is something that you may feel is chaotic. Another tip is about how you sit. British people sometime sit with a leg resting across their knee so that the sole of their shoe is visible. The sole is regarded as unclean in Arabic culture so you should avoid this as much as possible.