Bahrain

Traditional Arab Worldview

Group Orientation
Identity defined by group, family

Cooperation
Harmony within group very important

Relationship Focused
Personal interaction takes precedence over strict schedules; quality of life is important. Heated discussion mayshow investment in the relationship.

Hierarchy
Patterns of rank and status observed

Need for Certainty
Rules for appropriate behavior are known and should not be broken

Particularism
Requires reference to context. Relationships are given priority. Not all rules apply to all individuals all of the time.

Fluid Time
Time is intangible with little structure.

Fatalism
Everyone believes in God and realizes that things depend on God

Cultural Note:

Bahrain is made up of 33 islands.
Only three islands are inhabited: Manama, Sitra and Muharraq.
Approximately 70% of the Arab population is Shi’i Muslim. Others, including the royal family, are Sun-ni Muslim · Only 63% of the total population are Bahraini citi-zens
Shaikh Issa ruled Bahrain for 37 years until his death in 1999. · He was succeeded by his son, Shaikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa who led Bahrain to become a constitu-tional monarchy with an elected parliament in 2002.

Cultural Assumptions

Family honor is of great importance
The sense of family is wide and extended
Building strong personal relationships is critical
Reciprocation and hospitality
Hierarchy and respect for elders
Group stability and harmony
Understanding that humans do not control events. That is up to God’s will

Arab Communication Style

Indirect
Imply/suggest what is meant. You need to read between the lines. Emotional outbursts and raised voices may feeldirect, but finding the “real” message in the words may still be achallenge.

High Context
Background information assumed depending on nature of relationship. Social class determines the type of language and approach used to communicate.

Formal
Sensitivity to hierarchy/face saving very important. First names are not used unless one invites the other to do so.

Expressive
Emotional displays are common and expected

Circular
Message may weave and wander

Guidelines for Communication with Bahrainis

A good personal relationship is the most important single factor in doing business successfully with Bahrainis. They will usually begin meetings inquiring about each other’s health and personal activi-ties.
Accept that verbal modesty will be highly disconcerting to them. If you are quiet, they will simply think something is wrong. Not only do you have to speak more when you are with Bahrainis, but you have to step up the volume as well. Loudness of voice, rising pitch and tone, even shouting, all denote sincerity in Bahraini discourse. In Bahraini society it is quite normal to use speech in a rhe-torical, almost aggressive manner to make a point emphatically. It may take a long time to make a point that a direct communicator would do in far fewer words.
Recognize that Bahrainis place great value on hospitality. If you have drinks, food or snacks in the office, you should offer to share it with your Bahraini colleagues.
Learn that a Bahraini is not likely to criticize your efforts openly. He is more likely to hint that changes are needed or respond with inaction. If phrased too bluntly, Bahraini employees will feel that criticism of their work is a personal insult. Always avoid criticizing an Bahraini colleague in front of others.
Accept that Bahrainis implicitly mistrust people who are attempting to hurry or pressure them into a particular deal. They will evaluate the source of a proposal as much as the content. If you press for a specific time by which you want a decision, you may actually harm your chances for success.
Be aware that Bahrainis are very relaxed about the timing of events. While appointments are nec-essary, you might arrive to find several other business people present and several meetings occurring simultaneously.
Recognize that Bahrainis love to use flattery and profession of friendship; therefore you should not hesitate to praise their country, their arts, their dress and food.
Bahrainis are used to dealing with foreigners and readily forgive them for not behaving like Bahrai-nis. However, certain behaviors can cause offense including: the use of alcohol, improper dress, over-familiarity with women, and challenging the basic concepts of Islam.
Bahrainis bring Allah into their arguments in almost every conversation (In’Sha’Allah—God willing).
Most Bahrainis are reluctant to bring up bad news about their lives or in business. It may take longer to find out that problems exist.
Recognize that Muslims pray five times a day: at dawn (4:30-5:00 a.m.), around noon, in the after-noon between 2:00 and 4:00, at sunset, and one hour after sunset (never later than 9:00 p.m.). At prayer time everything stops. Plan your schedule around prayer times.

Arab Business Patterns

Business meetings last longer than time set
Not all agenda topics covered
Deviation from agenda
Interruptions are common and acceptable

*Note: Maneuver your chair so that you are sitting right next to the man you wish to do business with. You have to be no more than a foot away and nearer to him than anybody else.

Understand that Arabs openly discuss:

Money
Religion
Politics
Family

Arabs, in general, make liberal use of gestures, especially if they are enthusiastic about what they are saying. Men use gestures more than women. To greet with respect or sinceri-ty, after shaking hands, place the right hand to the heart or chest. Failure to shake hands when meeting someone or say-ing goodbye is considered rude. When a Western man is in-troduced to an Arab woman, it is the woman’s choice wheth-er to shake hands or not; she should be allowed to make the first move. Similarly, a non-Arab woman should extend her hand to initiate a handshake. Do not shake hands firmly or pump your whole hand up-and-down. Also, realize that peo-ple shake hands and hold hands longer in greeting than in the West; allow your counterpart to withdraw first.

Arabs will interpret your behavior negatively if you behave with too much familiarity toward a person of the opposite sex. Behaviors such as overly enthusiastic greetings, animat-ed and joking conversations, and casual invitations to lunch can be easily misinterpreted by them. The public display of intimacy between men and women is strictly forbidden by the Arab social code, including holding hands or linking arms or any gesture of affection such as kissing or prolonged touching.

Arabs of the same gender will typically stand very close to you when in a conversation. If you try to keep a greater distance, they may think you find their physical presence distasteful or that you are a particularly cold individual. When standing in conversation with someone, leaning against the wall or keeping hands in pockets is taken as a lack of respect

Business Practices

PROBLEM SOLVING	Leader's vision, insight or intuition, less methodical, scientific. Linked with saving face so as not to cause embarrassment
MOTIVATING PEOPLE	Pay, status, titles, job security, leadership of others, concern for conformity, loyalty
APPRAISING PERFORMANCE	Informal, irregular, very personal, paternalistic
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS	Focus on group harmony & shared accomplishment; qualitative and subjective; includes social & economic concerns
NEGOTIATING, PERSUADING	Argumentative, can appear combative, face-to-face disagreement usual, often use third party. May feel confrontational but care is taken not to insult one another, only to show passion for the topic. Negotiations cannot be rushed
DECISION MAKING PROCESS	Leader-centric, top-down, subordinates expect clear goals and information
PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS	Create harmonious setting, leader-centric, indirect, information-giving. Heated discussion may occur, but words of appreciation for one another at the end of the meeting restores harmony and face when all accept the exchange was out of commitment to the work.
SUPERIOR / SUBORDINATE RELATIONSHIPS	Hierarchical, paternalistic, nurturing leader, subordinate gives loyalty and conformity
HIRING / DISMISSAL	Performance/results balanced by background relations and obligations, paternalistic
CUSTOMER RELATIONS	Based on network, personal relationships, obligations

The Arab World: Rules of Etiquette

Everyone stands when new guests arrive at a social gathering and when an elderly or high-ranking person enters or leaves. Men stand when a woman enters the room.
Sitting in a manner that allows the sole of one’s shoe to face another person is insulting.
If you admire something openly, an Arab may insist that it be taken as a gift.
Gifts are given and accepted with both hands and are not opened in the presence of the donor.
Most Arabs do not like to touch or be in the presence of household animals, especially dogs. Pets should be kept out of sight when Arab guests are present.
Foreign women are accepted without veils provided they dress conservatively. They may go shopping and travel alone, but should avoid all-male cafes (which predominate.)
When eating with Arabs, the left hand is not used. (The left hand is considered unclean.) Always pass goods with your right hand. When eating in someone’s home, your hosts will offer you the best dishes to eat, which you must accept. You are not expected to talk much at mealtime.
At a restaurant, an Arab will almost always insist on paying, especially if it is a business related occasion. Giving in graciously after a ritual gesture to pay and then returning the favor later is an appropriate response. Arabs find the public calculation and division of a restaurant bill embarrassing.

Religious Attitudes

Basic Religious Attitudes

Everyone believes in God, acknowledges His power and has a religious affiliation.
Humans cannot control all events; some things depend on God.
Piety is one of the most admirable characteristics in a person.
There should be no separation between “church and state.”
Religion should be taught in schools and promoted by the
government.

Islamic Cultural Values

Submission to Allah
Accepting fate
Spirituality
Spirit—Nature—Man
The group
The family