CONTENTS
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Map of Saudi Arabia
Chapter 1
First Impressions
Getting There
Chapter 2
Land and History of Saudi Arabia
The Beginnings
The Lie of the Land...
Trading with the World
The Al Sauds
Saudi Arabia: the Early Days
The Origin of Islam
The Spread of Islam
Today’s Islam
Pan-Arab Brotherhood: In Formation or Disarray?
Sunnis and Shi’ites
Saudi Arabia and Israel
Oil and the Economy
The Government of the Present Day
Chapter 3
Who are the Saudis?
From Bedouinism to Opulence
The Population Explosion
Family Values
Names and Labels
Interaction Between the Sexes
Saudi Women
Women and Religion
Acquiring an Identity
Women in the Workforce
Qur’an and the Law
Swapping Cultures
Saudi Arabia’s Bedouins
Education
Chapter 4
Getting to Know the Saudis
The Cultural Divide
The Worker Bees
The Pecking Order
Long Term Immigrants
Separate Societies
Expatriate Women
Male Bonding
Dress Code for Saudi Men
Dress Code for Saudi Women
Dress Code for Aliens: Men
Dress Code for Aliens: Women
Religious Freedoms
Weddings and Funerals
Falling Foul of the Law
Security and Safety
The Ultimate Penalty
Paying Blood Money
Security of Saudi Arabia: the Country
Chapter 5
Settling In
Expectations
Visas and Documentation
Pre-Arrival Checks
Accommodation
Facilities for the Handicapped
Money and Banking
Appliances
Help Around the Home
Travel by Car
Taxis
Postal
Television
Shopping
Chapter 6
Food and Entertaining
Traditional Fare
Restaurants
Domestic Hospitality
Entertaining, Bedouin Style
Coffee Shops
Alcohol
Chapter 7
Sights and Sounds of Saudi Arabia
Survivng the Climate
What Day Is It?
Public Holidays
Architecture
Museums
Literary and Visual Arts
Finding Your Way Around
The Saudi Arabian Countryside
Hotels
Travel by Train
Travel by Air
The Number One Attraction
Touring Outside the Kingdom
Taking Pictures
Entertainment and Leisure
Saudis and Sport
Guest Workers and Sports
Chapter 8
Learning Arabic
Speaking Arabic
Reading Arabic
Writing Arabic
Arabic as Spoken by Arabs
Learning Arabic
Saudi’s Second Language
Body Language
Chapter 9
Working and Doing Business in Saudi Arabia
Economic Development and the Labour Force
Why Can’t the Saudis Run Their Own Country?
Will You Be Replaced By a Saudi?
NITAQAT: Saudisation of the Workforce
Perpetual Trainees
Inshallah: Philosophy or Crutch?
Religion in the Workplace
Employment Contracts
Commercial Law
Income Tax
Negative Comment
Getting On With the Boss
Who’s In Business
Corruption
Further Information on Business Contacts
The Bureaucracy
Chapter 10
Saudi Arabia at a Glance
Famous People of Saudi Arabia
Culture Quiz
Do’s and Don’ts
Glossary
Resource Guide
Further Reading
About the Authors
Index