ICEBREAKERS

BRILLIANT!

1. Learn the traditional greeting in Arabic. The first phrase is generally Assalamu a’alaikum, which means “peace be upon you.” The correct response is Wa alaikum assalam.

After the introductions, you might inquire about how your prospect started in the industry and became successful. This may lead to many related topics of travel, education, and family.

2. Saudi Arabia’s national football (soccer) team is a popular topic. It first qualified for the World Cup in 1994, when the World Cup was hosted by the United States, and it is now one of Asia’s most successful teams. Nicknames for the team include Al-Sogour (the Falcons), Al-Akhdar (the Green), or “the Green Falcons.” Be certain not to repeat the faux pas (under Boorish ...

Get Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, Sales and Marketing: The Essential Cultural Guide—From Presentations and Promotions to Communicating and Closing now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.