CultureShock! Saudi Arabia

Harvey North Peter Tripp

Description

CultureShock! Saudi Arabia provides an insight into living and working in a kingdom where Islam governs almost every aspect of life. Uncover the true psyche of the Saudi people-the men clad in their thobes and gutra and women in their abayas-and their unique way of life, a lifestyle which foreigners may find alien and a challenge to cope with. Containing valuable information not only on the practical aspects of settling in, this book will give tips on how best to integrate into Saudi society. Learn about Saudi laws and be aware of what might get you thrown in jail or under the executioner's axe. CultureShock! Saudi Arabia is essential for anyone who wants to fully understand this Islamic country and get the most out of his or her stay in the kingdom.

Sujets

• Saudi Arabia
• Arabie saoudite

Informations

• Publié par: MarshallCavendishM
• Date de parution: 16 mars 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789814435277
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

This 4th edition published in 2012 by: Marshall Cavendish Corporation 99 White Plains Road Tarrytown NY 10591-9001 www.marshallcavendish.us
First published in 2003 by Times Media Pte Ltd; 2nd edition published in 2006, reprinted 2007; 3rd edition published in 2009. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: [phone], fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]
The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no events be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Other Marshall Cavendish Offices: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd. 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196 Marshall Cavendish Ltd. PO Box 65829, London EC1P 1NY UK Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd. 253 Asoke, 12th Flr, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Marshall Cavendish is a trademark of Times Publishing Limited
eISBN: 978 981 4435 27 7
Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalogue number
Printed in Singapore by Times Printers Pte Ltd
Photo Credits: All black and white photos from altTYPE/Reuters except page 59 (Ian Blain); page 7 (Focus Team, Italy); page 181 (Angela Jackson); pages 13, 152 (Photolibrary). Colour photos from Corbis pages a, b-c, f-g, i, j-k; altTYPE/ Reuters d-e, p; Photolibrary pages h, l-m, n-o Cover photo: Getty Images
All illustrations by TRIGG
ABOUT THE SERIES
Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.
Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.
Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the people-where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.
Then on with the practical aspects-how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the best of health. But that s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.
To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.
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
FOREWORD
In his book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History , author Michael H Hart judged that the world s most influential person of all time was an Arab trader who lived at the turn of the 6th and 7th centuries in Mecca in present day Saudi Arabia. The name of this individual was Muhammad, the founder of the Muslim religion. To Muslims, presently 20 per cent of the global population, Muhammad was the Prophet who delivered God s word to the world. To non-Muslims, Muhammad was the man who delivered the Muslim religion to the world. Either way, Muhammad s effect on global human affairs since his own time has been profound.
The other major influence, in terms of recent global interest in Saudi Arabia, was the discovery on the Arabian Peninsula of the world s biggest oil deposits. The development of the Saudi oil fields after the 1940s cast Saudi Arabia as the swing supplier of the world s energy and the most influential member of OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries). The interaction of these two factors, Islam and oil, have made Saudi Arabia one of the most pivotal countries on the planet.
Oil and the income it has generated has had a profound effect on the Saudi culture in this once dirt-poor country of limited interest to the rest of the world. In the modern era, Saudi Arabia s economic prospects have varied with the oil price. In 1940s and 1950s, as the first oil revenue flowed into the country, the Saudi Royal family first experimented with conspicuous consumption in its most extreme form-nearly driving the country bankrupt in the process. After the first big oil price increase in 1973, Saudi Arabia spent some of its petrodollars on national development and invested some in Western banks. The Western banks in turn invested in Latin American countries, which subsequently announced an inability to repay their debts. Laundered through various countries, these petrodollars found themselves in the accounts of Swiss banks in the name of various unsavoury Third World dictators-well beyond the reach of the Treasury of Saudi Arabia, the ostensible owner of the money. The price of oil peaked again in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution, but then slumped over the 1980s and 1990s when Saudi Arabia survived by deficit financing, building up a massive overseas debt. Since the oil price spike that started in around 2002, Saudi Arabia has applied the bulk of its funds from the booming oil price into paying off its accumulated debt -and increasing its rate of development. As is common knowledge, the oil price peaked at US 147 in mid 2008, then quickly slumped as the great global economic meltdown of 2008/2009 gathered pace. At time of latest update the oil price is around US 100. Where it will go from there is anyone s guess.
To implement its social and physical development programme, Saudi Arabia has, for many years, imported from other countries a guest workf