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Race, nationality, ethnic relations

North Americans and Europeans have a certain prestige in Saudi Arabia that does not necessarily extend to those of African or Asian descent. Darker-skinned people may feel slighted by the preferential treatment that white Americans and Europeans generally receive.

Many foreign nationals, mostly from Southeast Asia (India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, etc.), are brought in to fill employment needs. Some Saudi nationals feel that these foreign workers are a drain on the economy, as most send money back to their families and do not spend it in the country. There is some resentment regarding this subject. Yet these foreign workers are filling positions that Saudi nationals are not likely to want. Saudis often prefer to work in business or management positions and often believe that other people should fill the lower-level jobs. There is a very distinct hierarchy in Saudi Arabia, and foreigners other than Americans and Europeans, are often perceived as having a lower status.

*Saudi Arabia tends to have stronger relationships with the following countries:

• Egypt

• Turkey

• Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) o Kingdom of Bahrain o Kuwait o Sultanate of Oman o Qatar o United Arab Emirates

*Saudi Arabia typically has more strained relationships with the following countries:

• Iran

• Syria

• Lebanon

• Iraq

• Yemen

Attitudes toward Business & Money

Status of business

Most businesspeople are associated with wealth and are highly regarded by society. To some extent, the respect may depend on what kind of business it is and how successful it is. In general, successful businesses are regarded positively by most as the people running them are usually assumed to be well educated and quite cultured.

Attitudes toward work

There is a clear separation between business and family. Business is seen as something that does not leave the workplace, and although there may be some socializing outside the work environment, business is generally not discussed.

Saudis do not, as a rule, believe that one should "live to work," but generally have a more relaxed attitude toward work. A good job is considered one that allows them to spend time with their family. Some people do work after hours, but it is a small percentage of the population. Being a manager is very prestigious, as titles are an important part of establishing credibility and status. A manager's schedule is relatively flexible, and managers can at times work short hours.

Attitudes toward wealth

Money is usually accompanied by respect within the Saudi culture. It means that one is well off and is able to provide quite well for one's family. It also means that someone has had to work hard to accumulate wealth, and that earns respect in general.

Women in Business

Gender Gap Index

According to the Gender Gap Index compiled by the World Economic Forum in 2013, Saudi Arabia received a score of 0.5879 on a scale of 0 to 1 (where "1" defines a country with complete gender equality). The index measures the gender gap in four areas: economic participation, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health. Saudi Arabia ranked 127th overall among the 136 countries listed. The gender gap is small in the areas of health and educational attainment; however, there is a large gap in the areas of economic participation and political empowerment.




Date: 2015-12-11; view: 956


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