A Guide to Doing International Business in Middle East

A Guide to Doing International Business in the Middle East

The Middle East is a diverse area with 246 million inhabitants, four different cultures, and three prominent religions including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.  As the world continues to develop, more and more companies are choosing to break into the Middle Eastern market.

To help you navigate this business landscape, we’ve prepared a collection of references covering various topics.  These include business etiquette, negotiation strategies, decision-making processes, cultural norms, and regional standards/laws.

General Resources For the Middle East


ISTIZADA

Doing Business in the Middle East

This primary article deals with cultural norms and business in general for Middle Eastern countries.

COMMISCEO GLOBAL

Essential Tips for Doing Business in The Middle East

Much like the first article, this link covers the basics but it lends some extra focus to Islam and its influence on business in the region.

LinkedIn

Selling cross-border to the Middle East: What strategies work best

This article offers insights into cross-border business strategies.

Doing Business

The Middle East & North Africa

  • This resource contains various statistics for those who wish to establish a physical business in the Middle East.

https://www.doingbusiness.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/media/Profiles/Regional/DB2020/MENA.pdf

Business Resources for the UAE


International Trade Administration

United Arab Emirates Country Commercial Guide

This is a market overview prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Market challenges

Market opportunities

Market strategies

ISTIZADA

UAE Digital Marketing Country Profile

For those who intend to focus on the UAE, this link offers excellent insight into digital marketing. details.

THE PAYPERS

Cross Border E-Commerce Research In Middle East / Africa

This website covers cross-border business with a focus on the UAE.

Dubai-Freezone

Business strategy/etiquette

This short article covers standard business etiquette.

Negotiation tactics 

Business Resources for Saudi Arabia


International Trade Administration

Saudi Arabia Commercial Guide

This is a market overview prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Market challenges

Market opportunities

Market strategies

Cultural Atlas

Saudi Arabian Culture

This particular site provides excellent information on business greetings in Saudia Arabia along with general concepts, etiquette, do’s and don’ts, and more.

Greetings:

General concepts

Etiquette 

Do’s & dont’s

Business culture

Business Resources for Egypt


International Trade Administration

Egypt Commercial Guide

This is a market overview prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Market challenges

Market opportunities

Market strategies

Cultural Atlas

Egyptian Culture

This is a collection of information regarding greetings, concepts, business etiquette, and more.

Greetings

General concepts

Etiquette 

Do’s & dont’s

Business culture

World Business Culture

Doing Business in Egypt

This articles offers useful insights into the Egyptian market’s strengths

Business Resources for Turkey


International Trade Administration

Turkey Commercial Guide

This is a market overview prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Market challenges

Market opportunities

Market strategies

Cultural Atlas

Turkish Culture

This is a collection of information regarding greetings, concepts, business etiquette, and more.

Greetings

General concepts

Etiquette 

Do’s & dont’s

Business culture

World Business Culture

Doing Business in Turkey

This article offers further insights into the country’s market strengths

Business Resources for Israel


International Trade Administration

Israel Commercial Guide

This is a market overview prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Market challenges

Market opportunities

Market strategies

Cultural Atlas

Israeli Culture

This is a collection of information regarding greetings, concepts, business etiquette, and more.

Greetings

General concepts

Etiquette 

Do’s & dont’s

Business culture

Tourist Israel

Doing Business in Israel and Israeli Business Customs

This article delves further into standard Israeli business practices

Trade Laws By Country


UAE

Import tariffs

Trade barriers

Regulated imports

Customs regulations

List of “Free Zones” in the UAE

Saudi Arabia

Import tariffs

Trade barriers

Regulated imports

Customs regulations

Egypt

Import tariffs

Trade barriers

Regulated imports

Customs regulations

Turkey

Import tariffs

Trade barriers

Regulated imports

Customs regulations

Israel

Import tariffs

Trade barriers

Regulated imports

Customs regulations

These resources were gathered with the intention of helping business owners and entrepreneurs conduct transactions and manage their assets in the Middle East.  While selecting resources it was our aim to include only the most credible sources of information.

As a result of this selection process, the majority of our resources are from government sites.  With that said, there were a few exceptions to this criteria in the case of resources that offered substantial information that was otherwise not found on government websites.