By Ludmila (Mila) Rusakova Golovine
One of the most interesting and potentially lucrative places to do business currently is in the Arab world. From its massive oil reserves in the Persian Gulf and North Africa to the shipping hubs of the United Arab Emirates, the Arab countries are becoming ever more important for global trade and the energy that fuels it. Consequently, there is unprecedented interest in the region for both business and tourism. Nevertheless, one must be well prepared before engaging in business there. While it is true that the people that comprise the Arab countries do share a so-called common language, there are vast differences among them which must be considered.
Although it is difficult to categorize completely the cultural differences between the Arab people, it is easiest to conceptualize them linguistically. Typically, those who speak a similar dialect lead a similar lifestyle with common customs and behaviors. While there is no single Arabic language, there is a version called Modern Standard Arabic which is the language employed in print and news media. It is also the language used in schools and spoken between Arabs from different dialectical regions. Then there are dialects that differentiated themselves from Classical Arabic in the past and are spoken at home and in their respective communities. The main dialectic groups are Gulf, Levantine, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Maghrebi.
The countries, whose people speak Gulf Arabic, comprise the Arabian Peninsula and include: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Yemen. Since desert makes up most of these countries’ geography and the climate is fairly hot most of the year, the vast majority of people wear long flowing robes. This is the traditional dress of the Bedouins or nomads that have inhabited the deserts of Arabia for millennia. Typically, the cultures of these countries are very traditional and conservative in both religious and political terms. Since the two holiest cities of the Islamic religion, Mecca and Medina, are located in Saudi Arabia, the religion permeates daily life and language. Before going to this region, you must be prepared to see people in traditional dress and hear religious references that you would not normally encounter.
The next dialect is Levantine Arabic. This name is derived from the Levant, which is a term that includes all the countries that speak this dialect, namely: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine/Israel. Since water and vegetation are more plentiful in this area, cities are more abundant and there is more of an urban culture. Consequently, more people wear Western or European dress such as suits, slacks, t-shirts, or even jeans. This area is more heterogeneous in religious make-up than the Gulf States. While the vast majority of Levantine Arabs are Sunni Muslim, there are minorities of Shiite Muslim believers as well as Christian, Jewish, Druze, and Alawite groups, particularly in Lebanon and Syria. Due to Western dress, it is normally difficult to distinguish who belongs to which group, so you must be open to all possibilities.
There is the Mesopotamian dialect to the East of the Levant. This version is spoken primarily in Iraq and Eastern Syria. Much like in the Levant, Iraq’s geography has rivers and vegetation which have led to an urban lifestyle. Moreover, for decades Iraq has had secular government, resulting in a more Westernized lifestyle for its people. While the people are primarily of Shiite Muslim faith, there are also minority Sunni Muslim and Christian communities. So here again you must be careful not to assume someone’s religious identity before finding out.
The most recognized Arabic dialect is Egyptian. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is the Hollywood of the Arab World. It produces most of the Arabic films and TV shows in the region. Egypt is also the most populous Arab country with 86 million inhabitants and has a history reaching all the way back to the pharaohs. Consequently, Egyptians have a strong sense of national identity. While about 90 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim, there is a sizeable Coptic Christian population. Once again, caution must be taken in making any assumptions regarding religious affiliation.
Finally, there is the Maghrebi dialect spoken in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The Arabic spoken here is radically different from the other dialects due to the distance from the original Arabic homelands and the area’s long history of French colonization. The European influence is significant here and the culture reflects it in its Western dress and attitudes. While predominantly Sunni Muslim, the population is not highly conservative in terms of religion.
Although the Arab world is fairly complex, it does not have to be difficult to navigate. With an open mind and a willingness to adapt accordingly, you can come to appreciate the Arabic mosaic.
As a graduate of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston, Ludmila (Mila) Rusakova Golovine, Founder, CEO, and President of MasterWord Services, Inc., started her company with a vision of seamlessly connecting people across any language, any time, and any culture. Mila can be reached by email at [email protected], by phone at 281-589-0810, or visit her website at www.masterword.com.
