Aspects of the Arab business life are important in global business environment. Managing Arab cultures, solving diversity related problems and reconciling dilemmas is everyday challenges for managers. How to cope with different cultures, collective cultures and company cultures is a routine for people working in any company today. The objective for this course is to study the characteristics for Arab culture and business culture. During the course competences related to business negotiations and multicultural teamwork matters with Arabs are stressed. Course is especially important since the Dubai EXPO 2020 will be starting and Haaga-Helia is also choosing students to work as guides in the Expo (internship possibility).

Course contents
 Arabic countries, Islamic countries, MENA-countries, GCC-countries
 Arabic culture before and after Islam (dimensions)
 Diversity of Arabic countries and cultures
 Basic pillars of Islam from the business perspective
 Arabic business culture vs. western business culture
 Arabic Business Environment
 Communication with Arabs; non-verbal communication
 Practical work life rules, business centers, middle men, expatriate life
 Negotiations with Arabs
 Marketing and selling to Arabs
 Living as an expatriate in the Arabic countries

Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, workshops, Business seminar with Finnish Arabic Business Association
Company Project assignment, Cases, PBL discussions

Learning materials’
Williams, J. 1998. Don’t They Know It’s Friday.
Ferraro, G. 2006. The Cultural Dimension of International Business
Käri-Zein, P. 2009. Bisneskohteena Arabimaat. Multikustannus.
Course material of Arabic culture and business culture. Articles, case studies, handouts distributed during the lessons, online material.

We are focusing on GCC-countries this coming year 2019-2020 due to the Dubai Expo 2020 - we are offering to students internships to the expo. Further information paivi.kari-zein@haaga-helia.fi