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Verbal

Saudi Arabians typically use an indirect communication style, focusing on group harmony and often avoiding direct confrontation. Non-verbal cues, such as personal space and gestures, play a significant role in communication, with specific behaviors deemed polite or impolite. Understanding these cultural nuances is essential for effective interaction in both social and business contexts.

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16 views2 pages

Verbal

Saudi Arabians typically use an indirect communication style, focusing on group harmony and often avoiding direct confrontation. Non-verbal cues, such as personal space and gestures, play a significant role in communication, with specific behaviors deemed polite or impolite. Understanding these cultural nuances is essential for effective interaction in both social and business contexts.

Uploaded by

harantyakelsey13
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Verbal

Indirect Communication
Saudi Arabians generally have an indirect communication style. It is common for people to
understate their opinions to save face and remain polite.
Conversation Style
When conversing with one another, Saudis generally strive to maintain group harmony by
avoiding individual attention or singling out a specific person. It is common for Saudis to range
from subject to subject while conversing, taking a long time before getting to the point.
Hierarchy
People’s communication patterns can differ depending on the context. Generally, when speaking
in a business setting or with someone who is more familiar to the person, it is common to speak
in a more direct manner.

Non-Verbal
Physical Contact: People are usually comfortable hugging and touching friends of the same
gender.
Personal Space: Saudi standards of personal space differ depending on the context. If the person
is a friend of the same gender, the distance is often smaller than what Westerners are used to in
public.
Eye Contact: When talking to people of the same age, gender or status, direct eye contact is
expected.

Beckoning: It is impolite to beckon with a single index finger or the left hand. Instead, place the
right palm downwards and use a clawing motion with fingers to indicate a “come here” request.

Pointing: It is considered very rude to point with the index finger. Instead, Saudis raise their chin
and look in the general direction of the object they wish to “point out.”

Feet: It is considered insulting to show or expose the soles of your feet to other people.

Gestures
Disagreement: People may indicate “no” by shaking their head or disagreement/disapproval by
quickly tilting their head back whilst clicking their tongue.

Patience: If a Saudi person needs someone to wait, they may touch their thumb, forefinger, and
middle finger together and motion to the person they wish to ask to be patient.
Sincerity: Placing the palm of the right hand on one’s chest shows respect or sincerity when
saying something earnest

Agreement: To touch the other’s shoulder with one’s right hand can indicate agreement.

Obscenity: Hitting one’s right fist into the left hand and lightly rubbing it in the open palm
indicates obscenity or contempt.

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