|
GIFT GIVING IN SAUDI
ARABIA*- Gift Giving Etiquette
BUSINESS GIFT GIVING /
PERSONAL GIFT GIVING
-
Gifts should only
be given to the most intimate of friends. For a Saudi to receive a present
from a lesser acquaintance is so embarrassing as to be offensive. It is not
unheard-of for an employee returning from leave to get the sack for the
impertinence of bringing his boss a present from home. Even worse is
expressing admiration for something belonging to another because it makes
him feel obliged to make a gift of it.
-
If one is confident
enough and determined to give a gift, it must be the best affordable. A
carpet must, for example, be handmade even though most Saudis buy machine
made carpets for themselves. Never, however, buy gold jewellery or silk
garments for men, as both are deemed effeminate in Islam. Platinum is most
acceptable but, as it can be confused with white gold, silver is safer,
provided it is properly hallmarked by a government authority [as opposed to
merely bearing a maker's mark]. As a gesture of respect, the recipient is
likely to open and minutely examine the gift in the presence of the giver as
well as any others who happen to be present. Nothing is worse than having
him search in vain for a hallmark or, worse yet, turn a carpet over to find
a loose weave or indistinct design on the reverse.
-
Owing to the
extremely personal nature of giving gifts, traditional perfume is usually
the most appreciated. Just as in Europe a man displays his status by his
tailoring, so in Arabia he does so by his scent. The most generally
preferred male scent [perfume should be given to women only by other women
or close relatives] is oud, which is a distillation of aloes wood, but be
careful. The best quality costs well over £1,000 an ounce and the naïve
buyer can easily be deceived by synthetics which cheat him of his money and
cause him to forfeit the esteem of the one to whom the scent is given. The
same is true of incense, costing per kilogram roughly the same as an ounce
of its extract. Before giving any scent, use it first and consider giving it
only to those who express admiration for your taste.
*Parker, Nicholas Fitzraymond. Saudi
Arabia Business
Etiquette - Gift Giving. Executive Planet. 10 Aug. 2004
<http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/132425708732.html>. |
Above: The flag of Saudi Arabia
Global Gift Guide
--- Gifts we recommend ---
World Tracker Compass
click here for more...
Lapis Globe Bookends
click here for more...
World Cube Paperweight
click here for more... |
