Any time that you are doing business in another place you will find differences between your home and the place you are doing business.

When you then try to do the same thing in another country it becomes more complicated. Cultural differences are one of the most obvious differences. Before you are going to travel to a foreign country, try to learn a little bit about the country’s history, culture, and religion. Wikipedia can be a good starting point. The idea is not to become an expert in the other country, but to familiarize yourself with the basic do’s and don’ts.

Here are a few tips- I will use my experience of Arab Muslim countries since that is what I am most familiar with.

• The first thing you will notice is that in a Muslim country it is common for things to take more time then a westerner will be used to. This is because people genuinely want to develop a personal relationship. The relationships you make then tend to last for a long time. Do ask about someone’s family once you get to know them a little.

• In many Muslim countries there is a call to prayer five times a day, and as religion is a very important part of life, it is not uncommon for people to pray five times a day. So don’t be surprised if your meeting is interrupted for a few minutes while this is done.

• In these countries, Friday/Saturday, Thursday/Friday, or sometimes just Friday are the days off. People tend to work in the morning- take a long break in the middle of the day (when it is very hot), come back after supper and work late into the evening. I have had meetings start at 8 p.m. and last until midnight.

• During the month of Ramadan there is no drinking or eating from Sunup until Sundown- so things tend to go more slowly during this time of year. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

• Alcohol is also forbidden by the religion, however, depending on the country, alcohol may be available for foreigners. My recommendation- don’t drink alcohol even if it is available. If you are dining with a strict Muslim this will be considered offensive.