Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Saudi Arabia means entering a world that is both rapidly transforming and deeply rooted in Islamic tradition. The country is opening up, modernizing its economy, relaxing certain customs… while remaining one of the most specific social, religious, and professional environments in the world. Understanding these codes before you leave is not a luxury: it’s an essential condition for avoiding faux pas, working effectively, and integrating smoothly.
This guide details the main cultural aspects to anticipate: the importance of religion, family and connections (wasta), communication and dress codes, the role of women, the impact of Ramadan, as well as work and daily life dynamics for expatriates.
A Country in Rapid Change, with a Deeply Rooted Identity
Saudi Arabia is at a pivotal moment. Vision 2030, a vast transformation plan, seeks to diversify an economy long dependent on oil—which still accounts for nearly 90% of state revenue—towards telecoms, petrochemicals, energy, health, and tourism. The Future Investment Initiative, nicknamed “Davos in the Desert,” symbolizes this ambition to establish itself as a global economic hub.
Saudi Arabia is implementing major social reforms, including relaxing social rules and the power of the religious police, developing leisure activities, and opening up to tourism through visas and cultural events. A significant turning point concerns women’s rights, with the granting of the right to drive, the ability to obtain a passport, and a relaxation of the legal dress code.
At the same time, society remains deeply structured by Islam, authority, family, and tribes, with a very pronounced culture of consensus and hierarchy. Expatriates—who represent about half of the workforce, nearly 13 million people—are shaking up and enriching this landscape, without erasing its core foundations.
For a future expatriate, this means navigating a hybrid environment: embraced modernity, but real conservatism in values and daily behaviors.
Religion, Calendar, and the Rhythm of Daily Life
Islam is the state religion and permeates all aspects of public and private life. Two structuring elements must be understood from the start: the centrality of prayer and the importance of the Islamic calendar.
The day is punctuated by five calls to prayer. Businesses, especially outside major tourist areas, may interrupt their activities at these times. Friday, the day of congregational prayer (Jumu’ah), is sacred: it’s the cornerstone of the local weekend.
The country follows the Hijri (lunar) calendar for its major religious holidays, which move forward 10 to 12 days each year relative to the Gregorian calendar. The two major celebrations are Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, related to the Hajj pilgrimage and ritual sacrifice. These events significantly influence daily life, affecting work rhythms, travel, the atmosphere in the streets, and family gatherings.
Ramadan: A Month That Changes Everything for Expatriates
For Muslims, Ramadan is a month of fasting and spirituality. Between dawn and sunset, healthy adults abstain from eating, drinking (including water), and smoking. They also avoid arguments, gossip, lies, or behavior considered sinful, and intensify prayers, Quran reading, and acts of charity.
For expatriates, Ramadan in a Muslim country involves concrete adjustments. The law provides for reduced working hours for Muslim employees (6 hours per day, maximum 36 hours per week). Consequently, many companies adapt their schedules for all staff, with later openings, extended breaks, and a peak of activity shifted to the evening. Nightlife becomes particularly lively, marked by family gatherings, night markets, and restaurants open until late hours.
Even if you are not Muslim, eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours in Ramadan is seen as disrespectful, and can even lead to penalties. Many restaurants close their dining rooms during the day or only serve takeaway, sometimes behind curtains to avoid offending those fasting. Closed-off spaces may be set up in companies so non-fasters can eat discreetly.
Greeting formulas also change: you say “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Ramadan Kareem”, then “Eid Mubarak” or “Eid Sa‘id” for the holidays.
This month, both demanding and festive, strongly structures social and professional life. Adapting to it—by respecting decorum rules, managing your own work and sleep rhythm—is an integral part of the Saudi experience.
A Hierarchical, Family-Oriented, and Patriarchal Society
Saudi society is largely patriarchal and hierarchical. Respect for elders, authority figures, and heads of family is central. Decisions, including in business, typically go up to the top; power is concentrated in the hands of a few decision-makers, often senior men.
Family, tribe, and clan remain the main frames of reference. They structure support networks, economic assistance, and professional alliances. This centrality of family fosters a culture of loyalty and in-group solidarity, but also some wariness towards “outsiders”—whether foreigners or Saudis not from the same network.
For an expatriate, this sometimes translates into an implicit separation between “us” and “them” within companies: differentiated employment conditions based on nationality or origin, salaries indexed more on passport than skills, and a tendency to reserve certain strategic positions for nationals.
Expatriate
At the same time, a policy of “Saudization” aims to promote local employment by reserving quotas of jobs for Saudis and encouraging their promotion. This can create tensions with expatriates, who may feel vulnerable or replaceable, especially in heavily regulated sectors.
Understanding this group logic—where you protect your own first—is crucial to avoid interpreting things through a strictly Western lens when they stem from a different value system.
Understanding Wasta: Connections Before Rules
A key concept for decoding professional and administrative life is wasta. The term refers to influence, connections, intermediation: having wasta means being able to rely on a network of relatives, allies, or notables to get a service, speed up a procedure, land a job or a contract.
Historically, this practice has its roots in tribal organization. Helping a relative or ally is not seen as favoritism, but as a duty of honor. Not using one’s *wasta* for a close person can be perceived as a moral failing.
Concretely, this means that an administrative process that could take weeks can be settled in half an hour if the “right person” intervenes. Conversely, sticking only to formal channels, without networks, exposes one to delays and inconsistencies frustrating for an expatriate used to impersonal procedures.
The practice of ‘wasta’ (influence connections) can lead to recruitments or advantages based on connections rather than merit, fostering nepotism and corruption. In response, Saudi Arabia has strengthened its controls with the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) and the launch of large-scale asset recovery campaigns.
For foreign companies, there’s a delicate balance to find: understanding that relationships and recommendations are unavoidable, without crossing the red lines of international anti-corruption law. Relying on reliable local partners, formalizing selection processes, and documenting decisions allows one to work with wasta without suffering its toxic effects.
Work, Hours, and Professional Rhythm: A Different Tempo
The world of work in Saudi Arabia follows its own logic, both in weekly organization and in the way of conducting business.
The weekend runs from Friday to Saturday, with Sunday being the first working day. Legislation sets the legal maximum at 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week. In practice, many offices operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., sometimes 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a long midday break (often from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.). It’s not uncommon for the day to extend into the evening to make up for these break hours.
This is the legal weekly limit of working hours that expatriates in Saudi Arabia can approach, notably in hospitality or domestic services.
The table below gives an idea of the average weekly hours worked across a few categories:
| Category of Employees | Average Hours Per Week (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Saudi Employees | 41 |
| Non-Saudi Employees | 47 |
| Non-Saudi Women | 48 (close to legal max) |
| Saudi Women | 39 |
| Education Sector | 37 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 49 |
To this intensity is added a different concept of time: decision-making is often slower, schedules change with the unexpected, meetings often start late and are interspersed with visits or phone calls. Informal times—coffee, tea, social discussions—are an integral part of the process and not “wastes of time.”
For an expatriate used to efficiency measured to the minute, the adjustment can be tough. Yet, without this patience and relational availability, many projects don’t move forward. Learning to integrate this specific temporality—while continuing to respect one’s own constraints—is one of the major challenges of professional integration.
Communication, Face, and Relational Codes
The culture of communication in Saudi Arabia is strongly oriented toward harmony, preserving dignity (saving face), and avoiding direct confrontation. Saying “no” bluntly is rare; phrases like “In sha’ Allah,” “we’ll see,” “no problem” are preferred, which, depending on tone and context, can mean exactly the opposite.
In some cultures, what is left unsaid, metaphors, and body language (like a forced smile, prolonged silence, or repeated digression) can signal an implicit refusal. It is crucial for an expatriate to learn to decode these subtle signals to avoid misunderstandings.
Greetings are very codified. One opens the conversation with “As-Salamu Alaykum” (and the reply is “Wa ‘alaikum assalaam”), often followed by an exchange about health, family, travels. Jumping straight into the specifics of a contract or operational problem is frowned upon. Taking time for this “relational setup” is essential for building trust.
Handshakes between men are frequent, sometimes prolonged, and can be accompanied by the left hand placed on the right forearm to mark warmth of contact. Among close men, cheek kisses are also possible. With women, the rule is not to take the initiative: it’s up to her to offer a handshake if she wishes. If not, a slight nod or the gesture of placing a hand over the heart are appropriate alternatives.
To this non-verbal dimension is added the question of taboo subjects. Politics, religion, the royal family, personal finances are to be avoided, especially in a professional setting or with unfamiliar interlocutors. On the other hand, family (in general terms), health, sports, or culture are safe grounds for breaking the ice.
English is widely used in business, but learning a few Arabic phrases—at least basic greetings, “thank you” (shukran), “please” (min fadlik)—sends a highly appreciated signal of respect.
Hierarchy, Titles, and Managing Criticism
The relationship with authority is another major point of divergence with more egalitarian cultures. Saudi organizations readily adopt pyramidal structures, with a strong dependence on decisions from the top. Middle managers may be reluctant to decide without explicit approval from higher-ups, lengthening validation circuits.
In this context, the way of addressing interlocutors takes on particular importance. Professional titles (Doctor, Engineer) or honorifics (Sayyid, Sayyida, Sheikh, Sheikha) are regularly used. It is well-regarded to inquire about them beforehand and use them consistently.
Criticism should be rare, measured, and especially expressed in private. Publicly contradicting a colleague or pointing out a mistake ostentatiously is a serious offense, as it touches on their honor. Conversely, consistency and reliability in one’s discourse strengthen trust.
This way of operating can surprise expatriates who value the direct confrontation of ideas as a driver of efficiency. Here, preserving the relationship often takes precedence over immediate performance. One must learn to give feedback in a nuanced, constructive way, and carefully choose the place, moment, and phrasing.
Negotiations and Meetings: Patience as Strategy
Business meetings in Saudi Arabia rarely have the linear, structured character familiar to many Westerners. It’s common to set an appointment weeks in advance, but to see the exact time fluctuate at the last minute. The expatriate is expected to be punctual, but should not take offense if made to wait or if the discussion starts later than planned.
A meeting follows a precise ritual: it begins with a warm welcome, tasting of spiced Arabic coffee (qahwa) and dates, and exchanging courtesies. The main topic is only broached after establishing this relational link. The agenda is flexible, and digressions are an integral part of the conversation.
Negotiations are rarely swift. Initial offers can be very high or very low, as a tactical starting point. Several rounds of discussion, sometimes spaced by long periods of reflection, are necessary. Abruptly breaking off a negotiation or raising your voice to “force” a decision is a very bad move.
During an exchange, expect frequent interruptions (phone calls, visitors, prayer breaks). The intercultural skill consists of remaining unflappable, knowing how to pick up the thread of the conversation, and calmly repeating your arguments without showing irritation.
Business Cards, a Detail That Matters
In this context where status, title, and network count, the business card retains strong symbolic weight. It must be impeccably presented, preferably bilingual with one side in Arabic. It is offered with the right hand, ensuring the Arabic side is visible to the recipient. The latter will usually take time to look at it and place it on the table, rather than putting it away immediately.
Neglecting this ritual—sloppy card, offered carelessly with the left hand, without Arabic translation—can be interpreted as a lack of professionalism or respect.
Role of Women: Advances, Limits, and On-the-Ground Realities
The place of women in Saudi society is evolving rapidly, driven by Vision 2030. The stated goal is to increase their participation in the labor market to 30%. Already, nearly a quarter of the Saudi workforce is female, and about 40% of the country’s entrepreneurs are women, with a spectacular growth in this proportion over the last decade.
A progression marked by strong symbols across various sectors of the Saudi economy and society.
Appointment of a woman as President of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), a historic symbol in the financial world.
Active development and support of programs dedicated to female entrepreneurship to stimulate innovation and business creation.
Remarkable growth of fashion or service brands founded and led by Saudi female entrepreneurs.
Development of tourist and cultural circuits exclusively reserved for women, meeting a specific demand.
However, equality is not yet achieved. Pay gaps remain considerable, with women’s salaries on average 56% lower than men’s. The world of work remains largely male, especially in leadership positions and certain sectors. Women, including expatriates, often have to redouble their determination to be taken seriously, speak up in meetings, or negotiate fair employment conditions.
While wearing the abaya and hijab is no longer a strict legal requirement for foreign women, an expectation of modest dress persists. In more conservative regions, women are particularly observed, and mixed-gender environments remain limited in some public spaces.
For expatriate women, these realities require some strategies: researching the company culture in detail before accepting an offer, identifying female support networks (local or international), understanding communication codes to assert oneself without being perceived as aggressive, and anticipating the impact of these constraints on couple or family life.
Dress Code, Public Decency, and Permitted Behaviors
Beyond professional rules, daily life is framed by a set of public decency norms. Since the introduction of the “public decency” regulation in 2019, fines of up to 3,000 SAR can penalize behavior deemed indecent (clothing that is too short, insults, provocative gestures, overly loud music in residential areas, etc.). Ordinary police, no longer the “religious police,” are now in charge of this control.
Dress Code: Between Law and Social Expectations
Legally, there is no longer a text imposing on all women to wear a black abaya and a veil at all times. Reforms have lifted these strict obligations, at least for foreigners. Nevertheless, society remains conservative and the implicit norm is still one of marked modesty.
For women, clothing should be loose, opaque, and cover at minimum the shoulders, elbows, and knees. Deep necklines, transparent fabrics, and tight-fitting outfits are discouraged. It’s common to wear an abaya, often colorful and stylish, for comfort and to avoid misunderstandings. It’s also recommended to carry a scarf for visiting mosques.
For men, shoulders and knees must also be covered in public places. Very short shorts, tank tops, and overly tight clothing are not well-received outside private spaces (gyms, hotel pools). Wearing the traditional thobe is not required of foreigners, but it is omnipresent among nationals.
Children benefit from greater tolerance, but for teenage girls nearing puberty, families tend to gradually adopt a style more in line with local norms.
The following table summarizes the main guidelines of the common dress code:
| Profile | Main Expectations in Public |
|---|---|
| Expatriate Woman | Loose, opaque clothing, shoulders/knees covered, abaya frequent; scarf useful for mosques |
| Expatriate Man | Long pants or Bermuda shorts, shoulders covered, non-tight clothing |
| Child | Freer attire, but increasing modesty in adolescence |
Public Behavior: Modesty and Respect
Restraint also applies to gestures and interactions. Displays of affection between people of the opposite sex (kissing, hugging, overly tender gestures) are very poorly viewed in public spaces. Even a simple gesture like holding a spouse’s hand should remain discreet depending on the location.
Between people of the same sex, physical proximity is tolerated within codes of modesty, while arguments and insults in public are prohibited and punishable. The consumption of alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited everywhere, under penalty of heavy sanctions.
Photography is also regulated: it is illegal to take pictures of people without their consent, particularly women, or of sensitive buildings (military installations, palaces, certain government sites). Here again, caution is advised: better to ask for permission or refrain from capturing a scene.
The Table, a Key Space for Sociability
In a country where hospitality is a cardinal value, sharing a meal—at work or in private life—is a key moment. Invitations to lunch or dinner often seal relationships more than the formal signing of a contract.
During a traditional meal, it’s important to accept at least a little of what is offered, as a systematic refusal can be perceived as a rejection of hospitality. It’s preferable to eat with the right hand, even with utensils, as the left hand is traditionally reserved for intimate hygiene. When sharing a communal dish, one should only serve from the part closest to them, without digging through the entire dish.
You’ll note that people willingly talk about family, personal background, interests, but less willingly about business during the early part of the meal. It’s only once conviviality is established that more serious topics can be broached, and even then, not systematically: some meals remain purely social, even with colleagues.
As alcohol is prohibited, drinks revolve around water, juices, tea, and especially Arabic coffee with dates—a symbol of warm welcome. At the end, leaving a small amount of food on your plate can signal you are satisfied, whereas finishing every last crumb may be interpreted as a sign the host did not serve enough.
Expatriate Life: Between Opportunities and Tensions
Saudi Arabia has attracted expatriates from around the world for decades, drawn by the promise of often attractive salaries and, historically, the absence of personal income tax. The most in-demand sectors range from engineering to oil, through finance, health, education, and increasingly, tourism and high-end hospitality.
The country does not have classic trade unions and some foreign workers, notably in manual trades, are exposed to abuses (passport confiscation, excessive hours, delayed wages). Recent reforms (labor courts, possibility to change employer) attempt to correct these issues, but reality varies greatly depending on the sector and employer.
For qualified managers and specialists, material conditions can be very comfortable: housing in secure compounds, international schools, access to quality healthcare, abundance of domestic services. But this expatriate bubble can also be isolating, especially for spouses and children, who often find themselves having to adapt their social life and identity to a very different environment.
Expatriate Families: Adjustments, Risks, and Resources
Expatriation to Saudi Arabia doesn’t just concern individuals; it very often involves entire families. Studies on the adjustment of expatriate families show that the failure of an assignment is frequently linked to the spouse’s or children’s difficulties in adapting, more than the transferred person’s professional performance.
Spouses—still mostly women—often have to give up their job, at least temporarily, due to administrative, linguistic, or cultural barriers. This loss of professional identity, combined with financial dependence and distance from usual support networks, can generate isolation, frustration, even marital tensions.
Expatriate children and teenagers face specific challenges such as learning a new language, adapting to different social codes, and a schooling sometimes disconnected from local culture, which can lead to a sense of non-belonging. However, they often develop remarkable intercultural skills.
Research on “Third Culture Kids”—those children raised outside their parents’ culture—shows that they build their identity around their multiple experiences and expatriate peers, more than a single national anchor. In Saudi Arabia, this phenomenon is particularly visible in compounds, these gated residences where families of multiple nationalities live together.
To turn expatriation into an enriching adventure, several actions are essential: maintain open communication within the couple, prepare realistically (via an exploratory visit, intercultural training, and learning basic Arabic), involve the children in the project, keep ties with family back home, and actively build a new network on site (through schools, associations, and expatriate groups like those on WhatsApp).
Many studies also emphasize the importance of family cohesion: when all members feel heard, participate in decisions, and share a common sense of adventure, the chances of success increase significantly.
Building Your Network: Between Business, Social, and Digital
In a country where wasta and personal connections dominate, networking is a central resource. Whether in business circles, in community life, or within large expatriate communities, professional opportunities, recommendations, but also friendships and support come primarily through relationships.
For managers, professional events, bilateral chambers of commerce, and business associations (American, British, German-Saudi, etc.) are privileged entry points. Platforms like LinkedIn play a role but are often perceived as impersonal: maintaining relationships is done primarily face-to-face, over coffee or a meal.
In daily life, WhatsApp groups have become an essential tool for expatriates: exchanging practical information, recommendations for doctors, restaurants, schools, classifieds, support for newcomers. It’s in these semi-private spaces that the most concrete ties are formed, often more than on public social media.
Between Tradition and Openness: Accepting Ambivalence
Saudi Arabia is neither a frozen block, nor a copy under construction of Western models. It’s a country in recomposition, trying to reconcile its religious and tribal heritage with the demands of a global economy, the rise of tourism, the arrival of millions of foreigners, and the aspirations of an increasingly connected youth.
For the expatriate, this translates into an experience that can be disorienting: coexistence of ultra-modern shopping malls and extremely conservative neighborhoods, growing gender mixing in some sectors and persistent gender separation in others, official advice promoting tolerance while social practices remain highly regulated.
Successful preparation involves modifying some cultural reflexes while retaining one’s personal values. It is advisable to favor observation and questioning over judgment, to analyze local behaviors before acting, and to create margins for maneuver, notably in contract negotiation, family organization, and the choice of employer and housing.
By understanding the centrality of Islam, the weight of family, the logic of wasta, the implicit rules of communication, the particular place of women, the specificity of the calendar and dress code, you will transform a potentially disorienting environment into a learning ground. Saudi Arabia truly only reveals itself to those who accept to grasp its complexity: demanding, sometimes unsettling, but also rich in hospitality, opportunities, and profound discoveries.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
