Cross Cultural Interaction
The Egyptian negotiator
Zhang Yiying
Benetto Anna
Introduction
The Egypt is the Arab world’s most populous nation
The official language is Arab
The religion is truly a way of life for them.
Two main religion:
90% are Sunni
Muslim
10% are Coptic
Christian
Religious beliefs in this society have a powerful influence on the
people’s thought and actions.
Egyptians are very proud of their history and culture
They are polychronic and expressive people
Verbal communication
They has a tendency to start to talk before another speaker has finished
Emotional
Expressiveness
Indirectness
Verbal Taboos
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Speak and write in a repetitious manner
Frequent use of exaggeration
Are proud of their verbal proficiency
Similar expressiveness of South European
country
• Avoid said no in blunt manner
• Similar indirectness of East and Southeast
Asian country
• Avoid profanity jokes and references to sex,
religion, politic events
• Not mention death, illness and natural
calamities
Non verbal communication
Body language
• Very expressive
• Small space bubble – half an arm’s length
• Opposite sex stand further apart
Touch Behavior
• Very common with friends
• The greeting with foreign or in public occasion is
the handshake
Eye contact
• During a business conversation they expected
you to look them in the eye
• Avoid direct eye contact between the opposite
sex
Non verbal communication
Gestures and
Taboo
Hierarchies and
respect
• The tips of the fingers touching the thumb
means be patience
• The left hand is considered unclean
• It is important to address counterparts
with their professional and academic
titles
Meetings
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Time
Scheduling
Polychronic
Often late
Avoid displaying impatience
They find impolite to end a
meeting abruptly
• People are more important
than schedules
• No private meeting in this
market
• It is rude to turn away drop-in
visitors or to refuse to take a
call
Business protocol
Business protocol
Dress code
Small talk
Names & title
Meeting &
greeting
• Men: shirt&pants, suit&tie&jacket
• Women: western suit or dress, scarf
• Taboo: wear short clothes, no halter tops,
sleeveless, blouses, short skirts
• Time: sip coffee or tea
• Topic: history, travel ,food, monuments
• Taboo: Middle Eastern politics, asking about male
counterpart’s wife or daughters
• Add appropriate honorific or title
• With western first names  Christians
• Islamic name  Muslims
• Shaking hands: men with men & women, Women
with women
• Gentle, no bone-crushing, grip
Business protocol
Entertaining
Gift giving
Negotiating
style
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Eat as much as you can
Rule of three
Avoid alcohol & pork product
Avoid overdoing compliments
• Avoid alcohol
• Good gift: ‘coffee table’ books, illustrated
calendars, cake, chocolate, flowers
• Use both hands or right hand
• Enthusiastic bargainers
• Slow decision
References
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Gesteland, Cross - Cultural Business Behavior
Lewis, When Cultures Collide
Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org
Egypt Minister Trade and Foreign Affairs :http://www.mfti.gov.eg