I had to go to Saudi Airlines cargo at Riyadh airport this morning to pick up boxes of stuff my wife had sent from the Philippines before moving here and the experience reminded me of the skills one needs to employ to get things done in Saudi Arabia.
First of all, Saudi is very, very, very beurocratic. There is lots and lots of paperwork to be filled out, signed, passed from one person to another, authenticated, checked, generally moved about. And lots and lots of people are often involved in the simplest of tasks.
So patience is most definitely a virtue.
My advice: be patient, look lost, say thank you to everyone, seek help, ask for advice, look helpless, say thank you to everyone. Knowing some basic Arabic goes a VERY long way.
Saudis are incredibly hospitable, friendly and helpful. Things can and will get done, perhaps longer than you would initially like, as long as you do not get upset but accept that you are a visitor and with the right attitude will be seen as one and helped accordingly.
Be patient. Be friendly, Ask for help. Say thank you. And things do get done.
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