Ramadan/Eid & business productivity in Saudi Arabia

I cannot speak for other professions but if your role is sales oriented then be prepared to have an extensive 5 week break over the Ramadan 4 week religious period and then the 1 week Eid break.

In years prior to 2010 you could also add nearly 4 weeks of summer vacation to this "break" from business.

This year, maybe because business is harder to come by for businesses as a result of the global crisis, less people are taking summer vacations and the ones that are taking them are taking shorter breaks. It could also be that the proximity of Ramadan to summer this year has people taking a break that straddles both events.

The point I am trying to make is that when doing extensive "sales" type business in Saudi plan for approximately 7-8 months of productive activity, 2 months of activity which may or may not be of any use to you, and 2 months  (2 weeks of summer, plus Ramadan and Eid) when little will be achieved.

Those of us living here have an advantage because we can pick and choose who we see and when we see them and we  can do so because as a "local" we have our feet on the ground and are better qualified through experience and contacts to read a sales situation. For example, a person we want to sell to may be more open to talking to us during the Ramadan break (usually after break of the day's fasting) when he has less on his plate and is more open to listening and talking and enjoying some company over a coffee or meal.

In summary then, if you are based outside, buy a year planner and mark off all the religious holidays as well as the summer break. Typically it is not worth while travelling here to do business.

For us locals, do the same but try to take advantage of any opportunity that arises to meet people in the evening over a meal when they may be open to talking.