Flight & airport info

The vast majority of Armenians speak Armenian and are, at least nominally, Christians of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Shaking hands with both sexes is normal, though men should wait for women to extend theirs first. Handshakes may be gentler, but also more lingering, than you are used to. Armenians of the same same gender may also sit or stand very close to you.  Go along with this rather than backing away.

Wait for your host to introduce you rather than introducing yourself. He is likely to use your surname and appropriate title. You should call him by the first of his three names, preceded by Baron (Mr). Women are Deegeen (Mrs) or Oryort (Miss).

Armenians are very hospitable. If invited to a private home you should always try and accept, though be sure the invitation is genuine and not just a polite gesture. A date, time, and possibly a car to pick you up are signs of a serious invitation. Once at table, be wary of offering opinions on local political problems. Listen by all means, or stick to history, cuisine, sport and weather. Religion and personal matters are also best left alone.

Business dress is conservative. Wear a dark suit and tie or equivalent. There is no special etiquette around business cards, though you should treat your counterpart's with respect. Having one side translated into Armenian will go down well and make you stand out.

You should aim to be punctual, but don't be offended if your host is late. This is a culture where people are more important than time. Meetings, likewise, may be interrupted by phone calls and other visitors. As in the rest of this region, the establishing of a personal relationship is central to doing business in Armenia.   

Expect enthusiastic bargaining during negotiation, and be prepared to grant concessions, but always conditional on an advantage for you. ‘Keeping face' is also important here, so avoid being too direct. Be aware that for this reason saying ‘no' to your face can sometimes be difficult for Armenians.

Large meals with plenty of toasts are as common as in the rest of the region. You may also be invited on a day trip to visit historical sights. Try and make time to accept as refusals may cause offence.

The working week follows the Western pattern, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.  Credit cards are accepted at top hotels and restaurants, though bringing a good supply of clean dollar notes is wise. Be aware of the political situation: Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are both closed.

There are national holidays on 1 and 2 January (New Year), 6 January (Armenian Orthodox Christmas), 8 March (Women's Day), 24 April (Genocide Memorial Day), 9 May (Victory and Peace Day), 28 May (First Republic Day), 5 July (Constitution Day), 21 September (Independence Day), 7 December (Earthquake Memorial Day), 31 December (New Year's Eve)

Country telephone code: + 374. When dialling out, dial 8, then wait for the tone.