Cultural guide to doing business in Khartoum, Sudan
The government of Sudan is Islamic and Islamic law (shari'a) governs the country (despite opposition in the Christian and animist south). Arabic is the official language but there are hundreds of local languages and dialects, the most prominent being Bari in the South.
In the north and in Khartoum, typical Muslim behaviour is the norm and should always be respected. Men shake hands with men but if greeting a woman a man should always wait for her to extend her hand. Modest dress is essential for both sexes. Alcohol and pork are forbidden. Public demonstrations of affection between the sexes are frowned upon, even among visitors.
In Sudan, people of the same sex stand closer to each other than you may be used to, especially when in conversation. Try not to back away as this may be seen as rude. Eye contact is important. Don't be confused by Sudanese head nodding. A single nod down indicates ‘yes'. A nod up means ‘no'. Do not cross your legs so that the sole of your foot is pointing directly at anyone as this may be seen as offensive. Pointing directly with the index finger is also rude.
If invited to someone's home, wear clean socks as you will be expected to remove your shoes at the door. Treating guests hospitably is a point of personal honour, so expect warmth and generosity. Food is often eaten with the hands, remember always to use your right hand, for eating and passing dishes as the left is considered unclean.
Businessmen should wear a lightweight suit. Businesswomen should dress appropriately, avoiding low necklines, bare shoulders and skirts above the knee. Because of the heat, a shirt with or without a tie is usually acceptable for men in business meetings.
You should ideally arrange meetings well in advance and confirm before you arrive and again the day before. You should aim to be punctual but don't be offended if your counterpart is not. Most meetings take place in the morning.
Business cards are useful. A translation into Arabic on the reverse will be appreciated and make you stand out. Shake hands with everyone present, even if someone arrives in the middle of a meeting. Building a relationship is essential to doing business here so allow plenty of time for small talk at the start of a meeting and never try to hurry things along. Expect interruptions in meetings. This is normal behaviour and no indication of how seriously your business is being taken.
The working week is 8am to 2.30pm Saturday to Thursday, though some businesses continue to 3.30 pm. Islamic religious festivals are observed as public holidays, especially in the north, where they may last for several days. Christmas is a holiday on 25 December and Coptic Christmas on 7 January. Coptic Easter is also a holiday. Other public holidays are on 1 January (Independence Day), 3 March (Unity Day), 1 May (Labour Day) and 30 June (Revolution Day).
Credit cards are rarely accepted so take clean dollar bills in large denominations.
International dialling code: +249