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- The Name You Use Decides the Room
The Name You Use Decides the Room
He said “Ahmed” too quickly. Everyone else said “Eng. Ahmed.”
The Story
In Jeddah, a visiting VP greeted a plant director with a casual first name. The local team used his earned honorific - “Engineer Ahmed.”
The VP noticed the coolness in the room until he corrected himself. The tone thawed instantly; the tour became a collaboration, not an inspection.
Cultural Principle
Titles signal respect for effort, scholarship, and status. In the GCC, how you address someone shows how seriously you take their contribution and history.
Takeaway
Default to titles (Sheikh/Sheikha, Eng., Dr., Mr./Mrs. + family name) until invited otherwise. Mirror the room, then gently match their preference.
Warmly,
Taqua