Preparing Expatriates to Work in Saudi Arabia: A Framework for Learning in High-Context Cultures

Abstract

In partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmCham), the goal of this project is to diagnose the drivers of expatriate cultural adaptation in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on the contextual factors influencing onboarding success. The project focused on the three stages of expatriate onboarding that occur prior to arriving in Saudi Arabia: 1) expatriate job design; 2) recruiting and selection; and 3) pre-departure training. The data collection included an AmCham member survey, alongside ten stakeholders interviews of senior leaders with expertise in hiring expatriates. The team utilized a conceptual framework that emphasized uncertainty reduction theory, high-context versus low-context cultures, and emotional intelligence. Overall, the project found that cultural awareness is a key driver of expatriate adaptation. During the pre-departure phase of onboarding, companies should emphasize activities that prepare expatriates for the high-context scenarios that occur within The Kingdom. Five recommendations were identified, which addressed the job design, recruiting, and training phases of the onboarding process.