Look, I’ve been working with businesses for years now, and one thing I keep seeing over and over again… companies losing deals because they just don’t *get* the culture they’re trying to work with.
It’s painful to watch. Really.
## What Exactly Are Cultural Advisory Services?
Okay so here’s the deal. Cultural advisory services are basically your **business translator** — and I’m not talking about language here (though that’s part of it).
Think about it this way:
You wouldn’t show up to a black-tie event in board shorts, right? Well, showing up to a Middle Eastern business meeting without understanding their customs is basically the same thing. Except worse. Because you might actually offend someone.
Cultural advisors are the people who make sure you don’t accidentally:
– Schedule meetings during prayer times
– Use your left hand for handshakes (big no-no in many Arab cultures)
– Mess up gift-giving protocols
– Say something that sounds fine to you but is deeply offensive to them
## Why Brisbane Businesses Actually Need This
Here’s what’s happening right now in Brisbane…
We’ve got more and more connections with the Middle East. Qatar Airways didn’t pick Brisbane as a major hub for nothing. Arab students are flooding into our universities. Business delegations from the UAE and Saudi Arabia are becoming regular visitors.
But most local businesses? They’re winging it. And it shows.
I talked to a construction company owner last month who lost a $2 million contract because he kept pushing for meetings during Ramadan fasting hours. He had no idea why his contacts seemed “difficult.”
That’s a **$2 million** lesson he didn’t need to learn the hard way.
## What Cultural Advisors Actually Do
So what do these consultants actually do for you? Let me break it down:
**Pre-Meeting Prep**
They’ll brief you on everything. Who sits where. When to make eye contact. How to exchange business cards (yes, there’s a right way). What topics to avoid.
**Real-Time Support**
Some advisors will actually come to meetings with you. They catch those subtle cultural cues you’d miss. That slight pause that means “no” even though they’re saying “we’ll consider it.”
**Document Review**
Your contracts, marketing materials, even your emails… they review everything to make sure nothing’s getting lost in translation. Both literally and culturally.
**Training Your Team**
Because it’s not just about you. Your whole team needs to understand these nuances if you’re serious about Middle Eastern markets.
## The Money Part (Because Let’s Be Real)
Yeah, cultural advisory services cost money. But here’s the thing…
One blown deal costs way more than a year of advisory services. I’ve seen companies spend $50K on a trade mission to Dubai and come back with nothing because they didn’t invest $5K in cultural prep.
That’s just bad math.
## How to Know If You Need This
Ask yourself:
– Are you trying to work with Middle Eastern clients or partners?
– Do you have Arab students or visitors coming to your business?
– Are you planning any kind of expansion into MENA markets?
If you said yes to any of those… you need cultural advisory services. Period.
Don’t be that person who thinks “common sense” is enough. Common sense is cultural. What’s common sense to you might be completely backwards to someone from Riyadh.
## Finding the Right Cultural Advisor
Not all advisors are created equal. You want someone who:
**Actually lived in the region** (not just visited once)
**Speaks the language** (Arabic has so many dialects, make sure they know the right one)
**Understands business** (academic knowledge isn’t enough)
**Has real connections** (they should know people, not just customs)
And honestly? Local is better. Someone who understands both Brisbane business culture AND Middle Eastern culture. That’s your sweet spot.
## The Bottom Line
Cultural advisory services aren’t some fancy extra for big corporations. If you’re serious about working with Middle Eastern markets or clients, they’re as essential as having a good accountant.
You wouldn’t try to navigate Australian tax law without help. Why would you try to navigate Middle Eastern business culture alone?
The world’s getting smaller. Brisbane’s becoming more international every day. You can either get ahead of this curve or get left behind.
Your choice.
*- Bryce*