Why Cultural Awareness Training Is Vital to the Saudi Arabia Relocation Process

There are certain universal truths that apply to all companies, no matter what their size, their remit or their location. One of the most evident is that people are the true drivers of business success. The right talent can transform your organisation’s trajectory, so you need to make sure you can access, attract and retain the best, wherever they may be.

For businesses in Saudi Arabia, competition is only getting stronger, so having a top team is the only way to stand out. Growing that team often includes welcoming international talent and relocating those assignees and their families.

So, how can you ensure that your sizable investment will generate returns? You need to make sure those assignees can quickly become part of the team and that they will want to remain with you for as long as possible. Achieving this is all about onboarding and cultural awareness training.

Seamless Onboarding

Successful onboarding is a crucial part of the relocation process. When new team members are able to onboard seamlessly, they are more comfortable and productive. In fact, “effective onboarding can lead to new hire retention by over 80% and increased productivity by more than 70%.”

On the surface, many people look at onboarding as purely related to job responsibilities, but when it comes to starting a new role in a new location, it goes much further. The typical onboarding process includes relevant admin, workplace orientation and goal setting.

When onboarding during relocation, you also need to include elements that will ensure the new starter is settled at both work and home, and that any family members they bring feel the same. In these situations, the quicker the assignee and their family become positively acclimatised to their new location, the more successfully they will perform and the longer lasting the placement will be.

If a company has invested in hiring the right talent, their strongest return on that investment will only occur if the assignee chooses to stay for a long period of time, which will only happen if they feel happy, supported and confident in a bright future.

In terms of Saudi Arabia relocation, which is such a unique location with a highly diverse incoming resident population, one of the most essential parts to ensuring success is cultural awareness training.

Cultural Awareness Training

Over 40% of Saudi Arabia’s population are residents from around the world. With that number only set to grow rapidly and diversify in location provenance, more and more people are opting to build a life in a country that could be vastly different from the one in which they grew up.

Obtaining the appropriate level of knowledge and understanding about their new home is not only essential for remaining respectful of customs and laws but also vital to creating the optimal environment in which to settle happily. It is also incredibly beneficial in the pre-relocation stages, so that assignees and their families know what to expect from the moment they arrive.

Depending on where the assignee is coming from, the customs, traditions, practices and even laws of Saudi Arabia could be very different from what they have experienced. In Saudi, for instance, a major difference is the days of the week, as their weekend is Friday and Saturday, and the first day of the new week is Sunday. It is also customary for people to wear more conservative dress and during the Holy Month of Ramadan, even those who aren’t fasting must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public. Having reliable, relevant guidance on what to be aware of and how to avoid offending others or incurring penalties can make all the difference.

The Right Training

The effectiveness of any cultural awareness training is directly tied to its delivery and its details. The content needs to be thorough, up-to-date and relatable. The facilitators need to be prepared to answer even the most nuanced of questions. Assignees not only need to feel fully briefed on what to expect in the workplace and in life, but they also need to feel secure enough to ask any type of question, so they aren’t caught unawares. The information also needs to be as current as possible. Many prospective assignees might have outdated preconceptions about Saudi Arabia that could wrongly influence their decision-making or approach. Being able to relay both the modern advancements, and the rich traditions of the Kingdom, will further help to avoid confusion, issues or even penalties.

That is why it is so important to work with a trusted partner to create a tailored cultural awareness training program for your assignees. When your cultural awareness training reflects the specific information required for your industry and area, as well as accommodating the assignees’ existing knowledge base, it is infinitely more effective and useful.

Having spent decades as the region’s leading relocation, immigration, and corporate services provider, EER Middle East knows how impactful it is to have the right approach. In Saudi Arabia, we have focused on ensuring all assignees have a deep understanding of local values and etiquette so they have the confidence to connect and engage with new colleagues and friends. Our training is designed to bridge cultural gaps and help assignees adapt to local life and build trust with the right business communication approach and an overview of key dos and don’ts. One assignee we worked with was very excited about his new role in Saudi, but was worried about how his family would adapt. Our team had a series of pre-arrival calls with the assignee and his wife, listening to their needs and concerns, which allowed them to make thoughtful recommendations, especially on where to live and which schools would suit their children. Several years later the whole family is thriving in Riyadh and will be calling the city home for many years to come.

To provide further perspective on the role and impact of cultural awareness training, our Operations Director and Co-Owner, Aideen Hopkins sat down with our lead trainer, Dr Natalie Robson in a discussion about how our Saudi Arabia cultural awareness training programme is structured, the key challenges assignees commonly face, and the practical ways in which tailored guidance supports successful relocation and long-term integration. Drawing on their experience working closely with international assignees and their families, the conversation highlights how informed preparation can enhance confidence, engagement and overall relocation outcomes.

Saudi Arabia is certainly a land of opportunity, especially for businesses that mirror its ambition and innovative spirit. Taking advantage of the potential in this dynamic destination centers on the right ideas and the right people. This means you need to be able to recruit from anywhere in the world and know that no matter where they come from, the best talent for your company will have the support and resources they need to settle, succeed and thrive.

If you would like to find out more about our cultural awareness training options and our relocation, immigration and corporate services in Saudi Arabia, please get in touch today on info@eerme.com.