Business
Business Etiquette
Anyone conducting business in Tripoli should respect the Muslim culture. Friday is a day of prayer and Libyan owned businesses and government offices are closed. Business hours are 0900-1400 and 1630-1830/2030 Sat-Thu, or 0700-1400/1500 in government offices. Smart conservative business attire that covers the arms, legs and shoulders should be worn with women wearing loose fitting clothes. Libyans will expect you to make and be prompt for appointments, although they themselves may be late. Meetings begin with an exchange of pleasantries and you should not cause offence by cutting these short. Professional titles are important and the most senior person should be addressed with your business proposals. You should also accept offers of food or refreshment and be prepared for meetings to be interrupted by people or phone calls. Check if you will need a translator and ensure that all documents have been translated into Arabic.
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