Decision-Making and Speed of Change in the Gulf Countries
Robin Helweg-Larsen
Published Date
January 27, 2012
The Gulf Paradox: Slow Decision-Making, Rapid Change
In Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, nothing gets done without extensive introductory discussions, negotiations, and relationship-building. And it never really stops.
I often joke that signing a final contract in the Middle East just gives you one more thing to negotiate.
That might sound like nothing ever gets done—but that’s not true at all.
Unbelievable Speed of Change
The Gulf region is proof that a culture of slow decision-making and endless renegotiation does not necessarily slow progress.
Once a leader at the top mandates a course of action, things move at an extraordinary pace.
- Islands are built.
- Entire cities rise from the desert.
- Infrastructure transforms in just a few years.
The Key Factor: Someone in Charge
The takeaway? Speed of change doesn’t require fast decision-making—it requires clear authority. As long as someone is actually in charge, things happen.
