Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2009 - Azerbaijan Export ...

turn. Business visitors are advised to leave plenty of time to travel
from one place to another. Baku drivers are also slightly erratic if
compared with most western driving standards.
Business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00
p.m. Monday to Friday. Government departments and agencies
usually work Saturdays too, at least until lunch time. Shops and
restaurants are generally open seven days a week.
The business community tends to work quite long and rather
variable hours. Lunch can be taken as early as 12:00 pm (mainly by
the oil sector) and as late as 3:00 p.m. Many managers work later
than 6:00 p.m. Most Azerbaijanis eat early in the evening rather
than late.
Factors and events affecting the working routine
Azerbaijan is a secular state but approximately 80% of Azerbaijanis
follow Islam. Muslim prayer times impinge relatively little on the
typical working day. However, during the Holy month of Ramazan
(which changes every year) many Azerbaijanis fast from dawn to
sunset and then break their fast immediately after sunset by having
a meal [Iftar]. Managers need to be aware of this as it can affect
the normal working routine and heighten staff eagerness to leave
the office in time to have their first food (and drink) since before
dawn. Fasting is growing in popularity each year, especially
amongst young adults.
A time to avoid travelling to Azerbaijan on business, or at least to
check first, is during July and August since many Azerbaijani
businesspeople take extended vacations to spend time with family
in their holiday homes or, increasingly, abroad.
Azerbaijan has many secular and Islamic holidays and one day of
mourning. The 2010 calendar is:
GENERAL INFORMATION
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