Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2009 - Azerbaijan Export ...

If you want to adopt local custom, greet people with the Islamic
greeting of ‘Assalamu alaykum’ [peace be upon you].
Many Azerbaijanis smoke. There are no legal controls on where
people can smoke but it is generally accepted that one does not
smoke in confined places such as lifts and buses. Many taxi drivers
smoke but will sometimes ask if passengers mind. There are
smoking sections in all restaurants or the restaurant will probably
be open for smoking at any table. Azerbaijanis do not usually wait
for others to finish eating before they start to smoke.
When seated opposite someone, try not to sit with your legs apart.
Keep them together or cross your legs. Also try not to allow your
feet to touch someone else’s. If the feet of two Azerbaijanis touch
you will see the person whose feet touched the other briefly touch
the hand of the other person. This is a customary way of a
reassuring demonstration that you wish no ill-intent to the other
person who you just ‘kicked’.
Holding hands with someone of the opposite sex is acceptable in
Baku and beaches but less so in rural areas. Kissing (other than as
a greeting) in public should be avoided.
To wave down a taxi or bus, stretch out your right arm and move
your wrist inwards repeatedly. To avoid frustration you should note
that taxis usually have their taxi signs illuminated whether they are
carrying passengers or not.
Queuing in Azerbaijan is not practiced widely. Banks and some
service sector businesses try to control clients but it is far from
what most business people from Europe or US are used to. It is not
uncommon for people to jump queues or even go straight to the
front. It is best to be patient. If frustration gets the better of you,
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