Saudi, UAE & Qatar Leaders: 3 Steps to Make Your Value Land in American Meetings

The leaders I work with across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are among the most capable strategists in the world. But in high-stakes American meetings, the hardest part is rarely the strategy. It’s making your value land the way it should.

This is not a lack of expertise. It’s a misalignment between the rich cultural logic of the Gulf and the low-context performance expectations of the American boardroom.

In the US, efficiency is the currency. People want the point early, the ask clearly, and the confidence visible.

So strengths that earn respect at home can get misread in the States.

A polite pause can look like hesitation. Context can sound like a lack of a decision. Modesty can read like uncertainty.

This is an American problem you still have to navigate. Your goal is to meet their frequency without losing your identity.

If you want a fast improvement in your next American meeting, start here. These are execution levers that change how US rooms decode authority.

1) Lead with the decision, then the logic. Don’t build up to your point. Start with it. Try: “My recommendation is X.” Then: “The reason is Y. The risk is Z.”

2) Make it low-context: be explicit, then put it in writing. American rooms reward what’s clear at face value. So don’t imply. Don’t hope they infer. State it, then document it. Use this four-line follow-up format after the meeting: Bottom line: X. Decision needed: Y by (date). Why: one reason. Next step: who does what by when.

3) Replace soft language with accountable language. Remove hedges that US listeners interpret as uncertainty. Swap “I think / maybe / we could” with: “My position is…” “What I’m asking for is…” “The outcome we delivered was…”

These levers create an immediate shift. But if you want it to hold under pressure, across months and higher stakes, you need a system.

That’s where my BUILD, MOVE, LAND method comes in.

BUILD: We engineer your message for American clarity using the facts and intent you already carry, so your point lands within the first seconds.

MOVE: We pressure-test delivery through guided rehearsal, interruptions, and real scenarios so you can execute without over-explaining.

LAND: We lock in voice, pacing, and emphasis so your delivery matches your seniority in the moments that decide outcomes.

Because the difference between being respected and being undeniable often comes down to whether your intent lands cleanly.

If you want the technical breakdown of BUILD, MOVE, LAND and how it applies to interviews, boardrooms, negotiations, investor conversations, and public stages, you can start HERE.

Your value is already real. The goal is to make sure it’s never lost in translation.

Alveraz

Executive Performance & Communication Coach