Originally Posted by
moeve
Are there separate lines for ladies? I am supposed to be instructing some salesmen overthere in a specialized product and I am starting to wonder if me going is such a good idea after all. My host seems to think there is no probelm but the more I am reading up the worse it gets.
It really will be fine ... depending on your sense of adventure.
I assume your host will be meeting you at the airport. Depending on their
wasta (seniority & influence), they may even meet you airside and whisk you through immigration.
Otherwise there will be a separate line for ladies. Look for the signs ... although they are different to western male/female stick people, it will be fairly obvious which one is which !
Wear a headscarf and loose fitting clothes. Your host will probably provide you with an
abaya (black cloak with hood) or just bundle you into a waiting car. Talk to the female cabin crew and other ladies around you on the inbound flight for tips and advice; they'll understand. And you'll see the rush to cover up when "20 minutes to landing" is announced
As to a woman training men, it depends very much on the organisation and its culture, If it's a western company then it will be fine. KSA has moved on significantly (relatively) in recent years.
Social life will be boring ... it'll be room service or the family section of the hotel restaurant, unless there are other ladies in the organisation who could take you out.
Hope that helps. As a male westerner, it's the best I can do