EN
Differences between the ways entrepreneurs in various parts of the world do their business are caused by a number of factors. Economic factors, such as the level of economic development and market conditioning; political factors, such as the political and legal system all play a crucial role here, yet one cannot forget that the way a business activity is run is also influenced by concrete cultural patterns which apply to this sphere of human activity. Not all societies appreciate the categories of rationality, effectiveness and pace of action are as equally important in running a business. The basics elements of the role pattern of Damascus merchant, which have been established in the field research, will be presented in this paper. Moreover, some crucial issues concerning running one’s own business will be described, such as the main functions of the leader in a company, management style, the influence of Arab culture on the process of making decisions and the role of rituals and customs in running a business.