Business Etiquette & Culture in Albania
Top Tips for Doing Business in Albania
Culture influences language, and language, in turn, influences culture. This happens in ways both obvious and almost imperceptible. TJC Global understands that being fluent in a language also means being fluent in the subtleties and intricacies of the culture and business etiquette associated with it. To ensure that no embarrassing misunderstandings occur in a professional context, all our translators and interpreters are experts in the business culture and etiquette associated with the languages they work with.
Understanding Albanian mentality, culture, and etiquette is key to business success in Albania. Read on to find out our top tips for doing business in Albania.
About Albania
Situated on the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean, Albania shares borders with Italy to the west and Greece to the south. With a population of approximately 3 million, its vibrant capital, Tirana, houses over 500,000 residents. The coastal city of Durrës, Albania’s second-largest city, is a bustling port hub with about 200,000 inhabitants.
Albania’s diverse landscape ranges from the snow-capped peaks of the Albanian Alps to the sunny Adriatic and Ionian coasts. Tirana International Airport connects Albania to major European capitals, making it an accessible and strategic location for international business.
Albanian Language and Communication – Doing Business in Albania
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.4 million people, primarily in AlbanAlbanian, an Indo-European language, is spoken by about 7.4 million people worldwide, primarily in Albania, Kosovo, and regions of the Balkans with Albanian communities. While many government officials and young professionals under 35 speak fluent English or other European languages like Italian and Greek, interpreters are often essential for seamless communication in business meetings.
Most government officials speak English or another European language (French, Italian, German, and Greek) to some extent. However, this may not always be true with private enterprises. In any case, interpreters are widely used for any meeting, sometimes the interpreter being the assistant or the secretary of the Albanian entrepreneur/business executive. Contracts can be made verbally and/or in written form. Albanians do not like much paperwork and try to keep things simple. Also, private businesses have very few layers of bureaucracy, and the same person may serve as a manager, point of contact, secretary, accountant, and driver for a given company. Some able Albanian translators and interpreters may be hired hourly or daily. Although most Albanians prefer cash, bank transfers and credit card payments are possible. The Euro and the U.S. dollar are the most preferred currencies for payments.
Most young Albanians (younger than 35) speak fluent English and often other languages, mainly Italian.
Key Language Facts: – Business Etiquette & Culture in Albania
Payments are commonly conducted in cash, with Euros and U.S. dollars being preferred currencies.
Contracts may be verbal or written.
Albanian private businesses often operate with minimal bureaucracy.
Useful Albanian Phrases – Doing Business in Albania
- Hello – Ç’kemi / Tungjatjeta
- Hello (on phone) – Alo
- Goodbye – Paçim
- How are you? – Si jeni? (formal) / Si je? (informal)
- Pleased to meet you – Gëzohem që të takova
- Cheers! – Gëzuar!
- Bon Appetit – T’bëftë mirë!
- Yes – Po
- No – Jo
- Please – Ju lutem (formal) / Të lutem (informal)
- Thank you – Falemenderit
- Sorry – Më fal!
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Business Etiquette & Culture in Albania
Albanians shake hands when meeting strangers and kiss or hug people they consider close acquaintances or good friends. Sometimes, these circles will include the potential foreign business partners they have just met. Albanian business attire is more casual than that of other European nations.
Business cards are not mandatory, and there is no custom of exchanging business cards at the beginning or the end of a meeting.
Sometimes, especially when meeting high officials outside their own offices, bodyguards may accompany these officials up to the door of the meeting venue and may often wait immediately outside it.
Business meetings may occur in unconventional places such as cafés, residential dwellings, and cab journeys. Contacts are frequently made verbally, and payments for goods and services are typically conducted in cash. Albanians do not seem bound by time; lateness for important events, including business meetings and lunch/dinner parties, is not unusual.
Less attention may be paid to equipment in conference rooms or other meeting places than is common elsewhere, so some auditoriums for significant and important meetings may be smaller than anticipated.
Gifts are very important for Albanians and mandatory for special guests. You are expected to give a gift in return if you have been given something. Money is never a good gift as it presumes you want a bribe or something illegal from the receiving party. Flowers are generally not given as gifts. Good gifts are generally works of art from your home country, such as miniature paintings, sculptures, and other memorabilia that will most likely decorate their offices. If you are aware that your potential business partner has children, a perfect idea is to bring a gift for their children.
Other Etiquette Tips
In some areas of Albania, nodding the head means “no”, and shaking the head means “yes”. This is very confusing; therefore, asking your business partner to verbalise their answer when asked a “yes” or “no” question is safer.
Politics is an issue to avoid talking about to Albanians. Everyone is very passionate about their political beliefs. One of the fastest ways to infuriate your potential business partner is to insult his favourite politician or political party unknowingly. Albanians, however, may initiate political conversations. In these cases, you may exchange information about the political system in your country, especially if you are from a country geographically remote from Albania.
People smoke in public and most restaurants. And typically will not have a non-smoking section. Sometimes, asking your business partner to put out their cigarettes may cause a problem as an insult, especially if they are already smoking them. If the meeting occurs in your company’s office, you may display No Smoking signs before your business partner’s visit.
Stores and markets may charge foreigners more than locals. The use of old and new “lek”, the local currency in Albania, is also very confusing, and you should ask someone once in Albania for a detailed explanation. When shopping, it is better to go with your interpreter or someone who knows Albanian.
Haggling is acceptable in most stores in Albania. When negotiating your business with your potential Albanian partner, remember that no offer from them is ever final until you have accepted it. If you will negotiate some items, such as prices, places of delivery, etc., please discuss this before the end of the meeting unless it is clear that these items will be addressed in a follow-up meeting. Albanians are generally reasonable and willing to negotiate and accommodate their business partners.
Dining Etiquette
While Albanians love good food, they also like to keep fit. Greek, Turkish and Italian cuisines have influenced Albanian cuisine, and the food served in Albania has many similarities to the typical food of these countries.
Albanians eat lots of meat: beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and fish. They will most likely serve them at any business lunch or supper. Very few Albanians are vegetarians; therefore, it may be challenging to find suitable vegetarian food.
They often service wine, beer, and strong spirits alongside lunch or supper. Albanians take pride in their most well-known spirit, “raki” (pronounced ‘rake’), which is made of grape juice and is as strong as vodka. Guests need to accept an offer of an alcoholic drink, especially raki.
Albanians usually pay for their guests’ meals. They will insist that they foot the bill, even if you have invited them to your favourite restaurant. There is a tacit understanding that they expect guests to repay this courtesy the second time.
Albanians do not always plan business lunches and dinners and invite you for lunch or dinner immediately after concluding a meeting, especially if something good, like signing a contract, came out of that meeting. This will usually serve to ‘celebrate’ what has been achieved in this meeting.
Besides lunches and dinners, coffee is also very popular in Albania. Everyone seems to drink coffee, although sometimes ‘going out for a coffee’ may mean strong drinks like ‘raki’ drinking. Coffee takes time, and there is no such thing as a ‘five-minute coffee break.”
Beliefs and Superstitions
Albania is considered a Muslim country, with almost 60 per cent of the population belonging to this religion. However, most of this Muslim population are Muslims because of their family origins and traditions and not because of choice. Albanian Muslims do not have any of the characteristics of the Muslim religion in the Arab countries, such as the teachings, the attendance in mosques, and the devotion to practising their religious rites. Instead, Albanian Muslims gladly marry and cohabit with the rest of the Albanian population, of which 17 per cent are Christians.
- A black cat crossing the street is bad luck.
- A broken mirror is considered bad luck.
- “Syri i keq” or “bad eye” is when someone has maliciously seen you. This is usually if you drive a luxurious car or have a magnificent house, and suddenly, some tragedy happens out of nowhere. Most often, this will be attributed to the “bad eye” of someone who wishes malice upon you.
Albanian Interpreting Services

Albanian Arbitration Interpreters
Our arbitration interpreters can assist those seeking an alternative to litigation. Read more…

Albanian Business Meeting Interpreters
Our Albanian business meeting interpreters can assist you with negotiations, discussions and collaborations. Read more…
Albanian Conference Interpreters
At TJC Global, we have a network of Albanian-certified conference interpreters for multi-national conferences of all natures. Read more…

Albanian Court Interpreters
Our Albanian court interpreters are familiar with the format, conventions, procedures and requirements of court interpreting. Read more…

Albanian Deposition Interpreters
We can provide specialist deposition interpreters for witness testimonials, as are common in the US and Canada. Read more…
Albanian Legal Interpreters
TJC Global’s Albanian legal interpreters can cover court cases, hearings, and tribunals. Read more…
Albanian Legal Translation
We cover a variety of legal materials and documents, including but not limited to letters, legal documents, contracts, summonses, evidential documents, statements, patents, and more.
Albanian Medical Interpreters
Our medical interpreters are closely acquainted with medical terminology, ensuring they deliver informed, precise, and efficient interpretation in this highly specialised sector.

Albanian Medical Translation
Our Albanian medical translators are all native speakers of your target language and often hold a degree or certificate in the medical sciences.

Albanian Technical Translation
Our technical interpreters can cover assignments in various industries, including aerospace, motoring, manufacturing and civil engineering. Read more…
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