One wrong seating arrangement, an incorrectly used title, or a mishandled introduction at an official event can quietly damage relationships that took years to build. Protocol isn't about rigid formality for its own sake — it's a working system that keeps communication between governments, institutions, and organizations running smoothly at the international level.

This training course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy builds the professional, social, and diplomatic skills needed to operate confidently in high-stakes settings — from hosting official visits and managing correspondence to reading cultural sensitivities correctly. Participants leave with practical command of the rules, not just theoretical awareness of them.

Who Should Attend?

• Government representatives and practicing diplomats.
• Employees of international organizations and communication officers.
• Protocol officers, business executives, and public relations advisors.
• Event planners, personal assistants, and secretaries whose work involves official communication and social interaction on the global stage.

What You Will Be Able to Do:

• Use diplomatic language and correct titles confidently across different contexts.
• Introduce yourself and others appropriately, and represent your organization with confidence.
• Handle handshakes, business cards, invitations, and acceptance/rejection notes the right way.
• Plan and prepare for hosting important events and meeting high-profile individuals, including seating arrangements.
• Respond proactively and appropriately to protocol questions and issues as they arise.

Module 1: What Protocol Actually Does

• Defining protocol and tracing its evolution and role in maintaining relations between states.
• How it differs from everyday etiquette, and the general rules governing official conduct.

Module 2: Rank, Precedence, and Official Interactions

• Order of precedence and title sequencing.
• How to interact appropriately with heads of state, ambassadors, and ministers.
• Internal vs. external protocol, and etiquette for receiving official guests.

Module 3: Organizing Official Events and Visits

• Principles for organizing bilateral and multilateral meetings, conferences, and press events.
• Protocol for welcoming delegations, preparing invitations, and managing official visits from start to finish.
• Rules for presenting gifts and hospitality during official visits.

Module 4: Introducing and Hosting High-Ranking Figures

• Etiquette for introductions at official events and establishing priority order among political figures.
• Handling delegations from different countries appropriately.

Module 5: Written Protocol: Correspondence and Communication

• The difference between formal and informal correspondence.
• Writing a professional diplomatic letter and handling official mail between states.
• Verbal and non-verbal communication: body language, formal speech, and appropriate language in diplomatic settings.

Module 6: Protocol at Conferences and Summits

• Managing seating, speaking order, and delegation attendance at international meetings.
• Coordinating press conferences and negotiations within a protocol framework.

Module 7: Appearance and Cultural Sensitivity

• Choosing appropriate attire and understanding how appearance shapes institutional image.
• Reading cultural sensitivity correctly when dealing with delegations from different backgrounds.

Module 8: Protocol Under Pressure

• Applying protocol during crises and emergencies.
• Managing formal negotiations and maintaining etiquette during international tension.

Module 9: Protocol Across International and Regional Bodies

• How protocol differs between international and regional organizations.
• Coordinating protocol at multilateral conferences with numerous delegations and competing interests.

Module 10: Protocol in a Digital World

• How technology has reshaped protocol, including virtual meetings and online conferences.
• Digital protocol and managing public interaction through social media.