How can an American build the necessary cultural skills to be successful in the the Middle East?

Being fully aware of the nature of the middle eastern culture and knowing how to do business in the region, to be able to fully adapt to the system and know your way around it. There is a set of roles that control how things are done in the middle east, these of course differ from one country to another but still playing in the same field. You'd have to partner up with a local who will help you skip the first year of figuring out the right procedures and leading you to the right connections who are actually trustworthy and can meet your business requirements