This article explores whether focus groups can constitute a culturally sensitive method of data gathering for educational leadership, management and related areas in a Gulf-Arab cultural context. Reviewing the literature on focus groups and cross-cultural psychology for the Arab region, it identifies key notions related to societal values such as collectivity, in-group membership, consultation, consensus, harmony and communication style, which support the use of focus groups in this context. This has implications for how research, and mixed-method research in particular, is enacted within the region and is relevant for research in the wider Arab world and potentially other societal cultures seen as collective. (Contains 3 tables.)