It's considered rude to address business until initiated by the prime minister. Skipping the informal engagement and trying to jump right into business will offend officials, and negotiations will end. It's a time to drink tea and get to know each other. In the Middle East you don't talk about people's families. It's a taboo.
Initial conversations can last several hours.
At the conclusion of the conversation, the prime minister arranges a time to have dinner later that evening. The dinner provides another opportunity to get to know each other so trust can be further cultivated. Business talk doesn't happen until later sometimes the next morning. Americans do business all the time. From the minute you walk in you're doing business.