American businessman Alan Clay (Tom Hanks) was once a hot shot salesman but is now down on his luck. A divorced father who is facing bankruptcy, he persuades the company he works for to let him pitch a 3D holographic meeting system to the King of Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, Alan is working on commission so if he doesn't make the sale, he doesn't earn money, which puts him in a stressful state of mind.

Alan travels to Saudi Arabia, where he realizes he needs to learn how to do business in a new way. He's given a royal runaround and worries that he will never secure the deal. When he has an anxiety attack, a Saudi doctor (Sarita Choudhury) tends to him and he finds himself wanting more than a professional relationship with her, but his taxi driver (Alexander Black) advises against it.