The Do's and Don'ts
Etiquette
Most of the ideas for these do's and don'ts came from the book, "Understanding Arabs," by Margaret Nydell. She emphasized alot on the culture, what we need to look for, and how we should act in order to understand one another and maintain a friendship with those who have a desire to do so. I highly recommend this book for further research in order to understand the Arabic culture in general.
The Do’s with Maintaining Arab Friendship
-Sit Properly.
-Be engaged in the conversation and act like you care because it is important in Arabic culture to care
about a friend’s personal life.
-Remove shoes if required because it shows respect. Watch the others around you to find out if it is
required.
-Shake hands when meeting or saying goodbye, unless it is a Western man and Arab woman, then it is
the woman’s choice whether or not she wants to shake hands.
-A firm handshake is seen as a sign of aggression so clasp the hand lightly and place one hand on your
heart.
-Wear appropriate clothing for the occasion. If you are not dressed up enough for a formal occasion it is
found to be offensive and disrespectful.
-If you light a cigarette prepare to offer one to everyone else.
-Men stand when a woman enters the room, everyone stands when new guests arrive at a social
gathering, and also when elderly or a high ranking person enters or leaves.
-Men allow women to precede them through doorways and offer their seats to women if no others are
available.
-Elderly people should be ushered to the front of the line or others should offer to stand in their place.
-The elderly should be greeted first.
-If you are the host, accompany your guests to the outer gate or the car when they leave.
-Be careful about expressing admiration for small expensive items because Arabs will feel obliged to offer
it as a gift.
-Give and accept gifts with both hands and do not open them in the presence of the donor.
-In public or in the presence of very traditional Arabs it may be considered inappropriate for women to
smoke or drink alcoholic beverages.
-Give in graciously when an Arab offers to pay at a restaurant and plan on returning the favor next time.
-You are the judge of your intentions. Mean well and mistakes will be overlooked a little easier.
-Let them lead, especially in greetings and farewells. They know what they are doing.
-If you want to get on an Arabs good side, you can announce that you want to learn Arabic. Ask the
names of things you see and jot down a few notes. They delight in foreigners wanting to learn Arabic.
-Accept when you are offered tea, it is polite. If you refuse a second come you better have a good
excuse, and once they have offered a third you can respectfully decline.
-When invited to dinner it is polite to bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers. Do not bring items that
are considered too expensive to the household though.
The Don’ts with Maintaining Friendship with the Arabs
-Don’t engage in family disputes in the presence of others, they should be kept private.
-When eating with Arabs, especially when taking food from communal dishes, don’t use the left hand
because it is considered unclean.
-People should not be photographed without their permission.
-It is offensive to take photographs of Muslim women or near military installations.
-Don’t take offense if you are being stared at by an Arab because they don’t find it offensive, especially
when the object is a fascinating foreigner. The best defense is to move away.
-Pets should be kept out of sight when Arab guests are present.
-Don’t lean against the wall or keep your hands in your pockets when conversing with an Arab. It is
found to be a disrespectful act because it seems as if you don’t care.
-Don’t sit with the sole of your shoe facing another person. It is considered an insult.
-Never be the first one to do anything. If you are not sure what to do, imitate.
-In the presence of royalty or a high-ranking older man it is incorrect to cross your legs and to smoke.
-Don’t engage in public display of affection.
-Do not indulge in public consumption of food and drink daylight hours throughout the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan.
-Don’t be offended when they ask personal questions. They like to be on a little more of a personal level.
-Do not break the laws as sentences are harsh.
References and links for more information
This website was written for the purpose of making business travel easier in countries with other cultures. It portrays the basic simply so that it is easy to understand and would be helpful in the business world.
"Bradman's- Making Business Travel Easy". November 15, 2008 http://www.bradmans.com/Page/middleeastafrica/muscat/culturaldosanddonts/culturaldosanddonts.aspx.
Nydell, Margaret K.. Understanding Arabs A Guide for Modern Times. 4th. Boston: Nicholas Brealey Publishing Company, 2006.
This website was interesting because it's written by someone working in the Middle East and is learning the culture. It's like a journal and she gives advice on etiquette and how to act around the Arabic people.
"Rules of Etiquette When Meeting the Local People in the Middle East". Alibaba.com. November 15, 2008 http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/18012/%20Rules_and_etiquette_when_meeting_the_local_people_in_Middle_East.htm.
This is another website that shares a basic understanding of Arabic culture in order to help people to be able to have the best possible experience while dealing with the Arabic people.
Smith, S.E.. "What are Some Middle Eastern Etiquette Tips?". WISEGEEK. November 15, 2008 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-middle-eastern-etiqutte-tips.htm.
Credit to:
Audrey Griffiths