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Before you travel to the Middle East, it is recommended that you study up on some of the standard customs of the region so that you do not insult your hosts while you are there. What can you or cannot do, while visiting the region could save you a lot of embarrassment and even a lot of trouble.
Here are some guidelines and some of the reasons behind them. Remember local customs are built on ancient beliefs and dogma, so don’t expect to win any arguments over how to dress or how to behave. Even through modern times, some Islamic countries use Islamic law (Sharia), which goes all the way back to “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” If you want to test that, you will be woefully sorry you did. These are the types of laws that allow authorities to cut off the hands of shoplifters or stone adulterers to death.
While this sounds scary, most visitors to the Middle East find the most hospitable, kind, generous people they will ever meet in their lives. The same strict Islamic doctrines hold that you treat people with the utmost respect and help your fellow citizens when they are in need. You will meet people who offer strangers the shirt off their backs – not literally, of course – which is a custom born of the region’s harsh environment.
Meanwhile, modern standards are making in-roads into Middle Eastern cultures. You will not find pork on any restaurant menus in the region, but you will, on occasion, find alcohol served in very measured instances – an aperitif before or during dinner in someone’s home, for example. Rarely, if ever, will you ever see a glass of wine or imported alcohol. But the Internet is available in many places and country’s like the United Arab Emirates are as modern and up to date as their neighbors may be holding onto ancient traditions. For example, search through https://golfscape.com/united-arab-emirates/dubai-golf-courses and you will find some of the world’s most scenic golf courses in the world, including, that’s right, the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, where it costs about $250 for eighteen holes.
Of course, there’s more than golf available for the modern traveler in Dubai. You can rip up the dunes on a Dubai Red Dunes Safari, which includes a barbecue and sand boarding in the desert. You can also visit the famous Dubai fountains, put together by the same water-sculpting experts as those who created the Las Vegas fountain show.
The world’s tallest building is in Dubai. It stands 829.8 meters high, which translates to 2,722,4 feet, That’s more than half a mile high, taller than many of the Catskill Mountains.
Visitors might also dash off to see the Palm Islands. These are so-called “artificial islands” shaped like palm leaves. I’m sure that “man-made” is a clearer way to say that. Either way, these are feather-shaped strands of sand that include luxury housing (what in Dubai isn’t a luxury?) and a water park.
What does this mean for tourists wanting to be respectful of local customs? For starters, short-sleeved shirts are permitted on the golf courses and on the beaches, but generally, men stick to full-length pant legs during leisure activities, although shorts that reach the knees might be permitted. For women on a golf course in Dubai, signs on the street suggest that you wear clothes that cover knees and shoulders. This, it might be mentioned, is one of the more liberal of the seven emirates that lies in one of the more liberal countries in the region. It might also be mentioned that the same courtesy – covered knees and shoulders – are expected from the men.
So, here is a rundown of some of the local customs and what they mean for visitors.Public behavior is expected to be respectful. You should not exhibit any public affection in the Middle East, so if you are there on your honeymoon or on a date, remember that touching in public is considered very rude.
On the other hand, expect cordial greetings wherever you go. In crowded cities, this will be different, but in isolated areas, expect people to say hello or even park themselves somewhat close to you. The story, as I heard it, was about a visitor in an empty train station at night. An Arabic man came in and sat right beside him and said hello. The visitor wanted some space, so he moved over a few seats and the Arabic man moved over, more or less chasing him from seat to seat during the night. The thing to understand is that in desert regions, people either show their friendliness upfront or they might be considered hostile. Imagine finding – at long last – another person in a great empty desert and that person passes you by without saying hello. You would distrust that person quickly.
Accepting invitations is, therefore, very important in the Middle East and, since you are from out of town, expect to be invited often to tea or coffee. It is considered very rude to refuse such gestures.
Clothing in public does not usually mean women must wear the full covering of a headscarf or a veil is necessary, but each country – and some regions within countries – are different. Women in Iran, parts of Pakistan and in Afghanistan where Taliban etiquette is expected would need to cover their faces. In Saudi Arabia, it is optional but highly recommended.
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