THE ARABIC COUNTRIES CULTURE, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
ARABIC WORLD
22 Arab countries/areas: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arabic Emirates, and Yemen.
DRESSING
COFFEE
Arabic people traditionally greet their guests with “Kahwa” (Arabic coffee) and dates (Tamr). The arabic coffee consists of three main ingredients: Cardamom, Rose water and Saffron. And they have also special gestures which were used for communication between the servants and the guests.
- Extend the coffee cup for more coffee
- Shake the coffee cup a little to refuse
Arabic coffee has its origins in Ethiopia. And then it was discovered in Yemen. Did you know Caffe Mocha comes from the port city in Yemen by the same name?
HOME
The sitting area in an Arabic home is called the “majlis”. The wood is used in the structure of homes to provide support and usually to ones with multiple floors.
WOMEN
THINGS TO DO:
1) Respect the privacy and protected role of women in Arab societies.
2) Men stand when women enter a room.
3) Respect the different living “areas” for men and women.
4) Do not expect women to eat or socialize in the same room as men.
THINGS NOT TO DO:
1) Do not shake hands with an Arab woman unless she offers her hand first, or if you are a woman.
2) Do not talk in public to professional Arab women unless it is business related.
3) Do not stare at women or maintain eye contact.
4) Do not ask an Arab questions about his wife or other female members of his family.
Arabic women don’t like to answer these three questions:
- How old are you?
- Your weight?
- What is your husband’s name?
ARAB PERSPECTIVE
VS
WESTERN PERSPECTIVE
ARAB
Family – Center of everything. (Father has first and last word.)
Friends – Periphery, but courteous to all.
Honor – Very Important amongst Arabs. Honor will be protected and defended at all costs.
Shame (especially against family) – avoided at all costs, insults and criticism taken very seriously.
Time – less rigid. Approach to time is much more relaxed and slower than that in Western cultures.
Religion – Central to all things.
Society – Family / tribe is most important
Government – Most governments are secular, but still emphasize religion.
Age and Wisdom honored.
Wealth honored in both cultures.
WESTERN
Family – Important but not as central to individual.
Friends – Core to some, important to most.
Honor – Typically not as important.
Shame – Typically not as important.
Time- Very structured, deadlines must be met. Religion – Varies by individual, very personal, not discussed in polite conversation.
Society – Individual rights.
Government – Purpose is to protect rights and improve standard of living.
Youth and Beauty praised.
Wealth honored in both cultures.
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