Although the Middle East is a large expanse of geography with a variety of customs, noting the following points of etiquette can be useful when dealing with people around the world who have been raised according to the traditions of the Middle East or, in some cases, Muslim societies elsewhere.

 

• Regarding head attire specifically, the etiquette at many Muslim holy sites requires that a headscarf or some other modest head covering be worn. For women, this might be a hijab and, for men, it might be a taqiyah (cap), turban, or keffiyeh. A kippah or other head covering is expected for men in synagogues and other places where Jews pray. Orthodox Christian sites might require the removal of hats by men but will expect women to cover their hair with a kerchief or veil.

• Public displays of affection between people of the opposite sex, including between married people, are frowned upon everywhere more conservative values hold sway. Public displays of affection include activities as minor as hand-holding.

• In many cases, people of the same sex holding hands while walking is considered an ordinary display of friendship without romantic connotations.

• In a related point, many people in the Middle East claim a more modest amount of personal space than that which is usual elsewhere. Accordingly, it can seem rude for an individual to step away when another individual is stepping closer.

• Special respect is paid to older people in many circumstances. This can include standing when older people enter a room, always greeting older people before others present (even if they are better known to you), standing when speaking to one’s elders and serving older people first at a meal table.

 

 

Hospitality is held in high regard throughout the Middle East. Some hosts take pride in the laborious preparation of what is known in Europe as “Turkish coffee”, grinding fresh-roasted coffee beans to a fine powder, dissolving sugar, and carefully regulating the heat to produce a result that meets exacting standards.

• In Iran, the "thumbs up" gesture is considered an offensive insult.[5]

• Displaying the sole of one's foot or touching somebody with one's shoe is often considered rude. This includes sitting with one's feet or foot elevated. In some circumstances, shoes should be removed before entering a living room.

• Many, in the Middle East, do not separate professional and personal life. Doing business revolves much more around personal relationships, family ties, trust, and honor. There is a tendency to prioritize personal matters above all else. It is therefore crucial that business relationships are built on mutual friendship and trust.

 

When interacting with people in the Middle East, the rules vary, depending on where you are. In many Muslim communities, for example, it is considered extremely rude to enter a room without greeting everyone. Although non-Muslims are not expected to say salaam aleikum (peace be with you), although it is polite, but they should most certainly say hello every time they enter a room and respond to such greetings. Displays of affection between people of the opposite sex are generally frowned upon in Middle Eastern etiquette, although people of the same sex often hold hands or kiss each other's cheeks, without the connotations carried by these actions in the West.

 

You may also want to be aware that many Middle Eastern communities have a strong honor ethic, considering someone's word as bond. Therefore, you should never orally promise something you cannot deliver. Many visitors to the Middle East also struggle with Middle Eastern body language; personal space bubbles are much smaller in the Middle East, and gestures which would be used to convey anger or upset are not used in the same way in the Middle East. Therefore, it can help to listen to someone's tone of voice, and to be careful about your own body language.

 

Many Middle Easterners also place a heavy emphasis on hospitality, especially in the Arab community. It is considered impolite to refuse hospitality, whether it takes the form of a cup of Turkish coffee, or a lavish meal. When you accept hospitality, be polite and gracious, and follow the behavior of other people in the room if you are not sure about how to act. As a general rule, it is considered impolite to show the soles of your feet or shoes under Middle Eastern etiquette, even if you are sitting to eat, and at many Middle Eastern tables, food is presented in a central dish which everyone eats from. In this situation, guests use wedges of bread as scoops in the central dish, and it is important in Muslim communities to avoid using your left hand to touch food or other people, as the left hand is reserved for personal hygiene.

 

When you are offered food, as a guest you will be offered the choicest parts of the meal, including delicacies which may seem unusual or foreign to you. Keep in mind that refusal of such delicacies is offensive under Middle Eastern etiquette. Meals and meetings in the Middle East can also seem confusing to people from the West, since people often travel in and out and interrupt proceedings. This is because many Middle Easterners mix business and personal relationships, creating a strong network of friends and associates which can be relied upon. It is best to go with the flow in these situations, and try to avoid seeming pushy or impatient.

 

Finally, a note about haggling. Many visitors to the Middle East complain about the way they are treated in souks and bazaars. Hagging or bargaining is a very important part of Middle Eastern culture, and it is viewed as offensive to refrain from engaging in it. Rather than being put off by it, visitors should join in the fun, making preposterous offers and questioning the merchant's claims. Transactions in the Middle East often take time, and may be interrupted by breaks for coffee, tea, and snacks. By haggling, you will earn the respect of the merchant, creating a much better relationship which could be quite useful later on.