Middle Eastern Customs

People on Middle East Travel get to enjoy the splendor of the natural scenery, as well as the dramatic historical sites throughout the countryside. If you are going to be paying a visit to a Middle Eastern Hotel, you will want to be able to travel freely, and in order to do that you will want to pay respect to your hosts and other native people you will visit by following some of the Middle Eastern customs. These customs will vary from country to country, but many are based on the predominant religion of the region, Islam, so it is best to pay attention to what people from the area wear and do and try to follow suit.

In terms of clothing, generally speaking you will want to dress in a conservative fashion. Shorts and tank tops are considered to be too revealing, and should be left in your Middle East Hotel. However, this depends on where you are visiting. For example, in some of the more Westernized areas of the Middle East, many people dress in a Western fashion. In more conservative areas, men will want to wear long pants, and women in general will want to select long pants, cover their arms, and bring a scarf for use as a head covering. In some of the most conservative countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Pakistan, women have to be completely covered. An easy way to do this is to wear a chador. This is a cape that hides the entire body, and you will also need to include a head scarf that covers the head and neck. In Pakistan, you could wear a Shalwar Kameez, which includes loose pants covered with a long top, along with head covering.

In addition to clothing, there are other customs that you will see observed During Middle East Travel. It is considered impolite to cross your legs when seated or to show the soles of your feet to others, or to point at someone. Because alcohol and pork are considered unholy, it is respectful to consume neither in the presence of a Muslim. Other food customs you will see observed in a Muslim's home are that they will keep your plate full of food, as a sign of generosity. They will wait to eat until the guest begins eating. Women and men, especially in conservative homes, will have two separate greeting areas, and if a mixed group of unmarried and non-blood relative men and women are present, they will be hosted in separate rooms in the home. The host will pay when eating at a restaurant, especially those found in Middle East Hotels.

Middle Eastern travel, including Dubai travel, is more enjoyable when you go ready to try learning about the people and their unique cultural traditions.

Jonathon Blocker is a frequent traveler to the Middle east. He regularly shares his insights and experiences on traveling in the middle east, including Dubai Travel, Dubai Hotels, and Middle East Travel in general.

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