Collins Arabic Phrasebook and Dictionary Gem Edition

9 In Egypt tourists have to pay a fee to take photographs inside pyramids, tombs and museums.

10 Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the city bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels.

Talking to people

Hello/goodbye, yes/no

Body language is very important when dealing with Arabs. You will see that when they talk, they often use their hands to describe what they are saying.

Key phrases

Signs and notices

Polite expressions

As in every culture, good manners are very important to Arabs. You may experience excessive politeness when people meet each other. Hugging and kissing on both cheeks is very normal. People often kiss the hand of elderly people out of respect. To address someone formally, use as-say-yid for men or as-say-yida for women before their first name, for example, As-say-yid Ahmed; As-say-yida Faatima. This may vary from country to country.

There are several styles of greeting in use; it is best to wait for your counterpart to initiate the greeting. Men shake hands with other men. Some men will shake hands with women, however, it is advisable for businesswomen to wait for a man to offer his hand. A more traditional greeting between men involves grasping each other’s right hand, placing the left hand on the other’s right shoulder and exchanging kisses on each cheek.

Celebrations

Making friends