Egypt

Greetings

Men greeting Men – During initial meetings a light handshake with the right hand is common. For friends and relatives a kiss on both cheeks tends to be the norm. First right to right and then left to left accompanied with a hug and back slapping while shaking hands with the right hand.

Women greeting Women - During initial meetings a light handshake with the right hand or a simple nod of acknowledgment is common. For friends and relatives a kiss on both cheeks tends to be the norm. First right to right and then left to left accompanied with a hug and while shaking hands with the right hand.

Greetings between Men & Women – A handshake may be acceptable in certain circumstances. Cheek kissing is acceptable if they are very closely related, but the most common greeting would be a slight bow of the head and a greeting of “salaam aleikum” which should be replied to with “waaleikum us salam”. It is taboo for religiously observant men to touch women and vice-versa

Note: Among Egyptians greeting is an important aspect of the culture. It can be lengthy and it is polite to ask the other how they are, how is their health, the well-being of their family, etc.

Communication Style

• People tend to be extremely indirect when speaking, especially in regards to communication in business. They aren’t comfortable saying “no”, so they keep beat around the bush.
• There are a lot pleasantries used and simple small talk continually interrupt a regular conversation.

• Most Egyptians tend to be very religious so it’s best never talk to an Egyptian without respecting that and if you intend to talk about politics try not to take any sides, just be neutral. It's best to avoid talking about religion and/or politics until you have established a strong relationship.

• In some cases communication can be direct. So much so, that some comments may sound a bit rude or blunt at times.

Personal Space & Touch

• Personal space between members of the same gender is kept at a minimum. Less than an arm’s length is common.
• Egyptians will stand or sit very close to each other when talking, but if two unrelated Egyptians of the opposite sex are having a conversation, then they maintain at least an arms length of distance or more.

• Touching during conversations is not usually appropriate unless the people having the conversation are very close to each other, like family or good friends.

• There is little to no touching between members of the opposite sex during conversations or in public places in general.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is acceptable in most cases. One thing to be aware of is when speaking with members of the opposite sex; indirect eye contact is the norm in these cases as a woman looking directly at a may be interpreted as a come on.

Gestures

• Touching all four fingers to the thumb with the palm facing inwards and then shaking it up and down is used to tell someone to “calm down” or “wait a minute".
• Tapping or rubbing the two index fingers side by side is a crude gesture asking someone to have sex with you.
• Pointing is usually done by using one finger.
• Gestures used for calling someone from a distance or a waiter, include whistling, clapping, or saying "psssssst" in a loud voice.

Views of Time

• Time as a concept is not valued highly. If a meeting is set for 11am, it can start anytime between 10:30 am to 3:00 pm.

• People tend to be late, for example: if someone said they’ll be there at 7, they’ll probably show up 15 to 30 minutes late. Of course not all people are like that.

• Trains usually run on time as do planes. There’s no scheduled time for the underground (subway) but they have regular time intervals. Buses are not as reliable.

• Punctuality is neither valued nor expected, whether it be with people or with services. Doing business is slightly different, yet usually there is a range during which one is allowed to be late. It is like a hidden contract.

• Traffic in major cities makes it very hard for people to be on time, even if they intended to.

Gender Roles

• Both housewives and working women are accepted and respected in society, especially in the big cities.
• Any behavior/activities that don’t follow the social and religious traditions tend to be unacceptable; but this has been changing in the past years and some behaviors are becoming very normal among women, like smoking in public, going to night clubs, staying out late, etc. It depends very much on the social class of the individual. This is not applicable for foreign women.

• Women are generally expected to perform their traditional roles. Yet, middle and upper class women who live in big cities are expected to have a career and are allowed a freer lifestyle.

• The majority of women wear hijab (head scarf) although it is not forced. Social pressure plays a big role in this.

• Foreign women, especially tourists, are not expected to abide by the same rules.

Taboos

• Avoid sleeveless tops and short skirts or shorts when going about the streets and markets. Knee length skirts may be acceptable in some business scenarios but not shorter than that.

• Alcohol is not something you should offer your local guests unless you know for sure that they consume it. Pork is not consumed by most Muslims (90% of population) as it is considered unclean – so do not serve it when you are hosting Muslims.

• Avoid eating communal food with your left hand, as this is used for personal hygiene. The right hand is used for greeting, eating, and passing objects.

• Don’t point the toe or heel or any part of foot at any person. Showing the sole of your shoe is impolite as well.

• Egyptian society tends to be very conservative, especially in rural areas, so refrain from showing emotions in public, drinking, being casual while dealing with a member of the opposite sex, wearing revealing clothes if you are a female, etc. However, if you are staying at a beach resort or something, it is totally different. You are free to dress as you wish and act as you wish.

Law & Order

• Alcohol is forbidden in Islam. But alcohol is available in Egypt. You do not need to show proof of being a foreigner to consume it. The legal age is 18 to purchase beer and 21 for everything else.
• There is not legal smoking age and it is common to see boys as young as 12 smoking openly. 80% of the adult male population smokes in Cairo.

• Penalties for possession of illegal drugs are enforced, and it can reach up to life time in jail and even a “death sentence” in very few cases.

• There are laws against having sex outside marriage, same as for prostitution, and homosexuality. Each has a different penalty. Homosexuality being the worse, then comes prostitution, then sex outside of marriage.

Dress

• For Men – Conservative suits and ties are common for initial meetings. Darker colors are the way to go. Business casual attire is becoming more and more acceptable in many industries.
• For Women - Conservative yet stylish is a good choice. Avoid wearing overly expensive accessories, dresses/skirts cut above the knee, low necklines and sleeveless attire. Sleeves should cover at least to the elbow, up to the wrist tends to be the norm. Pants are acceptable in many situations.
• Jeans and shorts are not usually worn in business situations.

Titles & Business Cards

• If a person has the qualification of an engineer or doctor, then it is required that the title be used, otherwise Mr. or Madame/Miss is acceptable followed by the last name.
• When it comes to business cards, it is always best to treat the card with respect and give and receive them with the right hand.

Meetings

• It is best to arrive on time for meetings, even though you may be kept waiting.

• It's best to greet people according to their positions and titles, seniors first.

• Small talk is usually expected, 5-10 mins max. Those who invited you to the meeting should begin the business discussion and end it.

• It is recommended to allow your Egyptian host to dictate the agenda.

Negotiations

• Bargaining is expected. Egyptians are extremely emotional people, so showing a little emotion can be advantageous in certain situations, although it is best to avoid any hard-selling or high-pressure tactics.
• Decisions tend to take a long time to be reached and generally come from the top down.
• As Egyptians tend to favor an indirect communication style over direct, a "yes" may not always signify an end to the negotiation and a "no" may never be uttered. It's important to observe the facial and/or body gestures that accompany a specific response.

• In the local market bargaining is expected, and one is not expected to be honest about price, and it is normal to show emotion. Of course the situation is different in stores and supermarkets.

• While having a business deal,negotiating and bargaining is expected. Decisions usually take a day or two, sometimes longer.

• When it comes to employment, it's best leave the expected salary blank and negotiate after you receive an offer.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are not generally exchanged at initial business meetings.
• If invited to an Egyptian home, an appropriate gift would be baked goods or some kind of sweets.
• Gifts should be of modest cost as anything overly expensive may be viewed as a bribe or insult.
• Gifts are expected if you are a first time guest at a house hold.

In the Classroom

• The school year at most institutions begins in September and ends in May/June. There’s the mid year vacation (usually 2 weeks) in January, and the summer vacation (around 10 weeks).

• Dress at most school is casual to upscale casual. It's best to avoid any provocative or revealing attire. Shorts, flip-flops, sleeveless shirts, mini-skirts, and ripped clothing are generally not appropriate.

• Most universities use the A-F grading system, with F usually being a failing grade.

• Egyptian universities still rely heavily on lecturing as a teaching form.

Other Observations

• Swimsuits and bikinis are acceptable in hotel pools and cruise ships or in the Red Sea towns (area dependent).

• Most Egyptians tend to be very religious so it’s best never talk to an Egyptian without respecting that and if you intend to talk about politics try not to take any sides, just be neutral.

• Accommodation is a very important thing. Try to live close to your workplace, because traffic is horrible, especially in Cairo, Giza and Alexandria. If you can afford a driver, it is highly recommended, as you can never depend on maps or road signs.
• Drivers' salaries for families range from 700-1000 L.E. per month. If you are on a business trip, hire a car with a driver. Tou can bargain for a good price at any office for car hiring, keep away from those at the airport, they're so expensive.
• Public transportation and taxis may not be good option.

• You will come to appreciate the Egyptian culture in time. Don't be shocked, give yourself a chance to explore a different society and live the Egyptian experience. People are so kind and friendly, this warm atmosphere will allow you to forget some of the fun aspects you may miss. You can make friends for a lifetime here, as well as having wonderful memories that you will never forget. Try to visit historical places and go around during vacations. Visit the beaches and have fun while you can.