Iraq

Greetings

Men greeting Men – A handshake and kisses on each cheek is common in most situations. The number of kisses may vary depending on the relationships and area of the country one is in. Two, three, or four kisses on alternating cheeks is most common.

Women greeting Women – A handshake and kisses on each cheek is common in most situations.

Greetings between Men & Women – Usually a handshake is acceptable, but a nod can replace that among conservative Muslims. It’s best to wait for the woman to initiate if it all.

Note: It is taboo for religiously observant men to touch women and vice-versa.

Communication Style

• People usually take the long route in communication. The indirect approach is more common.
• People are mostly complimentary as saying things directly and straight forward might be considered rude sometimes.

Personal Space & Touch

• An arm’s length of personal space is common in most situations. This space may be considerably larger between members of the opposite sex.
• With business colleagues things may be a little different and depend on the nature of work. For example in the medical field colleagues of the opposite sex will get as close as it takes to handle the patient.
• Touching during a conversation is common, but not among people of opposite sex.

Eye Contact

• A little eye contact is acceptable. Too much can be considered rude or even indicative of hostility.

• It's bets for men to not look at women they do not know in the eyes. This is considered a kind of harassment or flirting.

Gestures

• Pointing with a single finger is usually considered rude. People usually use the whole hand to point to someone. Pointing to something with the whole hand is used for emphasis, both hands for further emphasis; often when angry.

• Putting the right hand on the chest means “thanks, but no, thanks”.
• Raising the right hand to shoulder height is a form of greeting when you pass by someone on the street or when greeting several people at the same time.

Views of Time

• People don’t care much about being on time; after all it can be quite difficult to be on time in a war zone where curfews and violent incidents occasionally block traffic.

• It is fine to be late a few minutes but should not exceed half an hour if possible.

• Buses trains and even flights are never on time (that is when they are functioning).

• People are mostly generous with their time, but should not be exploited.

Gender Roles

• Gender issues tend to vary from one city to another due to different traditions and the level of adherence to tribal/Islamic traditions. In urban areas in general, women can be anything; teachers, lawyers, doctors, athletes, artists or even security guards (singing, dancing, acting and sports are a little less acceptable).
• One unacceptable role is to have a woman drive a taxi/bus.

• Women smoking publicly is frowned upon and there is no drinking for women in public. It is a bit less strict for foreign women.

Taboos

• Sitting cross-legged with your shoe /foot in the direction of someone’s face is considered rude.

• Shorts are unacceptable for men other than when exercising. For women, sleeveless or see-through clothing is unacceptable.

Law & Order

• The drinking age is 18 and it’s not enforced. There are virtually no bars so it’s easy for minors to get booze and drink at home. There’s no smoking age.
• The possession of illegal drugs is prohibited but due to the presence of more serious security concerns this rule is only occasionally enforced. Drug dealers used to get the rope under Saddam. Now they do time in prison.

Dress

• For Men- A jacket and tie or a full suit is common attire in formal situations. In less formal ones, nice slacks and a collared shirt is appropriate.
• For Women- Conservative and formal is the way to go.

Titles & Business Cards

• Iraqis usually use the term “’Ostath” [th as in the] when addressing each other in business settings. This literally means teacher/professor but it serves commonly as the Iraqi version of Mr.

Meetings

• You should arrive around 15 minutes prior to the meeting to leave some space for greetings and small talk, which might even take more than that time.

• Usually the host would start the business discussion once the small talk is over. The visitor is the one who ends the meeting. The host cannot do that because it would sound like kicking someone out of your home.

Negotiations

• Bargaining is ALWAYS expected, so deals are often cut at prices quite different from where the bargaining began.
• Decisions usually take a lot of time and showing some emotion/humor is expected during the negotiation process.

• Sometimes bargaining is expected and prices are negotiable. It would be better if no emotions where shown to keep a professional atmosphere.

• Personal relationships are very important in doing business.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are not expected, yet they will be welcomed on the condition that it would not be very expensive, especially when you are dealing with public officials so that it would not be misinterpreted as a bribe. Pens and promotion materials are quite fine. If you have a personal relationship it would be fine to give more expensive gifts.
• People don’t tend to open gifts in public.

In the Classroom

• Most universities run from mid September to the end of January, followed by a two-week vacation, then from February until the end of June, followed by the summer vacation.

• Men usually wear dress pants and shirts, and women often wear long skirts and long sleeve shirts. Again, this may vary according to the city where the university is and the socio-economic level of the majority of students.

• Sometimes uniforms are imposed on college students. White shirt, black or gray trousers and black or blue jackets for men and white shirt, black or gray skirts and black or blue jackets for women.

• Shorts, sandals or in the case of women anything that reveals too much is unacceptable.

• Grades are given on a scale of 1-100 with a failing grade is anything below 50.

  For the monthly exams and ordinary quizzes grades are given on a 1-10 scale.

• Some studies require only lectures, others such as engineering, medicine and sciences require labs/clinics.

Other Observations

• For men, try to be friendly with everyone and open up to others and do not hesitate to ask for the help of any one because others will be very happy to help. Do not put yourself in a position as if you are coming to steal the girls from the other guys.
• As for Women, try to be as conservative and formal as possible, because an open and forward attitude might be misinterpreted in the middle of a conservative and closed society.