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HAND GESTURES

Arabic is not necessarily acquired to understand some communications in Saudi Arabia. It

has been said that To tie an Arabs hands while he is speaking is tantamount to tying his

tongue. If an expatriate simply observes Saudis when they talk among themselves or to

others, a Saudi will many times use non-verbal communications unconsciously through

various hand gestures. I am not an expert on the definitions of all gestures Saudis may use

with their hands but I will say that I have consistently seen Saudis use certain gestures that

Ive not encountered elsewhere.

One example of a typical gesture which in my experience I associate as so very Saudi is

when a Saudi may be on his or her mobile phone and unable to perform an action or speak

with someone. To illustrate be patient a Saudi will gesture with his or her thumb, forefinger and middle finger closed together and in the direction of the person directed to wait

or be patient.

Another non-verbal mannerism of many Saudi men is to stroke their chin when asking a

favor and wishing to express please.

The gesture of placing the right hand or its forefinger on the tip of the nose, on the right lower

eyelid, on top of the head, on the mustache or beard has the meaning of its in front of me, I

see it or its on my head to accomplish. Another meaning is its my obligation.

Right hand out, palm down, with fingers brought toward oneself repeatedly in a clawing

motion, is the sign for calling someone to come.

Placing the palm of the right hand on the chest immediately after shaking hands with another

man shows respect or thanks. A very slight bow of the head may also be added.

Touching the tips of the right fingertips to the forehead while bowing the head slightly, or

kissing the back of a dignitarys hand also connotes Respect.

Grasping the chin with the thumb side of the right fist is a sign of wisdom or maturity.

By holding the fingers in a pear shaped configuration with the tips pointing up at about waist

level and moving the hand slightly up and down signals wait a little bit or be careful.

This gesture can be observed extensively when driving in the crowded streets of the Arab

cities. In such a locale, it may be accompanied by curses from an anxious taxi driver or a

pedestrian trying to cross the street.

Hitting the side of ones face with the palm of one hand, head slightly tilted, and eyes wide

open, is meant as an expression of surprise. Flicking the right thumbnail on front teeth can be

translated to mean I have no money or I have only a little.

Biting the right forefinger, which has been placed sideways in the mouth, may be a threat oran expression of regret. In Western culture the OK sign is a positive gesture. However in

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the Arab world, if the gesture is shaken at another person it symbolizes the sign of the evil

eye. An Arab may use the sign in conjunction with verbal curses.

Hitting the right fist into the open palm of the left hand indicates obscenity or contempt.

Placing the tips of the left fingers and thumb together so that the hand faces right, thenplacing the tip of the right forefinger directly on the left fingertips indicates an obscenity or

insult directed at ones birth or parentage. Specifically You have five fathers.

Placing the palm of the right hand on the chest, bowing the head a little and closing ones

eyes connotates Thank You (in the name of Allah).

Touching noses together three times when greeting is a Bedouin gesture of friendship and

respect.

Two men kissing each other quickly on the lips when greeting is an expression of friendship.

A quick snap of the head upwards with an accompanying click of the tongue connotates:

No, perhaps, or What you say is false.

By joining the tips of the right thumb, forefinger, and middle finger and then moving the

configuration rapidly in front of the body, an Arab will add emphasis to his speech.

Patting another persons shoulder with the right hand is a conciliatory gesture.

Before serving coffee, a bit of it may be poured onto the ground. This is a Bedouin gesture of

sacrifice.

During the Hajj (pilgrimage), people may kiss only on the shoulders as a gesture of friendship

and greeting.

Flipping the hand near the mouth and simultaneously making a clicking sound with the

tongue and teeth is used to indicate that a person is not to worry.

By holding the right hand in front of the face with the back facing forward and then flipping

the hand so that the palm is up, the Arab will indicate that the person asked for is not present.

If an Arab rubs his earlobe with the tips of his right forefinger and thumb, he may be asking,Do you want me to answer the question for you?

Placing a half closed hand in front of the stomach, and then turning it slightly connotes that

the person to whom the gesture is made is a liar.

By first touching the tip of the right forefinger on the tongue and then placing it on the tip of

the nose, an Arab gives a sign for a person to hurry.

Be aware of appearing to be in a hurry when you are among Arabs. For example, during a

business appointment or social visit with an Arab, do not look at your watch or otherwise act

as if you have little time to talk. Arabs can be very offended by this. Time is much lessrigidly scheduled in Arab countries than in the U.S.

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Pointing your finger or a pencil at anyone while speaking, or beckon anyone with your finger.

It is considered a threat, and only animals are treated in this manner.

In closing this post, I ask for Saudis to share other gestures and their meanings that may not

have been included in this post. I would also ask expatriates to share their own experiences

of seeing and learning how to decipher differing hand gestures.

http://americanbedu.com/2010/09/21/saudi-arabia-saudis-and-non-verbal-communications/

TIME ORIENTATION

MEANING :

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SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

Although Arabs are understanding and unlikely to take offence at social blunders, provided

they arise from ignorance rather than malice, you will be made far more welcome if you

acquaint yourself with local ways of doing things. Its important to remember that youre a

foreigner and you must therefore adapt to the customs and social behaviour of the region

not the other way round. In addition to actions and behaviour which are regarded as criminal,there are certain unwritten rules that you must observe in order not to offend local

sensibilities.

Dress

There are two distinct types of womens clothing in the region: one for locals, the other for

expatriates. Outside the home, most Arab women dress according to religious custom, which

means that they must cover most of the body, from head to foot. The traditional black

overgarment (abaya) is ankle length with long sleeves and a high neckline, and the hair is

covered. Some Arab women are totally covered, including their face and hands, especially

Saudis and those with strictly religious husbands. This is meant to protect women protection

from unwanted attention, and in Saudi Arabia even foreign women must wear an abaya

outside the home; the religious police will stop any woman who has her head uncovered and

direct her to cover her hair immediately. In other UAE states, foreign women may wear

western clothes but should always dress conservatively.

The regions hot climate and customs call for informal but smart dressing. Arabs frown on

clothes which reveal the shoulders, arms and legs, and any woman dressing provocatively

will be regarded as being of easy virtue or perhaps even as a prostitute. In the home,

however, when not entertaining close friends or relatives, Arab women often adopt western

dress, particularly younger women, and there are no restrictions on the way foreign womenmay dress in private.

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In a business setting, it is appropriate for women to wear conservative suits, in the form of

dark-coloured trousers or skirts that fall below the knee. The elbows should also be covered

at all times with a shirt or vest.

Arab men wear the thobe, a loose, ankle-length robe made from fine white cotton (or heavier

woollen material in winter). There are different styles of thobe, both in the cut of the clothand in the fastenings at the neck and front. Perhaps the most distinctive are those worn by the

Omanis, which sport a tassel. The thobe can be worn for all occasions, either social or

business. An outer cloak, the bisht, is worn on formal occasions and can be very costly, with

border embroidery in gold thread and the material itself of the finest quality.

The traditional, distinctive head covering is theguthra, a white or red and white checkered

cloth held in place by the agal, a black rope which was originally a camel tether. There are

different types of agal: for example, Qataris normally wear a more African-style headdress,

with two long tails reaching down the back. Arab men sometimes wear casual dress on very

informal occasions or at the beach, but Saudi men are strongly encouraged to wear national

dress at all times.

Obviously, foreign men arent expected to wear Arab garments, and western dress is the

norm. Men should avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts in the street, as is these are

regarded as excessively casual, although with the development of tourism, this attitude is

softening. However, suits are rarely worn in the Gulf, except for important business meetings

and related social events. Standard wear in the office is a shirt (usually long-sleeved), tie and

lightweight trousers.

Terms of Address

Arabs generally value civility highly, and its important that you greet (and part from) local

people in the correct way. The use of Arab names can be confusing for newcomers to the

region. For example, a man might be called Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Jishi. Abdullah is

his given name and hes the son or grandson of (bin) Abdul Aziz; Al-Jishi is the family or

tribal name. To make matters even more complicated, given names are often abbreviated: for

example, Mohammed can be shortened to Mohd, Hamad or Hamed. Its important to use the

full name, however, particularly on formal occasions and in correspondence. Abdullah bin

Abdul Aziz Al-Jishi should never be called Abdullah (let alone the diminutive Abdul),

although the patronymic may be omitted and he can be addressed as Abdullah Al-Jishi.

The general formal address is Sayyed(Sir) for a man or Sayeeda (or Sayedity) for awoman, followed by the persons full name. Arab women can be addressed as Madame.

Rulers are usually addressed as Your Highness (Your Majesty in the case of the King of

Saudi Arabia). Senior members of ruling families are called Your Excellency followed by

Sheikh(pronounced shake and not sheek) and their full name. Government ministers of

the ruling line are Your Excellency, Minister of . . . and other ministers simply Your

Excellency followed by the full name. Lesser members of ruling families and those in

religious authority are addressed as Sheikhfollowed by their full name. In Saudi Arabia, the

title has somewhat less significance and is also being used by powerful members of the

business community. The conventions for addressing rulers and members of ruling families

are complex, and you should always check locally before being introduced to any dignitaries.

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Greetings

The most common greeting in the Gulf is Salam alaykum(Peace be upon you), to which the

correct reply is Wa alaykum as-salam(And upon you be peace). Other common greetings

and the accepted replies are:

Greeting Meaning Reply

Ahlan wa sahlan Hello Ahlan bik

Sabah al-khayr Good morning/afternoon Sabah an-nur

Masa al-khayr Good evening Masa an-nur

Note that tisbah ala-khayr, meaning good night, is said on parting, as in English, and the

reply is wa inta min ahlu. Men should always shake hands when greeting and parting from

Arab men. In the case of Arab women, you should be guided by the womans behaviour:

many Arab women wont shake hands with non-Arab men, although educated women might.

This is normal even with close friends whom you meet frequently. However, women should

wait to see how the interlocutor greets them, as devout Muslims would never touch a woman

who is not family. The alternative in this case is to place your hand over your heart.

If the handshake you receive when leaving somebody is longer than the one you received

when meeting him, it indicates that youve made a good impression. Incidentally, newcomers

should note that refusals or protracted reluctance to meet people are frowned upon. Note also

that you shouldnt approach Arab women, look at them or talk to them unless youve been

properly introduced.

After handshaking, its customary to enquire after the other persons health and other matters,

and you should expect similar enquiries to be directed at you. (Dont enquire after the health

of the female members of an Arabs family, however, but restrict your questions to those

regarding the family in general or the sons.) This can take a long time, as neither party wishes

to be the one to draw matters to a close. Foreigners arent expected to know or use all the

subtleties this ritual involves, but you will make a good impression if you learn at least some

of the standard expressions and use them in the correct way. Whether in face-to-face

conversation or speaking to people on the telephone, dont talk business straight away; if you

do so, Arabs will assume that youre impatient or notinterested in them personally.

Hands & Feet

You should accept refreshment whenever its offered, but note that you should always use

your right hand for drinking and eating, as the left hand is regarded as unclean (as its used

for toilet purposes). Similarly, you should avoid showing the soles of your shoes or feet,

which implies that you think the other person is dirt, which is obviously highly offensive.

You should therefore keep your feet flat on the ground and not cross your legs.

Invitations

If youre invited to the home of an Arab, you should always accept. You should generally

take every opportunity to become acquainted with local people and avoid the natural

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tendency to stay within the social and physical confines of your foreign ghetto. YourArab

host will be interested in you and your views. However, you should avoid politics and

religion as subjects for discussion; your opinions might be regarded as ill-informed or even

offensive, even if they seem acceptable to you from a western perspective.

When you enter the majlis, the reception room for visitors, you should always remove yourfootwear, unless the host indicates otherwise (you should therefore ensure that there are no

holes in your socks!). At this point, women are usually asked to join the women. You will

almost certainly be offered something to drink and perhaps eat; accept the offer. Arabs are

almost always polite and expect the same from those they meet, and believe that sharing a

meal with a person positively affects the relationship.

The standard greeting isAhlan wa sahlanwhich means welcome - and this will become

familiar to all who visit Saudi Arabia. Its certainly worth learning enough Arabic to

communicate the pleasantries, greetings and responses of the country youre living in. You

will enjoy peoples reaction and your hosts invariably offer encouragement to those who

attempt to speak their language. Its important to note, however, that the Arabic language hasa special significance, having been designed to carry the word of God, so its important to use

it respectfully.

You should also never call at an Arabs house without warning him that youre coming. If the

women of the family are present, this wont be appreciated, particularly in Saudi Arabia. You

should also avoid expressing admiration for any of your hosts possessions, as tradition

dictates that he must then offer it to you. Although this tradition isnt followed by everybody,

it can nevertheless cause embarrassment. Whats more, the correct response is for the

recipient to give an even more valued gift in return, so think twice before admiring an Arabs

Rolls Royce!

Other Dos and Donts

You should also heed the following warnings:

Dont offer alcoholic drinks to an Arab, unless youre certain that he drinks alcohol.This can cause great offence.

Dont walk on a prayer mat or in front of any person at prayer and try not to stare atpeople who are praying.

Dont try to enter a mosque without first asking permission. Its unlikely that you willbe allowed in.

In Saudi Arabia, dont try to enter the Holy sites of the areas surrounding Mecca andMedina. The roads are well signposted to notify everybody of this restriction. If a

non-Muslim is found within the prohibited areas, hes likely to be assaulted and will

be afforded no protection against the assailants.

Avoid blasphemy, particularly in the presence of Muslims. Avoid putting an Arab in a position where he might suffer a loss of face in front of

other Arabs. He will appreciate this, if he notices your action.

Dont beckon to people with a finger, as this is considered particularly impolite.Arabs might use such a gesture to summon a dog.

Avoid shouting and displays of aggression or drunkenness at all times, as suchbehaviour is rarely tolerated.

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During Ramadan, dont eat, drink or smoke anywhere where you can be seen byMuslims during the hours of daylight and dont engage in any noisy behaviour or

embrace or kiss anyone in public.

CONDUCT BUSINESS

Get distribution rights from pharmacy at Saudi Arabia

ALL DETAIL

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