{"id":5321,"date":"2020-05-26T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T08:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=5321"},"modified":"2026-03-02T17:26:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T17:26:52","slug":"8-fascinating-facts-about-arab-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.co.uk\/blog\/8-fascinating-facts-about-arab-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Fascinating Facts About Arab Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arab world stretches across over 20 countries and is made up by more than 200 million people. While it\u2019s important to not use a broad brush to describe those who make up the Arab world, there are many nuances which can be seen whether you\u2019re visiting Egypt, doing business in Qatar, or on holiday in Lebanon. If you\u2019re interested in the Arab world because you travel there frequently or are learning Arabic, you\u2019ll love these 8 fascinating facts about Arab culture!<\/p>\n

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Photo via Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

1. Arab is not a race<\/b><\/h2>\n

Too often you\u2019ll hear people broadly use the word \u2018Arab\u2019 as a term to describe the race of those who hail from certain parts of the world. Not only is it cringe-worthy, it\u2019s just plain ignorant! If you\u2019re planning on spending time in the Arab world this is the first thing you\u2019ve got to get straight so you don\u2019t end up offending anyone. In fact, \u2018Arab\u2019 is a cultural term which describes people who speak Arabic as their mother tongue.<\/p>\n

2. Honour is important<\/b><\/h2>\n

Arabs take honour and respect very seriously and you should never insult one, not even in jest. It\u2019s disrespectful to mock or shout at an Arab and especially a big taboo when it comes to your elders. Family values and respect for elders are held in high regard in the Arab world and they are key aspects of the culture that should never, ever be trifled with.<\/p>\n

3. Not all Arabs are Muslims<\/b><\/h2>\n

Since most of the Arab figures we are familiar with in the West tend to be Muslim, it\u2019s easy to assume that all Arabs must, to some extent, practise Islam. On some level, we\u2019ve come to associate \u2018Muslim\u2019 and \u2018Arab\u2019 as interchangeable terms, which shouldn\u2019t be the case. While the majority of Arabs are Muslims, you\u2019ll find Christian, Jewish, and a whole other range of religious beliefs in Arabic culture.<\/p>\n

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Photo via Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

4. Relationships first, business second<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you are travelling to any part of the Arab world for business, it\u2019s important for you to know that there is no such thing as getting right down to business in Arab culture. The first meetings are used in order to determine if a relationship can be developed between the different parties and only then will further negotiations be planned out. Take your time to get to know your business counterparts and don\u2019t feel the need to rush straight to the point.<\/p>\n

5. Arabs love bling<\/b><\/h2>\n

It is very rare to find an Arab walking around without at least a little jewellery on. This is because Arabs love their bling and enjoy investing in beautiful jewellery. Arab women, in particular, are known for donning decorative clothing and stunning jewellery for almost any occasion!<\/p>\n

Learning Arabic? Check out our <\/b>free Arabic placement test<\/b><\/a> to see how your level measures up!<\/b><\/p>\n

6. Body language has meaning<\/b><\/h2>\n

Body language, no matter which culture or country we\u2019re talking about, has meaning. In Arab culture, it tends to have a little extra significance, making greetings just a tad tricky. If you are shaking hands, extend your right hand and hold the other person\u2019s hand loosely, but for longer. Greet close friends and colleagues with a hug and kiss on both cheeks, but only if they\u2019re the same sex! If you greet the opposite sex this way you risk offending.<\/p>\n

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Photo via Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

7. Tea and coffee are key<\/b><\/h2>\n

Food and drink are centre points around which almost every culture in the world revolves. Arab culture is no different and Arabs take their love for tea and coffee in particular to a whole new level. In the Arab world, tea plays a huge role in society as it can be served when a host wishes to show hospitality to a guest, or as an integral part of business meetings. Coffee, too, is extremely important and is drunk after almost every meal.<\/p>\n

8. Time is not of the essence<\/b><\/h2>\n

Western culture is, in general, much more fast-paced than Arab. In the U.S. or U.K., you might be accustomed to checking your watch and rushing from one place to the next, but if you try to do this in an Arab country your counterpart will find it hugely insulting! Checking your watch tells your host or guest that you are too busy for them or don\u2019t consider them worthy of your time. Better to just put that watch away and avoid the habit or temptation altogether. Yikes!<\/p>\n

If you are planning to do business in Arab countries or would like to visit, join our Online Open Group Arabic Classes<\/a>! Your native-speaking teacher will introduce you to their culture and give you an insiders point of view so you can make the most out of your time there.<\/p>\n

Do you know any fascinating aspects about Arab culture? Share them below!<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Arab world stretches across over 20 countries and is made up by more than 200 million…","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":5322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,865],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arabic","category-culture-and-heritage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n8 Fascinating Facts About Arab Culture<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re interested in the Arab world because you travel there frequently or are learning Arabic, you\u2019ll love these 8 fascinating fact about Arab culture!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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