Arab women are typically subordinate to men in their societies. The extent varies by country. The most restrictive conditions exist on the Arabian Peninsula, and the most relaxed conditions exist in the urban areas of Egypt, Syria and Lebanon.

THINGS TO DO:

• Respect the privacy and protected role of women in Arab societies.
• Men stand when women enter a room.
• Respect the different living "areas" for men and women.
• Do not expect women to eat or socialize in the same room as men.

THINGS NOT TO DO:

• Do not shake hands with an Arab woman unless she offers her hand first, or if you are a woman. Do not flirt, hit-on, touch, hug or talk in private with women. IT COULD ENDANGER THEIR SAFETY!
• Do not talk in public to professional Arab women unless it is business related.
• Do not try and engage a woman in conversation unless you have been formally introduced.
• Do not stare at women or maintain eye contact.
• Do not ask an Arab questions about his wife or other female members of his family.

Do:

• Do shake hands when meeting people.
• Do stand up when greeting others.
• When you finished from your Arabic cup of coffee, do shake your cup from side to side to let your host know that you don't wish to drink more. If more coffee desired, then simply hold your cup out to the person carrying the coffee pot.
• Do accept when your host offers Arabic coffee to you, as coffee is an important cultural symbol of hospitality, simultaneously extended and accepted as an act of reciprocated good will.
• Do round your taxi fare to the nearest tenth when paying your driver.
• Do haggle merchants when shopping. (Except for those shops with fixed prices).
• Do dress conservatively.
• Do be aware that Arabs tend to stand a fraction of distance closer when conversing

• Don't interrupt, or pass in front of a Muslim who may be praying in public place.
• Don't dress provocatively; shorts are rarely worn by either sex.
• Don't panic if an acquaintance "pecks" you on the cheeks when greeting you, as an Arabs have traditionally kissed each other on both cheeks as a warm gesture of welcome and affection.
• Don't feel uncomfortable if your host insists on "overfeeding" you during a meal, as Arabs traditionally view food as an important symbol of hospitality, generosity, and good will the more the better.
• Don't feel that you are requested to tip your taxi driver, as tipping a scenario is not necessary, but certainly

Do:

• Make sure you have a valid passport and a visa to enter the UAE. You should have Xerox copies of your passport, visa and other important travel documents, keeping them separate from the originals.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Keep a list of UAE emergency phone numbers always with you.
• Change your money only from authorised moneychangers or banks in Dubai. As there are no currency restrictions in the UAE, all major world currencies can be exchanged.
• Always drink bottled water that is easily and cheaply available everywhere in the UAE. Tap water is desalinated and safe for drinking, but drinking bottled mineral water is recommended.
• Taking of photographs can be sensitive, especially taking photographs of people; ask permission and avoid secure areas (airport, military camps, official buildings etc).
• Respect local cultures and traditions of the UAE.
• Use sunglasses and sun cream, as sunburn is a risk in the UAE and heat sometimes can be unbearable, especially in midsummer (July, August) when it is very hot and humid.
• Dress appropriately. It is fine to wear swimwear on the beaches and at the pool, however dress in public areas should be modest and respectful. As a general rule women should cover shoulders and knees. This is especially important during Ramadan.
• If you take prescription medication, check if it is available in the UAE. Certain medication (eg codeine) is prohibited in the UAE and it is not permitted to bring it into the country even with a prescription. If you take a medication regularly it is recommended to bring a few months’ supply with you to cover you when you first arrive. If you are bringing medication into the country make sure you carry a copy of your prescription with you in case you are questioned at customs.

Don'ts:

• Alcohol consumption is allowed only by non-Muslims in licensed restaurants, pubs, clubs, private venues and at home (for residents who have acquired an alcohol license).
• Drugs are strictly forbidden, even a residual amount. Drug offences carry extremely severe consequences in the UAE including the death penalty.
• Sexual relationships outside of marriage are illegal. It is illegal for unmarried couples to live together in the UAE. This includes sharing rooms in hotels.
• The UAE has a zero-tolerance policy towards drinking and driving. Always use taxis if you are drinking.
• Bouncing a cheque is illegal in the UAE.
• Dancing is allowed in the privacy of your home or at licensed clubs.
• Sexual harassment or randomly addressing women in public or taking their photos without permission is strictly frowned upon.
• Offensive language, spitting and aggressive behavior (including hand gestures) are viewed very seriously and can result in prosecution.
• Holding hands for married couples is tolerated but kissing and hugging are considered offences against public decency.
• Smoking is forbidden in government areas, offices and shopping malls.
• Working without a proper work visa is illegal. You cannot partake in any kind of paid employment without first obtaining a work visa.

During the holy month of Ramadan:

• Don't eat, drink or smoke in public before sunset. This includes consuming anything in your car or taxi.
• Don't show public displays of affection
• Don't wear revealing clothes
• Be conscious of the volume of your TV or music during prayer hours

Cultural Do's And Don'ts
Alcohol is a very sensitive subject in Qatar and the utmost discretion must be shown at all times by those permitted to consume it. This means drawing as little attention as possible to the possession or consumption of alcohol, practices which are restricted to the private homes of authorized liquor permit holders. The resale or giving of liquor by individuals is strictly forbidden and result in severe penalties. Alcohol must only be transported in your vehicle to your residence on the day it is purchased.
The traffic laws of Qatar should be strictly obeyed. It is against Qatari law to drink any alcohol and drive. Anyone involved in an accident that is found to have consumed alcohol will be held to blame.
The style of driving in Qatar will be unfamiliar to you. Be patient. When a cavalcade of cars accompanying the Emir or the crown prince pass, other traffic is required to move onto the hard shoulder or side of the road and stop and move as directed by the police.
Gambling is forbidden.
Dress should be conservative. It is offensive to many Gulf Arabs for men in public to wear shorts or sleeveless vests without a shirt. This applies especially to shopping in supermarkets. Do not wear or imitate Qatari national dress as it is considered disrespectful. Women should also respect local customs and feelings by refraining from wearing shorts, sundresses, low-necked or very short dresses or tight jeans in public places. These recommendations do not apply at the beach or at the hotel swimming pool, although again there is a need for discretion.
Any intimacy in public places between men and women (including teenagers) is frowned upon.
Qataris are sensitive about the taking of photographs. Whenever possible seek permission. Do not photograph official buildings, industrial plants or military camps/installations without specific permission. Photography at the airport is banned.
Throughout the month of Ramadan, it is forbidden to eat, drink or smoke in public during the hours of fasting (between dawn and sunset). It is also advisable to take particular care not to offend Muslim customs and traditions during this period.
Always carry identification.

General
If you're 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 tendency to stay within the social and physical confines of your foreign 'ghetto'. Your Arab 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.
You should accept refreshment whenever it's offered, but note that you should always use your right hand for drinking and eating, as the left hand is regarded as unclean (as it's 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.
You should also never call at an Arab’s house without warning him that you're coming. If the women of the family are present, this won’t be appreciated. You should also avoid expressing admiration for any of your host’s possessions, as tradition dictates that he must then offer it to you. Although this tradition isn't followed by everybody, it can nevertheless cause embarrassment. What's more, the correct response is for the recipient to give an even more valued gift in return, so think twice before admiring an Arab’s Rolls Royce!

Society Dos and Don'ts - Most of Oman adhere to strict Islamic principles and are conservative and traditional. Omanis are very hospitable and friendly but are very sensitive about many issues. Taking photographs anywhere in Oman is resented while taking pictures of women is completely out of bounds. It is suggested that you dress conservatively and modestly in rural areas. Don't drink alcohol in public places to avoid problems with the police. During the month of Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in public is banned. While women can drive and walk around unescorted in Oman, women travelers, especially single women, may feel uncomfortable in cheaper urban lodgings. They should avoid opening their room door if anyone knocks at night, and ignore stares and catcalls on the street. All restaurants have family rooms and it is suggested women tourists eat in the family room. Women can avoid unwanted attention by dressing conservatively, covering up as much of the arms and legs as possible and not wearing bikinis on the beach. Though it is not necessary for foreign women to wear scarves, in rural areas you will be respected if you do so. Single foreign women are an unusual sight throughout Oman, so do be careful about dressing conservatively.
Oman has a very orderly society, and so as long as you dress properly and avoid doing anything that the police may misconstrue as spying, you are safe.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosques in Oman.
The official language is Arabic but English is widely spoken in large cities and business circles. You will find street signs, and restaurant menus in both Arabic and English. Expatriate workers speak in Urdu, Hindi and Farsi. Though Arabic is used for education, official purposes and the media, there are several regional dialects. The ethnic Baluchi population in Mutrah (Muscat) speaks Baluchi, derived from ancient Indo Iranian language. Many locals in Salalah and other southern coastal towns in Oman speak a Dhofari dialect; some residents of the isolated peninsula of Musandem speak Kumzari, a Creole mixture of Hindi, Farsi and Portuguese.

-Meetings are arranged for by a Saudi contact person; an experienced contact person is vital for business success so make sure you choose the right one (you are not allowed to switch!)
- Appointments are arranged for between prayer times; often specific starting times are not set. You may check the local newspapers for the prayer times (they vary with the season of the year) and do not expect to keep more than one appointment a day
- It is standard to keep supplicants, including foreign business people, waiting. Be in time and do not get annoyed when the meeting is often interrupted
- Coffee will be served at the end of a meeting; another signal for rounding up is incense
- The Saudi have their own ways of doing business and awarding contracts; don't expect any transparent procedure or western-style checks and balances
- Do not bring any alcohol, pork meat or pornographic material into Saudi-Arabia, and refrain from any criticism on Islam or the Royal Family; this is prohibited. The display of any non-Islamic religious symbol (such as a cross) is not recommended.
- Genders are separated in any public activity; do not provoke these traditions by any controversial behavior
- Saudis speak at close distance to their conversation partners and touching is normal (between the same gender; NB homosexual behavior is illegal)
- Obey to the Saudi dress code (cover arms and legs), but don't wear any local clothing
- Hosting visitors is a virtue among Saudis; be prepared to take off your shoes and never eat with your left hand