Language in Egypt For almost 13 centuries Arabic has been the written and spoken language of Egypt.

Before the Arab invasion in AD 639, Coptic, the language descended from ancient Egyptian, was the language of both religious and everyday life for the mass of the population; by the 12th century, however, it had been totally replaced by Arabic, continuing only as a liturgical language for the Coptic Orthodox Church. Arabic has become the language of both the Egyptian Christian and Muslim. The written form of the Arabic language, in grammar and syntax, has remained substantially unchanged since the 7th century. In other ways, however, the written language has changed the modern forms of style, word sequence, and phraseology are simpler and more flexible than in classical Arabic and are often directly derivative of English or French. Why not learn some useful Arabic phrases? Egyptian Society & Culture Islam Islam is practised by the majority of Egyptians and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion. Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday. During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. Expatriates are not required to fast; however, they must not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public. Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar). The festivities often continue well into the night. In general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate on a reduced schedule. Shops may be open and closed at unusual times. Family Values . The family is the most significant unit of Egyptian society. . Kinship plays an important role in all social relations. . The individual is always subordinate to the family, tribe or group.

. Nepotism is viewed positively, since it is patronage of one's family. . The family consists of both the nuclear and the extended family. Egyptian Honour . Honour is an important facet of interpersonal relationships. . Respect and esteem for people is both a right and an obligation. . An individual's honour is intricately entwined with the reputation and honour of everyone in their family. . Honour requires that Egyptians demonstrate hospitality to friends and guests. . It also dictates that people dress as well as their financial circumstances allow, and show proper respect and deference to their elders and those in authority. . A man's word is considered his bond and to go back on your word is to bring dishonour to your family. Social Class . Social class is very apparent in Egypt since it determines your access to power and position. . The social class an Egyptian is born into dictates their everyday life and the opportunities they will have. . There are three social classes: upper, middle, and lower. . Status is defined more by family background than by absolute wealth. . There is little social mobility.

Etiquette & Customs in Egypt

Meeting Etiquette . Greetings are based on both class and the religion of the person. . It is best to follow the lead of the Egyptian you are meeting. . Handshakes are the customary greeting among individuals of the same sex. . Handshakes are somewhat limp and prolonged, although they are always given with a hearty smile and direct eye contact. . Once a relationship has developed, it is common to kiss on one cheek and then the other while shaking hands, men with men and women with women. . In any greeting between men and women, the woman must extend her hand first. If she does not, a man should bow his head in greeting. Gift Giving Etiquette . If you are invited to an Egyptian's home for dinner, bring good quality chocolates, sweets or pastries to the hostess. . Do not give flowers, which are usually reserved for weddings or the ill, unless you know that the hosts would appreciate them. . A small gift for the children shows affection.

. Always give gifts with the right hand or both hands if the gift is heavy. . Gifts are not opened when received Dining Etiquette If you are invited into an Egyptian's house: . You would normally remove your shoes before entering. . Dress well and conservatively. Appearances are important to Egyptians. . Compliment the host on the house. Table manners . Wait for the host or hostess to tell you where to sit. . Eat with the right hand only. . It is considered a sincere compliment to take second helpings. . Always show appreciation for the meal. . Salting your food is considered an insult. . Leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished eating. Otherwise they will keep filling it up for you!

Business Etiquette and Protocol in Egypt

Relationships & Communication . Egyptians prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore expect to spend time cultivating a personal relationship before business is conducted. . Who you know is more important than what you know, so it is important to network and cultivate a number of contracts. . Expect to be offered coffee or tea whenever you meet someone, as this demonstrates hospitality. Even if you do not take a sip, always accept the beverage. Declining the offer is viewed as rejecting the person. . Since Egyptians judge people on appearances wear good quality conservative clothes and present yourself well at all times. . Egyptians believe direct eye contact is a sign of honesty and sincerity, so be prepared for disconcertingly intense stares. . Egyptians are emotive and use hand gestures when they are excited. In general, they speak softly, although they may also shout or pound the table. This is not indicative of anger; it is merely an attempt to demonstrate a point. . You should demonstrate deference to the most senior person in the group, who will also be their spokesperson. This is a country where hierarchy and rank are very important. Business Meeting Etiquette . Appointments are necessary and should be made in advance. . Confirm the meeting one week in advance, either in writing or by telephone. . Reconfirm again a day or two before the meeting.

. Meetings are generally not private unless there is a need to discuss matters confidentially. In general, Egyptians have an open-door policy, even when they are in a meeting. This means you may experience frequent interruptions. Others may even wander into the room and start a different discussion. You may join in, but do not try to bring the topic back to the original discussion until the new person leaves. . High- level government officials often adhere to more western business practices and hold private meetings without interruptions . Business meetings generally start after prolonged inquiries about health, family, etc. . If you send an agenda and presentation materials in advance of the meeting, send both an English and Egyptian Arabic translation. Business Negotiation . The social side of business is very important. Egyptians must know and like you to conduct business. Personal relationships are necessary for long-term business. . Business is hierarchical. The highest ranking person makes decisions, after obtaining group consensus. . Decisions are reached after great deliberation. . If the government is involved, discussions will take even longer since approval must often be given by the ministers of several departments. . Business moves at a slow pace. The society is extremely bureaucratic. It may take several visits to accomplish a simple task. . It is advisable to include older people with impressive titles in your team since Egyptians respect age and experience. . Expect a fair amount of haggling. Egyptians seldom see an offer as final. . Egyptians do not like confrontation and abhor saying 'no'. If they do not respond, it usually is a negative sign. . Always include research and documentation to support your claims. . Do not use high-pressure tactics. . Egyptians are tough negotiators. Dress Etiquette . Business attire is formal and conservative. Dress well if you want to make a good impression. . Men should wear dark coloured, lightweight, conservative business suits, at least to the first meeting. . Men should avoid wearing visible jewellery, especially around the face and neck. . Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately. Skirts and dresses should cover the knee and sleeves should cover most of the arm. Business Cards . Business cards are given without formal ritual. . Have one side of your card translated into Egyptian Arabic. . Always hand the card so the recipient may read it.

. Make a point of studying any business card you receive before putting into your business card case.

international dining etiquette

Egypt

No Pork No Eating with the Left Hand No Alcohol

Dining etiquette for eating with Muslims. Islam prohibits eating pork. Meat must be prepared halal. Do not eat in front of your Muslim colleagues, or invite them to join you for a meal, during the day during Ramadan.
Dining etiquette for drinking. Always accept the cup of tea and/or coffee. Never pour your own drink. Be alert throughout the meal as to whether or not your neighbor's cup or glass needs refilling. If it is less than half full, it needs refilling. If your glass is less than half full, your neighbor or host is obliged to refill it. If he or she does not, do not refill it yourself. Indicate your need by pouring a little more drink into your neighbor's glass, even if it doesn't really need it.

Dining etiquette before the meal. Before meals guests say, "Sahtain' (the equivalent of "bon appetit"), or "Bismillah (in the name of God) when the meal is over, guests should also say, "Daimah" ("may there always be plenty at your table"). Dining etiquette for guests. Do not fill your plate full at first. It is better to return for more. Dining etiquette utensil use. You may or may not be given 'Western utensils. Throughout the region, people use spoons, forks and knives or no utensils at all. Use only your right hand for eating. Hold any utensils in your right hand. Never use your left hand for eating. Dining etiquette for eating with your hands. A great variety of foods can be eaten with the hands, most of the time using bread like a utensil to scoop up some of the food. Here are some other things to note about eating in Egypt:

Wash your hands before you sit down to eat if you will not use utensils. Many restaurants have washrooms and sinks out in the open specifically for this purpose. You will also need to wash your hands again at the end of the meal, especially after eating the saucy dishes, since you've probably got some messy fingers by the end of the meal.

Use your right hand when picking up and eating food: never your left hand. Keep your left hand at your side. Do not place your left hand on the table, and do not pass food with your left hand. Pork will typically not be on the menu. Alcohol will usually not be served with the meal. Men and women may be asked to dine separately. If you absolutely cannot eat without some kind of utensil, it's usually perfectly all right to ask for one.

Dining etiquette for smoking. The nargilah, or water pipe, may be offered at the end of the meal (this is filled with tobacco, marijuana and hashish. This may be illegal. Fresh mints or caraway seeds may be offered as a special treat just before you go. Dining etiquette for leaving. Expect to be told that it is too early to leave the first time you try: stay a while longer, but if the hosts serve some ice water or another cool drink you should leave soon thereafter. Dining etiquette for seating. The most honored position is at the head of the table with the second most important person, or the honored guest, seated next to the head of the table. (Spouses are usually not invited to business meals in restaurants. Do not ask if your spouse can join you: it will embarrass your Egyptian colleague. However, your spouse might be invited with you to a meal at home, especially if the spouse of the host will be there, which will probably be the case. The invitation will then be phrased, "My spouse invites your spouse.") Be prepared that in some more traditional homes, you might sit on carpets on the floor at very low tables. Men and women eating at more observant homes may dine in separate areas (and spend the entire evening separated) or at separate times, with the men dining first. Dining etiquette for accepting food. You will always be offered more food. Leave a bit on your plate if you do not want more food. You will be implored to take more two or three times, in the form of a little ritual. The game is as follows: first you refuse, then the host insists, then you refuse again, then the host insists again, and then you finally give in and take a little more. This is known as the uzooma (the see-saw dialogue of imploring, rejecting, and finally submitting). If you really don't want anymore, take very little and leave it on your plate. Your host will constantly ask you if you are enjoying yourself and will implore you to have more. To leave food on your plate is a sign of wealth; to have more food to offer is also a sign of wealth. You may always have additional beverages: drink enough to cause your cup or glass to be less than half full, and it will generally be refilled. A reminder: never refill your own glass: always refill your neighbor's glass, and he or she will refill yours. Dining etiquette for order of service. The honored guest is served first then the oldest male, then the rest of the men, then children, and finally women. Dining etiquette for when to begin eating. Do not begin to eat or drink anything until the oldest male at the table has been served and has begun. Dining etiquette for the end of the meal. At the end of the meal, it is appropriate to thank the host or hostess for a wonderful meal.

Dining etiquette for restaurants. In informal restaurants, you may be required to share a table. If so, do not force conversation: act as if you are seated at a private table. Women should be sensitive to the fact that they may be seated only with other women. Wait staff may be summoned by subtly raising your hand or by making eye contact; waving or calling their names is very impolite. Dining etiquette for discussing business. Business meals are generally not good times to discuss business or make business decisions. Take your cue from your Egyptian associates: if they bring up business. then it's okay to discuss it, but wait to take your lead from their conversation. Dining etiquette for paying the bill. Usually the one who does the inviting pays the bill, although the guest is expected to make an effort to pay. Sometimes other circumstances determine who pays (such as rank). Making payment arrangements ahead of time so that no exchange occurs at the table is a very classy way to host and is very common. Western businesswomen, if out with men, will have a problem paying the bill at a restaurant: if you want to, make payment arrangements ahead of time, and don't wait for the check to arrive at the table. It may be easiest to do this at one of the international hotel dining rooms (they are rarely as much fun, but they are very convenient, and they do avoid a lot of problems!). Dining etiquette for tipping. Tips run about 10 percent, and are typically not included in the bill (but double-check to be sure). Dining etiquette for serving a meal. Do not serve alcohol or pork.