Raja Khan Saracen

Dress code in the Arab world varies tremendously from one country to the next, and from one part of the country to another. For example, you are likely to come across more traditional attire the further you travel away from main cities and international centres. Equally, some countries are more conservative than others, while some tend to be very liberal. The two ends of the spectrum are Saudi Arabia which is ultra conservative and Lebanon which is, by comparison, highly liberal. However, the dress code tends to be conservative and there is a varying degree of emphasis on modesty. This is particularly true for many of the Arab Gulf states where they have held to their traditional or national customs much more than many other Arab countries. In general, tight fitting, short and revealing garments for women are frowned upon. You will also note that this dress code is primarily for outdoors, while for indoors, anything goes. Currently, many Arabs wear Western dress, from jeans, t-shirts a...

 Arabic, which first emerged in the Arabian Peninsula, is now spoken across the MENA region (Middle East, North Africa). Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), also known as Fusha Arabic, is the variant taught in schools and used in formal, literary, and academic contexts. All Arabic speakers use MSA when writing, but there are also many spoken dialects that differ greatly in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. The five major dialects are Moroccan, Gulf, Iraqi, Levantine, and Egyptian Arabic—the latter is spoken by over 100 million people, and is one of the most widely understood dialects across the MENA region.

Coffee has a definite place in the Arab culture, traditions and rituals. From a puritan point of view, coffee belongs to the world of the Bedouin Arab. Typically, the Bedouin will wake up in the morning and after praying to Allah, he will start the ritual of making coffee. Coffee is roasted freshly and then it is ground to a rhythm in a wooden mortar that is known as the  Mihbash  in some countries. The coffee is then heated on a wood-fire, and topped up throughout the day. The coffeepot is known throughout the Arab world as the  Dallah , and it takes different shapes in different regions. It is served in a small round cup called  Funjan , which has no handles. Cardamom seeds are always added to the coffee blend, and in some countries, saffron. This Bedouin brew can be  very strong or light depending on the region. However, only a small amount is usually offered in the cup. To the Bedouin Arab, coffee is the symbol of honour and hospitality. It is often the firs...

Ramadan Holiday One of the most important holidays for Muslims is Ramadan. During the lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours. When the sun sets, they celebrate by breaking the fast and eating special foods. Prayers and special recitations of the Qur'an take place all month. Muslims celebrate 'Eid ul Fitr, the end of Ramadan, by breaking the fast until next year, wearing new clothes, giving to the poor, and attending Id prayers at the mosque. This after-Ramadan celebration known as the 'Eid ul Fitr (Festival of the Fast Breaking) is the most popular holiday in Islam. For obvious reasons, being released from a month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting can make people quite happy. The first day of the 'Eid begins in the mosque with a special morning prayer service, which consists of a short congregational prayer followed by a two-part sermon reminding people of the lessons they should remember from Ramadan for the rest of the year. The 'Eid festivities offici...

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Arabic Dialects Learning about Arabic dialect variations is essential to effectively communicating with Arabic speakers from different regions and comprehensively understanding the language and culture. There are two main varieties of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), also called Fusha, and Arabic dialects. MSA is the standard variety. It is mainly used in official documents and writing. People in all Arabic-speaking countries universally understand it—it is the language of media, literature, and formal settings. On the other hand, Arabic dialects are specific to certain regions or countries, reflecting the cultural and social diversity of the Arab world. These dialects are used in daily conversations and informal settings. 

  How to say Speedo in French: un slip de bain. What Brits and Australians so elegantly call "a Budgie smuggler” is known as a “moule-bite” (dick-hugger) on the beaches of Nice and Saint Tropez—Rehoboth Beach too, lol.