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If you have purchased a second home and are going to be spending all or part of the year living in Egypt, it’s important to know about the cultural customs of this Northern African country.

Whenever you move to a new country it is always a good idea to learn about the local culture, customs and etiquette. Having this knowledge will help you understand your neighbours and why they behave the way they do, and it will help you communicate in a respectful and appropriate way with the locals. You will have an easier time getting around, you will make friends, and you will be treated with more respect.

Here are some important tips to remember when living in Egypt:

·        Never give someone the “thumbs up” sign. Although this is a positive gesture in English speaking countries, it has a rude connotation in Egypt.

·        If someone invites you into their house when you are living in Egypt, make sure to take off your shoes. You should also remove your shoes when entering a mosque, as leaving them on would be very disrespectful. Avoid pointing the soles of your shoes at anyone, as this is considered bad luck.

·        It is a social custom to bring a small gift to someone if you are invited to their home for a meal. However, if you want to give a gift to a new friend who you have met while living in Egypt don’t give them flowers. Flowers are only given upon a wedding or an illness and are not appropriate for a friendly gift. A better idea for a gift would be a small box of chocolate or some pastries. Your friend might not open your gift when you give it to them, but put it aside instead, so don’t be offended.

·        Avoid using your left hand to pass things, touch things, or shake hands with people. The left hand is considered unclean in Egypt.

·        It is considered extremely rude to point at people, so remember to avoid this gesture when living in Egypt.

·        If you invite your Muslim Egyptian friends to a party, make sure that you have non-alcoholic drinks to offer them as well because many strict Muslims will not drink alcohol.

·        If you are invited over for a meal at someone else’s house while living in Egypt, remember that added extra salt to your food is considered offensive.

·         Although it is a very warm country, you should dress conservatively when living in Egypt. Wearing skimpy and revealing clothing is inappropriate, especially for women, and will get you a lot of uncomfortable attention from leering men. However, you should avoid wearing traditional Egyptian clothing if you are not Egyptian, as this can also be offensive.

·        If you are female talking to a male, be careful about maintaining direct eye contact. This is not the norm and will likely be interpreted as a sexual come on.

The more you know about the local customs, the easier it will be to adjust to living in Egypt.

Author Bio

Do you know what is offensive and what isn’t in Egypt? Here are some tips about local customs that you should be aware of when living in Egypt.