Meeting People in the Arabian Gulf

People in this part of the world are very friendly and polite, especially to visitors and guests. Being a good host is very important in their culture. If you are invited to someone's home, they will often offer you something to drink, like Arabic coffee or tea, and maybe some dates (a sweet fruit) or other snacks. It's polite to accept. They like to chat and ask questions about your country and your family.

Family is very important in Gulf culture. Families are often large, and members are usually very close. They spend a lot of time together, especially for meals. Sharing food is a big part of their life. You might see big groups eating together from large dishes.

While the cities are very modern with international shops and restaurants, people also keep their traditions. You will often see men wearing the traditional long white robe (dishdasha or thobe) and head covering.

Many women wear a long black cloak (abaya) and a headscarf (hijab) when they are outside.

Arabic is the main language, but many people, especially in the cities and in business or tourism jobs, speak English very well. I found it quite easy to communicate.

Overall, I found the people to be kind, respectful, proud of their country, and very welcoming to foreign visitors.