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October 1st, 2012
Today is the first day of the seven-day Jewish Festival, Sukkot.
A Sukkah in North Carolina
Sukkot takes place on the fifth day of Yom Kippur, and is
known to be one of the most joyous and ecstatic festivals in the Jewish calendar. The transition to Sukkot always seems very drastic because Sukkot is preceded by one of the most quiet, solemn days in the Jewish calendar.
Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. Historically, the festival commemorates the 40-year period that the people of Israel wandered in the desert. To reflect upon this 40-year journey it is common for Jewish families to build a Sukkah, a form of temporary shelter.
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The Middle East comprises Iran, eight Arab states (all Muslim), 
and Israel (Jewish). The Lebanon refers to itself as an Arab country but is half Arab and half Christian.
The Muslim world is a very strict society and it is essential that you observe Islamic politeness and decorum. The United Arab Emirates are less strict and very cosmopolitan; though still adhere to Muslim values. Segregation of the sexes is an important feature of the Arab world. Men – DO NOT under any circumstances touch an Arab woman or make direct eye contact with her. No one should behave in public in a flirtatious or affectionate manner – not even married couples. Alcohol is prohibited in most parts of the Middle East and gambling is considered evil.
Women should always be very modestly and conservatively dressed, often covered fully by a burka (a long black coat, with or without a veil). Skirts below the knee, high collars and long sleeves are required. You should check on any practice regarding wearing a long scarf for hair cover. There are special areas for Westerners where ‘normal’ dress, behaviour and customs are allowed out of sight of the locals. The United Arab Emirates (Dubai) and The Lebanon (Beirut) are the exceptions; they accept ‘western’ dress and behaviour, Saudi Arabai does not.
So far in this section you’ll find the Top Ten Tips for doing business in five countries of the Middle East along with opening times, holiday dates and festivities. These are: United Arab Emirates, The Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
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Hello, I'm Deborah Swallow and, for the last fifteen years, I've worked in over thirty countries addressing the complexities of people working internationally across multiple cultures, so individuals and organisations alike can gain an authentic competitive edge and win in international markets. 