Egypt

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Appearance

Foreigners are expected to abide by local standards of modesty however, do not adopt native clothing. Traditional clothes on foreigners may be offensive.
Most of the body must always remain covered despite the heat.
A jacket and tie are usually required for men at business meetings. Men should wear long pants and a shirt, preferably long-sleeved, buttoned up to the collar. Men should also avoid wearing visible jewelry, particularly around the neck.
Women should always wear modest clothing in public. High necklines sleeves at least to the elbows are expected. Hemlines, if not ankle-length should at least be well below the knee. A look of baggy concealment should be the goal, pants or pant suits are not recommended. It is a good idea to keep a scarf handy, especially if entering a Mosque.

Behavior

Space relationships among members of the same sex will be much closer than North Americans and Europeans are comfortable with. Egyptians will tend to stand close and moving away may be seen as a sign of aloofness. On the other hand, men and women stand farther apart from each other than is the custom in United States and Europe.
Only the right hand should be used for eating. Throughout most of the Middle East the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene.
Try not to sit with your legs crossed. Showing the sole of your shoe is considered an insult to another person.
Tapping the two index fingers together is considered a crude gesture meaning, "Would you sleep with me?"
It is common to smoke in public. Be considerate to others present and offer your cigarettes.
While dining it is considered impolite to eat everything on your plate. Leaving food on your plate symbolizes abundance and is considered a compliment to your host.

Communications

Names are often confusing. It's best to get the names (in English) of those you will meet, speak to, or correspond with ahead of time so that you can find out both their full names and how they are to be addressed in person.
Arabic is read from right to left and books or magazines start at what would be the last page in the U.S. Printed literature should have an impressive back cover, even if printed in English.
Nearly all Egyptians speak Arabic. Most international business people will speak English, French or both.
Frequently appointments are interrupted by phone calls and visits from friend and family.
Business cards should be printed in English on one side and Arabic on the other.
Documents should carry two dates, the Gregorian (Western) date and the Hijrah (Arabic) date.

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