LOCAL ESSENTIALS

LOCAL CULTURE

CULTURE

Try not to sit with your legs crossed as showing the sole of your shoe can be considered an insult to others.

CUSTOM

When attending a dinner at an Egyptian friend or associate's residence, always bring some kind of gift with you as a mark of respect, such as chocolates or flowers.

Culture

Dressing modestly would be appropriate and is more respectful of local culture. However, this is not to say that you need to adopt native clothing.

PEOPLE

People of the same gender may interact with far less physical distance than you are used to, so much so that it may conflict with the western notion of personal space. Egyptians are a very warm people and will tend to stand quite close to you - please be aware that moving away may be seen as a sign of aloofness. Conversely, men and women stand much farther apart from each other when interacting.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Alcohol

Alcohol is allowed in certain licensed outlets but drinking in public areas is prohibited.

Borders

From Taba's unique location you can see three different countries' borders: Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel.

Communication & Behaviour

Women should wear modest clothing in public. It is a good idea to keep a scarf handy to cover your head, especially if visiting a mosque. When inside a mosque, your arms, shoulders and legs should be covered. Please also remove your shoes.

Language

Arabic is the official language of Egypt. However, the Arabic spoken on the streets differs greatly from the standard Arabic written in newspapers.

Taba Location

Taba City is a part of Egypt but is actually in a different continent. Most of Egypt's towns are located in Africa but Taba is located in Asia. From Taba's unique location you can see three different countries' borders: Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel.