GENERAL DO’S AND DONT’S
PCG Jeddah
IMMIGRATION FORMALITIES UPON ARRIVAL
 For male first-time visitors/workers
arriving in Saudi Arabia, they
should be met by their sponsors
upon arrival to comply with
immigration formalities.
 For female visitors, they should at
all times be met by their sponsors
upon arrival to comply with
immigration formalities.
GREETINGS/SALUTATIONS
 When you enter a room or an
office, greet the people with “As-
salam Alaikom” (Peace be with
you).
 If you are greeted with “As-salam
Alaikom”, kindly answer “Wa
Alaikom As-salam” (And peace be
with you).
WHEN ENTERING HOUSES
 When entering a living room, a holy
place, or a house, remove your
shoes unless you are told not to do
so.
 Observe your hosts and others
when visiting homes. Do as they
do.
 Do not visit anyone’s
housebetween 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
This is the normal siesta time for
most locals.
CORRECT FORMS OF ADDRESS
 Shaking hands is customary when
people meet or are introduced.
 Do not shake hands with women if
you are a man and with men if you
are a woman.
 Both host and visitor address each
other using “MR” with family name.
This is the most commonly used
form of address.
 Other forms of address are:
“SHAIK, Hajji” (indicating one who
has made the pilgrimage to Mecca),
“SAID” or “SAEID” (Sir) and “ABU”
(father of) followed by a first name.
 Do not call anyone by nickname or
a slang name that would sound
strange to others.
 Never call anyone with a “come
here” motion of your finger as this
may offend him.
LANGUAGE
 Try to learn Arabic. It will greatly
help in your progress and work
relationship.
 Learn at least all the basic phrases
of courtesy and respect. This will
be appreciated.
CONVERSATION/TALKING
 Avoid the topics of Middle East
politics and religion.
 Do not talk to women if you are a
man, unless you already know each
other.
 Never point your finger to a person
you are talking to.
 Do not cross your legs or sit
showing the undersides of your feet
while talking to someone.
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 GENERAL DO’S AND DONT’S
PCG Jeddah
 Never laugh at anything pertaining
to their customs or way of life that
may appear strange or unusual to
you.
 Avoid indulging in loud
conversations or boisterous
laughters.
CLOTHING/PROPER DRESS
 Both men and women never appear
in shorts, except when swimming
or when engaged in sports.
 Ladies should always present a
modest appearance, keeping upper
arms and shoulders covered.
 Men should always present a clean
and fresh appearance.
 Whenever in public, a woman
should wear an abaya.
WHEN OFFERING OR RECEIVING SOMETHING
 Use your right hand when offering
or receiving something to or from
an Arab (or a Muslim). Do not give
or receive anything with your left
hand.
 The right hand is used for eating,
holding books or any clean item.
The left hand is for cleaning
oneself.
COFFEE AND TEA
 It is polite to have two cups of
Arabic coffee in a Saudi home, no
more, no less. When you have
enough, place your hand over the
cup or shake it from side to side as
you give it back to the waiter. He
will understand you have finished.
 An invitation to tea should be
accepted. You are being honored
as a guest. Be very courteous if
you really must refuse.
EATING/TABLE MANNERS
 Use a knife and fork or a spoon and
fork. You will be served food in the
usual Western manner.
 Do not burp at meal tables.
 During the holy month of Ramadan,
do not eat in public or in the
presence of a Muslim within
daylight hours.
 In a banquet where food is served
in one large dish, no cutlery is
provided and only the right hand
should be used to pick the food and
eat.
 Avoid talking about pork and dog
meat. They consider these dirty
and should not be eaten. Dogs
have a negative connotation in
their religion.
DRINKS/ALCOHOL
 Never drink or serve alcoholic
beverages. Like drugs, possession
and/or taking of alcohol is
prohibited and punishable by law.
 Newcomers are advised to drink
plenty of water to avoid
dehydration especially during
summer.
 Manufacturing, selling and drinking
of liquor is an offense that is
punishable by law.
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 GENERAL DO’S AND DONT’S
PCG Jeddah
RELIGION
 The proper term is “Islam” for the
religion not Mohammedanism and
“Muslim” or “Moslem” for the
person, not Mohammedan.
 Islam means “submission to God”.
 Do not discuss religion. This can be
a sensitive subject to some people.
 Do not use the name of God
(Allah), the Qu’ran of the Prophet
Mohammed and other Muslim
saints irreverently. Say “Allah Ta,
ala” (The Most High), “Qu”ran El
Karim” (Holy Qu’ran) and “Rasul
Allah” (Messenger of Allah).
 Do not attempt to enter a mosque
if you are not a Muslim unless you
have permission.
 Do not enter the cities of Makkah
and Medina if you are not a Muslim.
PRAYER
 Prayers are said at 12 noon, 3
p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and
3:30 a.m. but the time changes
with the seasons.
 Do not attempt to do business
during daily prayer hours.
 Do not talk, play music or make
any form of noise while someone is
praying and while the Holy Qu’ran
is being read or played on a
cassette, television or radio.
 Do not walk in front of someone
who is praying.
 Do not stare at someone who is
praying.
 Do not step on a prayer rug if
someone is preparing to pray.
THE HOLY QU’RAN
 Do not touch the Holy Qu’ran or
other Muslim prayer books when
you are in a private houses or
offices. It is a very irreverent
gesture. Even a Muslim is
discouraged from touching the Holy
Qu’ran without ablution.
RELIGIOUS ARTICLES
 Do not carry in your possession any
non-Muslim religious articles or
objects, i.e. bible, rosary,
stampitas, medallions, etc., when
travelling to Arab countries in the
Middle East, especially to the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
 Proselytizing is prohibited in the
Kingdom.
HOLIDAYS AND MUSLIM FESTIVITIES
 All Muslim celebrate the holidays of
Eid-el-Fitr (end of Ramadan, the
month of fasting) and Eid-el-Addha
(pilgrimage to Makkah, better
known as the “Haj”).
 Familiarize yourself with these and
other festivities in the Islamic
calendar.
 During the Holy Month of Ramadan,
eating, drinking and smoking are
all strictly prohibited with daylight
hours. Penalty, if caught, is
expulsion especially from the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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SMOKING
 Although it is not at prohibited,
most religious people in Saudi
Arabia do not welcome cigarette
smoking. Some consider it an evil
habit. It is advisable to avoid
smoking, most especially for
women.
 During the holy month of Ramadan,
smoking is strictly forbidden in the
streets or anywhere in public within
daylight hours. If caught, you will
be expelled from the Kingdom.
DRIVING
 Women are not allowed to drive in
Saudi Arabia.
 Be a defensive driver. The common
driving style is very aggressive.
PICTURE TAKING/PHOTOGRAPHS
 Do not take a picture of any person
without asking his or her
permission first.
 Do not photograph military
installations, ports and airport
facilities without official permission.
 Do not bring lewd or pornographic
pictures, tapes, and
magazines/reading materials.
WOMEN
 Do not stare at women.
 Women are advised to avoid going
out alone for their own safety and
protection.
 Women should not talk intimately
in public with their husbands. They
may go out with other male friends,
provided they maintain a distance
from them.
 Women should refrain from
exhibiting aggressive stance or
attitudes at all times.
ENTERTAINMENT
 Disco dancing is prohibited.
 Do not bring or sell raffle tickets, as
this is considered gambling.
COUPLES
 Even if you are husband and wife
or officially engaged, you should
never embrace in public, hold
hands romantically or show any
signs of romance. These acts are
considered offensive to public
morals.
 Do not insist that a Saudi bring his
wife to social gatherings. There are
two separate social groups: men
and women; and they do not
usually intermingle in public
gathering and occasions.
TIPPING
 Taxi drivers and barbers do not
expect tips.
 Tipping is an uncommon practice
except in airports (for porters) and
in hotels (for waiters and porters).
ACCIDENTS/GIVING FIRST AID
 Unless you are a doctor, a medical
staff or an authorized person, do
not administer first aid in case of
accident.
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 GENERAL DO’S AND DONT’S
PCG Jeddah

GET TO KNOW YOUR HOST AND THE MIDDLE EAST LOANS

 Learn about their ways, traditions  Loaning money with interest is

and religion.
 Accept invitations to their homes.
 Acquaint yourself with the people.
 Try traditional produce and local
materials.
 Adjust your mental attitude and
notions.
 Be modest at all times.
 Show your respect and regard for
your host.
DRUGS
prohibited in the Kingdom.
 Being a guarantor for a loan would
make you liable for the whole
amount of the loan.
 Non-payment of a loan, even if you
are a guarantor, could result to
imprisonment.

GROUNDS FOR DEPORTATION  Drugs and narcotics are prohibited

in the Kingdom.
 Commission of crimes and unlawful
activities.  Mere possession of a narcotic, even
is very small amounts, is a criminal
 Use of fraudulent documents. offense.

 Expiration of required  Manufacturing, selling, using or

residence/working permits. possessing drugs are all grounds
for a criminal action.
RESPECT FOR THE SAUDI FLAG/MONARCH
 Even slimming pills or
 Never show disrespect for the pharmaceuticals containing small
Saudi flag or the Saudi monarch. A amounts of narcotics are
tattoo of the Saudi flag could be prohibited.
considered an offense.

IQAMA/PASSPORT

 Always carry your Iqama

(Residence Permit) and a copy of
your passport. Authorities have the
right to demand to see the
documents for identification
purposes. Most public transactions
in the Kingdom require the
presentation of an iqama.

 Always check the validity of your

iqama and passport. Both
documents should never expire. A
passport must always have 6
months validity.

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