Before traveling to the Middle East as an American, this destination can seem daunting for a number of reasons. Though now, we have found it to be some of the most rewarding, so we have a few important tips before you travel to the Middle East. We spent the better part of a month traveling around Egypt and Jordan and look forward to visiting more countries that fall into this somewhat over-generalized category (The Middle East). Like we commonly find, it was immediately obvious that most of the preconceived negative notions about this part of the world are untrue or at very least exaggerated. The media and cultural expectations transmitted to us our whole lives about this part of the world seem now to be almost fully the opposite of reality.
This part of the world has incredibly diverse ethnic and religious populations. Classifying every country into one block seems more overgeneralized as you come to know some of these places personally, but it works as a vague classification.
Most people hailing from the United States will attest to the fact that Islam and Muslim majority countries get (at very least) unfairly bad reputations. It was shocking to us how people, even somewhat well-traveled and open-minded people, reacted to our traveling to Jordan and Egypt.
Anyone in the know would consider both countries relatively safe places. But, almost everyone raised an eyebrow and gave us their well-meaning words of warning, which were, of course, met by our arguments.
The threat of violence or physical danger did not seem to hang heavily in the air, even in some of the rougher parts of Cairo we visited, but scams are ever-present in Egypt.
Cairo has does support Uber services, which can sometimes be more convenient than public transportation. In any case, pay attention, and be aware of what your driver is doing to avoid an unpleasant situation. On one trip, we noticed our ride was canceled midway in an Uber. We looked at each other and shrugged it off as our driver did not speak much English. When we arrived at our destination, our driver told us that because of the traffic, the cost would be more than the app had said, so he told us we had to pay him in cash instead of on the app. I told him we didn’t have cash on us, that was why we called an Uber. He got angry, so we got out and darted into the train station.
Otherwise, the scams were mostly harmless. Though, unlike Jordan, in Egypt, we found that there was no shortage of people trying to make a quick buck off us. Sometimes it seemed very difficult to trust almost any situation involving the exchange of currency. That is not to say that Egyptians aren’t incredible people on average and that we didn’t mostly feel welcome. We met friends who were some of the most altruistic, kind, good-hearted people you could hope to find anywhere.
The easiest rule of thumb to follow is air on the side of modesty. Women have it more difficult than men when it comes to clothing. As a woman, you should plan to dress substantially more modestly than expected in the US or Europe. There are heavily touristic areas and parts of large cities where these rules are looser, but it's wise to plan accordingly.
As a western woman, I was treated with standards reserved for middle eastern men in most places we visited. Even so, I am glad I had appropriate clothing to blend in as best I could in some of the smaller, non-touristy places.
I could have gotten away with wearing shorts, tank tops, etc. in extremely touristy places like Petra, the Pyramids of Giza, and parts of major cities. However, in smaller cities and anywhere outside of major tourist destinations, I highly suggest dressing somewhat modestly. You are a guest in these countries and following the rules and customs of the destination is always best.
As a westerner, in most places, you don't have to wear a head covering unless you enter a religious site. Many mosques have separate male and female entrances and require both men and women to take off their shoes. In the more popular mosques open to visitors, women are provided with the required head coverings when visiting the site. As always, be sure to read all of the rules and be respectful of local customs and practices.
We walked around the streets of major cities at night and never felt uncomfortable. That is, of course, not to say that there are not bad people. Malevolent people exist everywhere in the world. Though, we did not stick to the tourist agenda of Jordan and Egypt really by any means.
It is fairly unlikely that anyone is going to bother you if you are respectful of cultural norms where you can be, and you keep your head up. If anyone had given us trouble, I think it would have been likely that other people on the street would have helped us.
The Middle East consists of seventeen countries nestled between Africa, Europe, and Asia. (Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, Yemen)
Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East have been culturally inextricably woven together through years of trade, immigration, empires, and colonization. Europe gets more exposure to the cultures and people from these countries than the US does due to proximity. This being said, I would guess that most of this important information about travel to the Middle East will be most useful for Americans. This of course written only in the view of our limited experience and is by no means a comprehensive guide to anything other than the basics that we gleaned from our trek.Religion in the Middle East
The majority of the countries and the people who live in the Middle East and northern Africa are Muslim. There is an entire universe of discussion that could be had about the nuances within Islam, but this is a topic too dense to even touch upon here. In both of the Muslim populations in Egypt and Jordan, the vast majority of the people are Sunni Muslims.
Most people hailing from the United States will attest to the fact that Islam and Muslim majority countries get (at very least) unfairly bad reputations. It was shocking to us how people, even somewhat well-traveled and open-minded people, reacted to our traveling to Jordan and Egypt.
Anyone in the know would consider both countries relatively safe places. But, almost everyone raised an eyebrow and gave us their well-meaning words of warning, which were, of course, met by our arguments.
Someone even offered to reimburse us for our trip if we agreed to not go.
We are here to tell you that any naysayers and the worrywarts are unfounded in their scrutiny of anywhere Muslim.Are foreigners, specifically Americans, welcome in the Middle East?
We didn’t experience anything at all that indicated feelings of malice due to our country of origin. Our experience was quite the opposite and was very enlightening.Jordan - Tips Before you Travel to the Middle East
When we arrived in Amman, Jordan’s capital city, we were unsure what to expect. Our Couchsurfing host picked us up after we arrived in Amman very late at night. He then drove us to a hotel which, to our surprise and gratitude, he paid for, because his guest room was out of commission. We woke up to the crooning of the Adhan from the local mosque; a mysterious and beautiful sound if it is your first time hearing it. As we set out into the streets of Amman, which is an absolute labyrinth of an ancient city, we found something strange. People are nice. If you are familiar with normal big city behaviors, one might say too nice. Red flags went up and nearly every person we passed hailed us for a conversation and greeted us with eye contact and questions though we were keen to listen to any tips before you travel to the Middle East. Admittedly, our guard was up as we tasted the hot city air for the first time.
What did the guy at the restaurant want to give me free food for?
Did the guy sitting outside of the restaurant want me to join him in his house for tea?
Why did everyone want to know how I was doing?
There is a simple answer that is all too counterintuitive if you’re not already in the mindset. The answer is just… well, just because. Jordanian people are incredibly hospitable. I asked our Couchsurfing host why people were acting this way and he laughed as he tried to explain it to us. He then suggested we take up the next offer we receive. So we did. After wandering the markets in Amman, an older man invited us to play a game and have some tea. We ended up in some random family’s home drinking tea, making conversation, and learning the game “Tables” (similar to Backgammon). It was a great experience, and I detected no ulterior motives at all. When we departed, we were wished well, and sent away with an “As-Salamu Alaykum.” The term essentially means 'peace be with you,' and is generally replied to with "Wa-Alaikum-Salaam." From that interaction on, we made an effort to say hello to and greet every person we could. We vowed to take up every invitation for tea that we could and because of that, we found the hospitality of the Jordanian people to be like nowhere else we had ever experienced. During our trip, we camped in the desert near the border of Saudi Arabia. We made an incredible friend and gained insight into an incredible society of people on a whim. We met a family on the beach at the Dead Sea and wound up having lunch with them. A few days later we even ended up visiting their family at their house in Jerash (a city in the north of Jordan) and having an incredible dinner and evening with them. We never once felt anything but welcome in Jordan.Egypt - Tips Before you Travel to the Middle East
Our journey through Egypt began in one of the furthest southern cities: Aswan. Then, we took a boat up the Nile to Luxor and finally a sleeper train from there to Cairo. Some of our Egyptian friends gave us some priceless looks when we told them we were taking the train. In their defense, most of the blogs we read recommended against it. We happen to enjoy trains, and the schedule worked better than flights, so we opted to do it anyway. There are rules about men and women sharing a train car without a marriage certificate, but they don’t generally apply to non-Egyptians. The train was comically dated, but we had a great time and wouldn’t have traded it for a comfortable flight.In general, on our route to Cairo, we very rarely felt threatened or uncomfortable.
When we docked in the city of Edfu for the night, we made an after-dark traipse into town to try to find a bar or some beer. This, in all honesty, was probably inadvisable, but it was mostly without consequence. We ended up in the back of a guy’s little shop where he illegally sold beer to us. He ended up imparting gifts upon us and then asking Katelin to try on every scarf and jeweled shall in his shop. This quickly became uncomfortable as he began to get overtly sexual and began saying uncomfortable things to both of us, so we took our bag of Stella (not the Belgian one) and went on our merry way back to the boat. Overall, it felt like a fairly safe place, and did not feel any malicious intent. In Luxor, when we strayed away from the small tourist zone we were bothered by scammers and salesmen. One guy even started screaming profanities at me for having turned down his offer to go pick up anything for us, which was odd. But in general, again, it was a very cool city and mostly harmless.The threat of violence or physical danger did not seem to hang heavily in the air, even in some of the rougher parts of Cairo we visited, but scams are ever-present in Egypt.
Cairo has does support Uber services, which can sometimes be more convenient than public transportation. In any case, pay attention, and be aware of what your driver is doing to avoid an unpleasant situation. On one trip, we noticed our ride was canceled midway in an Uber. We looked at each other and shrugged it off as our driver did not speak much English. When we arrived at our destination, our driver told us that because of the traffic, the cost would be more than the app had said, so he told us we had to pay him in cash instead of on the app. I told him we didn’t have cash on us, that was why we called an Uber. He got angry, so we got out and darted into the train station.
Otherwise, the scams were mostly harmless. Though, unlike Jordan, in Egypt, we found that there was no shortage of people trying to make a quick buck off us. Sometimes it seemed very difficult to trust almost any situation involving the exchange of currency. That is not to say that Egyptians aren’t incredible people on average and that we didn’t mostly feel welcome. We met friends who were some of the most altruistic, kind, good-hearted people you could hope to find anywhere.
Cultural Norm Tips in the Middle East
The United States is full of “religious” people as well as completely non-religious people. However, comparatively, it seems that even the most religious people are fairly secularized. I did not find this to be the case in either of the Middle Eastern countries I have visited. It seemed to me that almost everyone I interacted with was religious, at least to some degree. People here also seemed more devoted to their religious identity than even the most religious people I interact with in the US or Europe. This point is worth discussing because you will find that there are more rituals, more sensitive cultural norms, and more customs that if not abided by, will at very least offend some people. In some cases, the consequences can be worse. I am hoping that this does not come off as offensive or judgemental, because it isn’t meant that way. Islam, from my limited experience, seems to have quite a lot more particulars than modern American religiosity. We found ourselves alert to the risks of stepping on toes at all times, and we, on multiple occasions, had to correct our actions. Fortunately, everyone was kind and understanding of our ignorance. The main customs that I would take note of are dress codes and person-to-person touching.Tips for Comfort Level Travel
Being very blonde, fair-skinned Americans, we found we attracted unwanted attention. This isn’t to say that anyone was anything less than polite and friendly. We did find that people would unabashedly stare as we walked by. At one point in Egypt, we noticed traffic slowing down and power tools coming to a stop on construction sites as we wandered by, and on several occasions, people came up and touched our hair. In some odd situations, people asked us to take pictures with them or of us holding their babies. But again, none of it felt malicious in any way. Everyone seemed genuinely concerned about our wellbeing, and that we felt safe and knew where we were going. The only other point of discomfort is just trying to navigate the complicated landscape of unfamiliar taboos. We are usually very concerned about not offending or stepping on toes. This is mostly due to the distance - we just don’t get enough interaction to have known what to expect. As a western female, you are expected to follow certain cultural expectations. Some bigger cities and more liberal countries will be more lenient, but best to err on the side of caution. We hold the opinion that when you are in another country, you are somewhat of an ambassador for your own country, and for an entire culture of travelers. Don't be the ignorant person who steps on toes and gives the local people a bad taste about foreigners. Overall, during our time in the Middle East, I felt more than welcome. The kindness and hospitality of the people here was often overwhelming.Dress Code Tips Before Travel to the Middle East
The easiest rule of thumb to follow is air on the side of modesty. Women have it more difficult than men when it comes to clothing. As a woman, you should plan to dress substantially more modestly than expected in the US or Europe. There are heavily touristic areas and parts of large cities where these rules are looser, but it's wise to plan accordingly.
As a western woman, I was treated with standards reserved for middle eastern men in most places we visited. Even so, I am glad I had appropriate clothing to blend in as best I could in some of the smaller, non-touristy places.
I could have gotten away with wearing shorts, tank tops, etc. in extremely touristy places like Petra, the Pyramids of Giza, and parts of major cities. However, in smaller cities and anywhere outside of major tourist destinations, I highly suggest dressing somewhat modestly. You are a guest in these countries and following the rules and customs of the destination is always best.
As a westerner, in most places, you don't have to wear a head covering unless you enter a religious site. Many mosques have separate male and female entrances and require both men and women to take off their shoes. In the more popular mosques open to visitors, women are provided with the required head coverings when visiting the site. As always, be sure to read all of the rules and be respectful of local customs and practices.
So what did I wear?
My go-to clothing for travel in the middle east consisted of a long black skirt, long dresses, and leggings with large, flowy, or oversized shirts. I also brought a light sweater and scarf with me wherever we went. Some indoor places or religious sites required female guests to cover both their arms and hair. Many sites outside of major tourist areas have clear postings outlining these rules. In the case you forget or don't know, someone will probably say something if you are not covered up properly. Keep in mind any clothing tips before you travel to the middle east.My Experience with Clothing Choices
The only place I recall feeling uncomfortable due to my choice of clothing was the beach at the Dead Sea. I probably would have met similar feelings in any non-resort beach destination. Though, in resort cities, the beaches are a bit different because of the frequent western tourists. Still, I would air on the side of caution. I brought an excess of modest clothing, but did not think about swimwear, so only had my rather revealing bikini. As soon as we walked down to the water I realized my mistake. Every single female on the beach was wearing a hijab and many were wearing niqabs as well. There did not seem to be any other tourists or at least western tourists other than us. I felt like every eye was on me despite my attempts at modesty with a cover-up and my towel. I was acutely aware of how something so commonplace to me, could be headline news somewhere else.Safety
We walked around the streets of major cities at night and never felt uncomfortable. That is, of course, not to say that there are not bad people. Malevolent people exist everywhere in the world. Though, we did not stick to the tourist agenda of Jordan and Egypt really by any means.
It is fairly unlikely that anyone is going to bother you if you are respectful of cultural norms where you can be, and you keep your head up. If anyone had given us trouble, I think it would have been likely that other people on the street would have helped us.