Yallah, join The National's Saeed Saeed as he takes a weekly deep dive into the cultural gems and quirks of the Arab world and its diaspora ...
Talk about starting off on the wrong foot. There we were on the couch in an executive’s office, and from the corner of my eye I saw a fellow journalist unconsciously cross his leg with his calf parallel to the floor so that the sole of his foot was exposed, directly pointing towards the meeting's host.
This Arab official sighed and pursed his lips. When he turned away to grab some paperwork, I whispered to my fellow writer to “keep his foot on the ground”.
He immediately realised his innocent mistake and apologised profusely at the end of the meeting.
That journalist is now my friend and I tease him occasionally about it, saying that the official will surely not have forgotten that slight. To be honest, I am not sure if I am fully joking on that front.
So how can such a small part of the body potentially cause such significant offence?
It’s a cultural thing
This is a question I hear occasionally, mostly from people who have recently arrived in the region from western countries. The answer is relatively simple: it’s a cultural thing.
For instance, in parts of South-East Asia it is considered rude to point with your fingers (use an open hand, instead), and in much of the world other finger gestures are seen as very rude. As with those instances, much of the Arab world frowns upon exposing the soles of your feet to another person, or tapping somebody with your feet.
Shoes are an extension of the foot in this regard, and hitting someone with your shoe is very offensive. This was dramatically highlighted in 2008 when Iraqi journalist Muntadhar Al Zaidi threw his shoes at George Bush, US president at the time, at a press conference. This was the ultimate insult.
It boils down to the rather practical view that the foot is one of the dirtiest parts of the body and therefore carelessly showing it to another demonstrates a lack of respect.
This view is partly linked to Islamic teachings in which the Quran instructs Muslims to wash their feet (in addition to their face, hands, elbows and head) as part of pre-prayer ablutions. Muslims also remove their shoes upon entry to a mosque.
Slippers for all occasions
This cultural attitude has naturally extended to many non-Arab Muslim households around the world. In Australia, my family have a strict “feet policy” in the household.
This means shoes are to be placed outside the front door. If you feel the need to walk around the house in footwear (and only on the tiled section of the floor) there are special indoor slippers for that.
We also have another pair of (water-resistant) slippers strictly for use in the bathroom or toilet. Using toilet slippers in another room is also considered a serious faux pas.
And woe betide anyone exposing the soles of their feet to another family member, or even leaving shoes with their soles up. I still remember instances when my grandmother would conduct a family inquest into “why I found these slippers upside down. The disgrace!”
OK, maybe my personal experiences are a little bit extreme.
The truth is, you won’t lose your job or blow that regional business deal with the odd case. If it’s the first time it will be shrugged off.
But if you continue to be unaware, or worse, indignant to the cultural code, then your reputation may suffer a blow and that’s no easy feat to recover from.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
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2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
