Greeting Etiquette
Syrian greetings are typically lengthy and comprise inquiries on one another's wellbeing. In official contexts, greetings entail a right-hand-only handshake. Arab males might offer very light handshakes. In most cases, an Arab who greets someone will not touch them because he believes they are not used to being touched.
It is improper to shake a woman's hand unless she first stretches her hand out. Syrian guys frequently extend a hand to their own chest while greeting women. Males and females may hug or give each other two cheek kisses as a kind of informal greeting. It is permissible for a male to kiss a female in this way if they are related, but it is not acceptable for a male to kiss a female in this way if they are not.
When it comes to religion, the coastal regions are far more progressive. This also holds true for the parts of Damascus that are most popular with Western tourists, such as Bab Touma, the Christian Quarter. The population becomes more conservative the further east you go. It is better to avoid identifying as an atheist or a non-practicing Christian in order to avoid any lengthy intellectual disputes.
