Greetings

Men greeting men - Men traditionally shake hands with their right hand. It is customary to keep one's hand on the table for the duration of the conversation. If there is a social difference, the junior man should bow slightly. Instead of bowing, many people in the country's north make a clenched fist in front of their chest, a gesture derived from presenting spears to their Emir. In many parts of the world, the senior person initiates the greeting.

Women greeting other women - Handshakes are common at first meetings. In some parts of the country, good friends and family may exchange a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

Greetings for Men and Women - Physical contact between the sexes is discouraged in the country's north, which is mostly Muslim, so a northern woman is unlikely to shake a man's hand and vice versa. It's best for a man to wait for a woman to extend her hand before offering your own. In the south of the country, greetings are similar to those used by men.