Punctuality

When it comes to social occasions, Palestinians are more flexible in their arrival time. Palestinians believe that 15 minutes or even half an hour off from the agreed-upon time is ok. For instance, when you invite someone for lunch, dinner, or any other event, you expect them to come half an hour after the defined time and this is normal in the Palestinian community.

When it comes to serious matters, Palestinians seek to be on time. Job interviews are appointments that Palestinians treat with seriousness when it comes to timing. Often they will even arrive 15 minutes or half an hour early. It may feel as if your time is being wasted but soon you will acclimate and start functioning on the Palestinian sense of time. Palestinians as a people and culture have learned to function with this sort of timing just by expecting their appointments to not be exactly on time and by planning accordingly.