Or hold hands like kindy kids.
a lesson in culture for you:
In Arab culture, physical contact such as holding hands between people of the same sex is a sign of affection without any sexual connotation. It’s considered a sign of warmest affection and respect – a sign of solid friendship.
In fact, in Arab culture if a man chooses to not touch another in a greeting, it can be considered a sign of distance or rudeness. The same goes for women. Kissing cheeks, long handshakes, and holding hands are meant to reflect friendship, peace, and equality. When it comes to strangers, they do not kiss cheeks or hold hands. Of course, greetings then would be more formal, such as a quick handshake and nod of the head.
If you look back at Arab history, Arab culture has always been segregated, so it’s easy to see why emotions are easily expressed to the same sex. Unrelated men and women rarely have the chance to show affection toward each other.
However, as the times change, so do the customs. With increased modernization of thinking and living, segregation is decreasing in Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Jordan where society has become less critical of mingling. In other countries such as Saudi Arabia where segregation is just as enforced as it was in the past, it is still common to see close interactions between the same sex.
Just recall the commotion the media made of King Abdullah Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia (at the time crown prince) holding hands with former President Bush in Texas. It was ongoing snickering at the time, making the headline on major news networks. People seem to find it funnier to laugh at things they don’t understand, rather than respect them. It was similar to the story of President Obama bowing to the King when he came to Saudi last year. Maybe these gestures are not necessary, but people need to remember the intention of courtesy and respect behind them.
https://echodepiction.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/why-do-arab-people-of-the-same-gender-hold-hands/
