Middle East: Facts & Stats

CULTURE

Traditions:

The Middle East is built on a magnificent legacy of civilizations dating back to ancient times. Science, the arts, written language, mathematics, a legal system, and other hallmarks of civilization flourished in ancient Sumer, Persia, Egypt, and other parts of the Middle East, leaving a lasting influence on the later cultures of Greece and Rome. Today, the Middle East continues to offer the world a rich cultural contribution, as home to three major world religions, a vibrant entertainment industry, a fascinating tradition of folkloric music and dance, and a growing economic power base.

Celebrations:

Religion permeates the Middle East so religious holidays are often the same as public holidays. For example, Holy Days in Israel may require Jewish individuals to eat or not eat certain foods or at certain times and may require attendance at a synagogue. The month of Ramadan in Muslim countries requires Muslims to fast during sunlight hours. For the most part hotels catering to Western tourists will provide uninterrupted services during religious holidays but the schedules of public transportation, public eateries and historic and religious sites can vary widely.

Alcohol:

There is no prohibition in most Middle Eastern countries. Only in few countries, like Saudi Arabia and the former North Yemen, are alcoholic drinks completely forbidden, so those people who are addicted to alcohol have to take illegal measures to get their drinks. There is a lot of smuggling and moonlight production of strong alcoholic drinks in these countries, and the prices are extremely high.

Many other countries of the region have their own breweries. In many cases they were established by German, Austrian, Dutch, and other European companies. The beer they produce has a lesser amount of alcohol than the types with the same name in Europe. Beer is not consumed openly, but rather either at home or in clubs. In some countries there were and still are locations in side streets where beer is sold, and, of course, it is sold in night clubs and places like that.

Sports and Hobbies:

The Middle East has become a major market for motor sport in recent years, with several new international standard circuits hosting top-level championships from Formula One to MotoGP and World Touring Car to World Rally. Domestic and regional championships are expanding and maturing whilst investment in motor sport continues to grow across the region.

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