Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Oct 02, 2025

COVID-19 in UAE: Handshakes, kisses, hugs - are traditional forms of greetings done for?

COVID-19 in UAE: Handshakes, kisses, hugs - are traditional forms of greetings done for?

Residents say waving or simply saying ‘salaam’ have become the new norm

Age-old traditions of greetings such as handshakes, giving someone a peck on the cheek or a friendly hug may be a thing of the past, feel UAE residents.

A wave, a “namaste”, ‘air hugs’ or simply saying “bon jour” or “salaam” are now the new greeting norms, they say.

Gulf News spoke to a cross-section of residents in the UAE to find out what they feel about the change and how they are greeting one another amid the pandemic.

French–American expatriate Sabine Haas said ever since the onset of COVID-19, her traditional ways of greeting family and friends have drastically changed. “It’s been strange for me. It is tough to get used to non-traditional ways. It feels totally bizarre — especially considering I have a strong French heritage.

"The French naturally greet each other with a peck on the cheek to say hello. This dates back to the Romans and it is so hard to break now! If you are from the north of France, you plant a kiss on both the cheeks and an extra third. If you are from the south, this and an occasional hug complete the greeting. This is customary with strangers too. It has been this way for decades.”

She said such a greeting is significant of the lineage people carry of a Latin warm blood. “Such a greeting denotes respect, friendship and affection. Now that is being scorned at. What the virus has done is sad - it has not just changed our lives, but our traditions and customs too.

“Today, I want to kiss my sisters, brothers, cousins and aunts but cannot do so. There is resistance from my family as there is a belief that it’s not a responsible act to kiss and hug as it could propagate the virus. It feels awkward and sad. Back in France, I hear that even in a work setting, handshakes are giving way to a ‘bon jour’.”

Social experiment


Indian expat Preeti Bindra living in Dubai could not agree more. She said a global effort to eradicate coronavirus has put the culture of handshakes, hugs, kisses and high-fives on an indefinite hold. “Without preparation we are all participating in one of the greatest social science experiments of all times.”

“A firm handshake, a kiss on the cheek, a nice warm hug were among the polite gestures we made when meeting our family and friends in the past. Now we need to come up with new ways of saying ‘hello’ to meet social-distancing guidelines and deliver a warm, risk-free welcome.”

‘Keeping an arm’s length’


She said being an Indian, it is not very difficult for her to not give a handshake or a hug or a peck on the cheek. “Traditionally, Indians have always greeted each other with a ‘namaste’ — placing both palms together close to one’s chest with a slight bow. This is way more appreciated and shows respect for Indian customs. Not just that Indians generally keep an arm’s length between themselves and others. We value our personal space and that of others. Having said that, the traditional customary greeting has changed for a more western style.

And now, with the pandemic, it seems Indians will go back to their roots and find more comfort in traditional ‘namaste’ style of greeting. “Afterall, when you say ‘namaste’, it signifies respect, friendship and affection for the other person. I also think ‘air hugs’ will get popular. Personally, I would also tell someone ‘I love you’ especially to a close friend than physically hugging the person.”

‘Strange to just wave a greeting’


But for a British expat, the new socially distant greeting will be hard to get used to. Alexandra Saikkonen-Williams, 33, said: “A handshake is the common way of greeting for a British national. In fact, the handshake must be firm, yet not too strong. When greeting a close friend, we always hug and kiss one another on the cheek. So it will be strange to just wave a greeting.

"Unfortunately, I see this will be the new norm of greeting. People are not going to be comfortable greeting strangers as openly as they did before. Hugs and kisses within households will still be normal. But greeting strangers will change radically. It is sad as it will feel a bit distant. If you see in a business scenario, a deal is sealed with a firm handshake. It builds trust and confidence in the deal and the new business relationship. I feel now people will be forced to prove their trust and confidence all the more. There is a sense of gap.”

Sri Lankan expat Mitch Perera, 53, will hear nothing of all this. “Despite COVID-19 and with restrictions being lifted, I am back to shaking hands.

"During the last office team meeting, we all shook hands. If you fear, you attract negative energy. Psychologically, it affects the immune system too,” he said.

But even where there are such exceptions, wearing masks and gloves makes the experience different.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
UK, Canada, and Australia Officially Recognise Palestine in Historic Shift
New Eye Drops Show Promise in Replacing Reading Glasses for Presbyopia
Dubai Property Boom Shows Strain as Flippers Get Buyer’s Remorse
Top AI Researchers Are Heading Back to China as U.S. Struggles to Keep Pace
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
UAE-US Stargate Project Poised to Make Abu Dhabi a Global AI Powerhouse
Trump and Starmer Clash Over UK Recognition of Palestinian State Amid State Visit
Saudi Arabia cracks down on music ‘lounges’ after conservative backlash
Saudi Arabia Signs ‘Strategic Mutual Defence’ Pact with Pakistan, Marking First Arab State to Gain Indirect Access to Nuclear Strike Capabilities in the Region
Sam Altman sells the 'Wedding Estate' in Hawaii for 49 million dollars
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
Kuwait opens bidding for construction of three cities to ease housing crunch.
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Did the Houthis disrupt the internet in the Middle East? Submarine cables cut in the Red Sea
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Iran Faces Escalating Water Crisis as Protests Spread
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
×