Dating is Taboo...

It's like out of a historical romance novel, dating doesn't really exist here in Egypt. Instead its like courting. Families are always involved. 

According yo my fellow Egyptian friends, "dating itself is a prohibited act according to our culture, which is inherited from our Islamic religion.

The most close thing to dating is the arranged marriage .. which requires family observation.

If the couples are beyond family authority (depends on independence level) then it can take the form of friends recommendations

in that regard there will be (depending on friends wisdom ) some sort of social pressure.

So in general .. Dating is innately wrong .. So it can't be standardized nor being educated.

Moreover .. Those restraints gets weaken with higher income classes and low income classes (without setting percentages) .. The middle class are the ones who practice those restraints to its fullest.

In theory (or religion) .. Engagement is the valid legal cover for dating  ..  However engagement in society is a taxing process that people avoids completely unless they have already decided to marry." - Friend Ahmed

Dating in the western eyes, is restricted or taboo in Egypt, and marriage is the only answer, but really its by far the worst idea.  The high rates of marriages here,  are also  high rates of divorce because Egyptians rush so they may have physical contact with the opposite sex. 

Another friend (female friend), described dating in Egypt as being a nightmare. Parents attend their dates. The parents or chaperones sit at another table, while the couple is  trying to get to know each other. The parents are supervising to keep the interaction with the two under control. This controlled environment keeps from anything happening thats forbidden in the Egyptian culture. 

So of course both parties will be on their best behaviour.  No one is able to relax and  really be themselves. This is why two people in Egypt get engaged so fast because they want to have dates without parents tagging along.

As expats dating in Egypt, is a whole other ball game. Egyptian men think that foreign women will always sleep with them (because of the American movies they watch, gives false expectations).  Many expats (foreigners) say that Egyptian men only want 3 things from a foreign woman: sex, money or a Visa to the foreign land or all 3. And this is just sad way of thinking when dating in Egypt. 

This may be true, but its also up to the foreign woman to decide what she desires or wants in a relationship. The higher expectations in a relationship, the better chances of attracting good people. I have met many expats that are married to good Egyptian men. I am one of them.

I felt like I was being courted like the Jane Ayer era. My Hamid treated me with respect  and kindness.  He was always a gentleman on our dates. Never asked to go to my apartment or tried to kiss me. The only physical contact was holding hands until we were engaged. 

In our western culture,  dating is okay. Dating is our chance to 'get to know' the other person in hope that we are compatible.  It's the time get to know one another throughout all avenues.  Dating allows us to see our compatibility emotionally, physically,  spiritually, and intellectually. It's our choice if we want to explore all these options or hold out on some,  especially the physical part. However, in western culture, we view at being physical is to experiment that we have chemistry with the other. Sex is very important to be compatible because if you are not sexuallycompatible, the relationship will never last or all will be miserable. That's not a real relationship.