Visitors to the Middle East who want to have photographs as souvenirs of their travels often find problems not encountered in other parts of the world. Cultural sensitivity is most important for any photographer travelling to the Middle East and other Muslim countries.
Most of the people that you will meet will be more than happy to have their photo taken but you must always ask for permission first! Often women, particularly in those countries where women only go out in public with head and often face covered, will refuse to have their photograph taken.
Taking photographs without permission of certain government buildings can lead to a unwanted visit to the local police station. If you are not sure of what a building is, don’t shoot it. In Saudi Arabia it is basically illegal to take photographs of ANYTHING in public without a government issued permits. I was once stopped by security people in an industrial complex in Saudi Arabia and told that I did not have permission to photograph where I was standing – the permit was for a section of the plant 20 meters away from me.
Natural beauty in the Middle East is outstanding, from the rolling sand Dunes of the United Arab Emirates to underground grottos in Lebanon, there are sites for every taste. There are hundreds of historic and archaeological sites to visit in almost every country of the Middle East. Be sure to get yourself a good guide book before travelling.
Be careful and have fun, but be sensitive to others and their customs and laws and you should have no problem in bringing home beautiful images from the Middle East.
