The Hospitable Desert
The Arabian desert is often described as inhospitable, yet its legendary hospitality is deeply rooted in its landscape. In an environement where survival was uncertain, welcoming a traveller was more than kindness—it was necessity, ritual, and an unwritten law.
For centuries, communities near oases offered food, water, and shelter to those who braved the desert. Turning someone away was an act of hostility; refusing hospitality, an insult. The tenets of Islam and Christianity remind us that a guest is a gift from God, and to break bread together is to forge a bond.
Across WANA to this day, guests are welcomed with tea, coffee, and an open door, embodied in the invitation “Mayloo”—come in. In this region, hospitality is not an obligation; it is an instinct.
Have you ever experienced generosity from a stranger—or offered it yourself?