By: ArabLounge Staff

No person is alike—we all like and dislike different things. Some people love hummus, some hate it, some love soccer, some can’t keep their eyes open longer than 10 minutes.

However, there are a few traits that most singles are looking for in a potential partner. There are just some things that nearly everybody wants and desires. Once you know what they want and how to portray this, then you will be one step ahead of the pack:

1) A sense of humor: This cant be overstated. Even people who may not know they want this, seek this trait out in people. How many people would want to be with someone who’s continually dour and can’t laugh at him or herself?

Someone who keeps a nonchalant attitude about not only life, but about themselves is a great person to be around and adds something to the lives of the people around them. Make sure that you’re known as a person who can laugh a little and not be so serious.

2) Be a good listener: Who wants to be around someone who talks about themselves all day? If you want a person to find you interesting, shut up. It may sound counter-intuitive, but once you open yourself up as a vessel for the other person, they can tell you so much about themselves, which lets you know exactly how to win them over.

Really listen to what they’re saying, respond with thoughtful comments and analysis, and give them your opinion only when they ask for it. Being able to stop and let them do the talking will really give them a chance to open up and feel comfortable with you.

3) Family values: Arab singles in particular tend to be extremely close to their families, especially their parents. Making sure the other person knows just how important your own family is to you is essential to get across.

The values that your family instills in you are also a good indicator of what kind of a person you are, and what kind of a person you will be in the future. Inevitably, a person will always wonder whether you are marriage material and making your values known will really let them get a glimpse into the kind of person you are.

4)Class: Present yourself with some class; someone who can hold their own in a conversation, someone who is confident enough in their own skin that they don’t have to put up a wall or become arrogant.

Steer clear of drama, surround yourself with other classy people, and realize early on that it’s a state of mind that comes from feeling good about yourself.

5) Confidence: This is so crucial to any relationship. If you are confident in yourself, then you tend to trust others and treat them with respect. When you’re confident, it just draws people to you like moths to a flame.

Someone who isn’t hesitant or constantly second-guessing themselves, putting themselves down or berating others is a person that others want to be around. Be that person, learn to like yourself and after that, you will notice how that makes the difference.