The Bedouin are Arabic-speaking nomadic peoples from deserts in the Middle East. The Awlad ‘Ali are a cluster of Bedouin people who live in North Africa, particularly Egypt. Their primary religion is Islam. Most Bedouin are pastoral nomads who herd animals, including camels, so they move around to allow their animals to graze on fresh pastures. Their movement follows weather patterns, as they leave the desert in the dryer summer and return to the desert in the rainier winter.

In Veiled Sentiments, Abu-Lughod explores the patriarchal structure of the Awlad ‘Ali. Bedouin society is patriarchal, and men often have several wives (this practice is called polygyny). Abu-Lughod records some women being unhappy about their polygynous situation in the text. Furthermore, men are the heads of their families. The Bedouin are also tribal, and their society comprises several extended families. Family loyalty and ancestry are important parts of Bedouin culture, as are hospitality and honor.

The growth of government authorities and modern nations in the Middle East has led to a decline in traditional Bedouin ways of living. Many of their homelands have been nationalized, and new international borders also limit Bedouin nomadism.