Does anyone have context for how Adnan is so close/touchy with his brothers and friends?

I think I read a post loooong ago that talked about how behaviors that would seem “gay” in the West (lots of touching, holding hands, etc.) are normal behaviors in straight male friendships in the Middle East. Is that true? And if it’s true, then how do those cultures distinguish gay men from straight men? In a culture where homosexuality is not only frowned upon, but illegal, how do men form these close friendships that seem defined by physical closeness and a sense of intimacy without arousing suspicion in their social circles? I know in the US, it was once normal for men to say “no homo” (💀) because they didn’t want to risk being perceived as gay for giving a close friend or relative a hug (🙄). Men in my culture seem super isolated and generally don’t have friendships where they hug their male friends (I think they’d be happier if they did!). People are still so cruel in the west with identifying boys and men as “gay” for certain behaviors or tastes, regardless of how they identify themselves. Does this not happen in the Middle East? No judgement of this behavior or gay men, I am just curious and looking for cultural context!