Female Drivers
Saudi Arabia was the last country in the world to allow women to drive. It had nothing to do with driving skills, and everything to do with religious law that bans women from getting their driver’s license and operating a car. The law was overturned in June 2018, sparking hope for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.
Female Drivers
There’s More
Driving was just the first thing on a list of many that women cannot do in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, women don’t have the right to open a bank account or travel. They need special permission from their male guardians to attend school or go to work.
There’s More
Limiting The Love
According to the religious Sharia law in Saudi Arabia, any homosexuals are eligible for punishment. This punishment would be more than just a slap on the wrist, some punishment includes lashings and even the death penalty.
Limiting The Love
Witchcraft
Homosexuality isn’t the only crime where offenders could be put to death. Murdering, performing armed robbery, adultery and witchcraft can all result in the death penalty. According to reports, in 2006 the Saudi government executed at least 154 “criminals”.
Witchcraft
Holy Sites
Despite what you might believe, Jerusalem is not the number one holy site in Islam. The cities of Mecca and Medina are the two top holy sites for Muslims worldwide with Jerusalem trailing in third place. These holy sites don’t allow non-Muslims to visit them.
Holy Sites
Reckless Driving
It would be shocking for anyone to watch a car tipping over on the highway. But to see a car driving on two wheels on a main highway in Saudi Arabia is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, this practice is called “sidewalk skiing” and the Saudis believe it to be a sport. And to add a little thrill, passengers enjoy climbing out of the windows and standing on top of the jeeps.
Reckless Driving
Banned Photos
We’re all accustomed with the culture of snapping photographs of pretty much anything on our smartphones. In Saudi Arabia however, practice a little more caution. Photographing women is a big ‘no-no’ and could get you in some major trouble. When it comes to men, just ask for permission, not doing so is considered rude.
Banned Photos
Heaps And Heaps Of Cash
The Saudi Royal family is practically swimming in money. Their wealth clocks an incredible $14 trillion! That’s a number most of us have never even thought about.
Heaps And Heaps Of Cash
Building Borders
The idea of building walls to protect one’s country is becoming a trend. Saudi Arabia undertook a project to create a security fence on the border with Iraq in order to stave off ISIS members. When unrest in neighboring Yemen flared up, the Saudis started constructing a security wall there too.
Building Borders
Tower Of Babel
Saudi Arabia’s “Kingdom Tower/Jeddah Tower” is planned to become the tallest building in the world, and construction is supposed to come to a conclusion in 2020. Okay, so it’s not really the “tower of Babel”, but it will reach higher in the sky than any building ever has before, crossing the 1-kilometer mark.
Tower Of Babel
Banned Alcohol
Just like other Islamic states, Saudi Arabia has banned the consumption and sale of alcohol. If someone happens to be caught buying or selling it, they will be punished most likely by whipping.
Banned Alcohol
Desert Meat
Meat staples differ from country to country. While Americans prefer to eat pork, beef and chicken, the Saudis have a fondness for camel meat. I guess we all pretty much eat whatever is available around us.
Desert Meat
Right Handed
When meeting with someone, it is customary to shake the other person’s right hand. When it comes to accepting something from someone else, you should use your right hand too. In their culture, the right hand is considered clean, whereas the left hand is used for less-than-clean tasks.
Right Handed
Dunes And Dunes
Saudi Arabia is a massive country that stretches miles and miles of desert. These desert lands are almost impossible to work on, deeming them unfarmable. Saudi Arabia only possesses around 2% of arable land.
Dunes And Dunes
UNESCO Sites
Saudi Arabia is proud to be the home of four UNESCO Heritage sites. These four sites are, Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, At-Turaif District In ad-Dir’iyah, Historic Jeddah, and Rock Art Of The Hail Region.
UNESCO Sites
The King
Being the king of any country or kingdom would mean that you got an impressive title. The king of Saudi Arabia, 82 year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has been the king and prime minister since 2005. His official title is “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and head of the House of Saud.”
The King
Many Ways To Die
Saudi Arabia has continued the traditional form of execution of beheading for centuries. But recently they have considered ending this form of execution in favor of using a shooting squad. The main reason for this owes to the lack of swordsmen who can undertake the task of beheading.
Many Ways To Die
Massive Land Mass
Saudi Arabia is one massive country. For starters it is the largest country in the Middle-East, and then it is the 13th largest country on Earth. Its actual size is 83,000 square miles (2,149,690 square km).
Massive Land Mass
Two Weddings
Do you think one wedding is an expensive affair? Well then perhaps you shouldn’t finance two of them. In Saudi Arabia two wedding ceremonies are held for a marrying couple; the men at one and the women at the other. Once the festivities have died down, the couple meet up again.
Two Weddings
Traffic Incidents
When it comes to the most dangerous driving in the world, Saudi Arabia ranks way up in the numbers. A World Bank report from 2000 showed that Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Africa were the most dangerous countries to drive in.
Traffic Incidents
Absolute Monarchy
Saudi Arabia boasts having one of the last remaining absolute monarchies. Other countries with such monarchies are Brunei, Vatican City, Oman and Swaziland. The Al Saud family has held onto this rule since September 23rd, 1932 – its inception.
Absolute Monarchy
Not Just Smoking Camels
If you’re looking to buy a camel (whatever your reason might be), head to the Riyadh camel market. It is one of the world’s largest camel markets and sells around 100 camels every single day.
Not Just Smoking Camels
No Precautions
According to the law in Saudi Arabia, using any form of birth control is considered illegal. It’s quite surprising to know that their arch enemy, Iran, has one of the only condom factories in the Middle-East.
No Precautions
All About Coffee
We call it ‘coffee’, but the Arabs call it ‘gahwa’ which means ‘that which prevents sleep’ in Arabic. Technically the law forbids everyone from drinking coffee because it is a stimulant, but the law isn’t so strict. In fact, there are coffee shops in Saudi Arabia, and often worshipers chew on coffee beans during prayers services.
All About Coffee
Powerful People
Before 90-year-old King Abdullah died in January 2015, he was known as the 8th most powerful person in the world. Forbes magazine also called him the world’s most powerful Muslim.
Powerful People
What She Wears
The dress code for women in Saudi Arabia runs all the way back to biblical times. The traditional garb is a black abaya which comes from a Judaic tradition.
What She Wears
What He Wears
As for men, traditionally Saudi Arabian men dress in thobes which is a lightweight cotton garment. This piece of clothing is usually white. They also wear bischts which looks like a graduation gown, and gutras which is a traditional head scarf.
What He Wears
What She Wears But He Sells
Until 2012, men would sell lingerie as women were not allowed to work outside of their homes. This caused a lot of distress for women who wanted to buy lingerie, but had to do so from men. King Abdullah overturned this law, allowing women to sell lingerie and disallowing men to sell it.
What She Wears But He Sells
Slaves
Slavery was running rampant in the Arab Peninsula until it was abolished. Saudi Arabia was a late bloomer when it came to ridding the law of slavery. The monarchy only abolished slavery in 1962.
Slaves
Voting Rights
It took until 2011 for the Saudi Arabian leader, King Abdullah to review women’s rights to vote. He made an announcement that women would be allowed to cast votes from 2015. This made Saudi Arabia the last country in the world to allow women to vote.
Voting Rights
Police And Police
It’s one thing having a police force to ensure that criminals get caught, but having a religious police force is something else. The “Committee for the Preservation of Virtue and for the Prevention of Vice,” is responsible for a number of duties. The “Mutaween” ensures that residents and tourists are dressed and behaving appropriately.
Police And Police
Founding Father
How did Saudi Arabia get its name? Thanks to King Abdul Aziz bin Rahman Al Saud, or Ibn Saud, Saudi Arabia is what it is today. In 1932 he proclaimed Saudi independence and crowned himself as king. He had 17 different wives, fathered 44 known sons — 35 of which were still alive after he died in 1953 — and an unknown number of daughters.
Founding Father
Arab Astronaut
1985 was a special time Saudi Arabia. They sent Prince Sultan bin Salman into space aboard the U.S. space shuttle “Discovery”. He became the first Saudi, first Muslim and first Arab to go into space.
Arab Astronaut
“Winston’s Hiccup”
A long-living joke about the size of Saudi Arabia is attributed to English Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. The joke was that when he was drawing up the boundaries for Saudi Arabia and Jordan, he hiccuped from the copious amounts of brandy he was drinking. The hiccup caused his hand to slip and bequeath a few extra thousand miles to Saudi Arabia.
“Winston’s Hiccup”
No Harry Potter
Not only is witchcraft banned in Saudi Arabia, but any scripture about it, is too. So for all you Harry Potter fans out there, don’t take a copy of any books with you on visit because it is strictly not allowed.
No Harry Potter
Non-Muslims
Anyone who is not a Muslim, cannot obtain Saudi citizenship. In addition to this, creating a place of worship for any religion other than Islam is strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia.
Non-Muslims
The Assassinated King
In 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew after his nephew returned from a trip in America. It was the same year that Time magazine named him “Man of the Year” because of his rescue of his country’s economy, as well as his push for secular reform.
The Assassinated King
9/11
Not everything is connected the tragedy of September 11th, but Saudi Arabia unfortunately is. Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers who perpetrated the attacks of 9/11 came from Saudi Arabia. To this day victims’ families are suing Saudi Arabia for their alleged financing of those terrorists.
9/11
The Yom Kippur War
The October War, also known as the Yom Kippur War of 1973 was fought between Israel and her enemies, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq. When America backed Israel, Saudi Arabia took the side of the Arab nations and in a show of defiance imposed an oil embargo against the Americans.
The Yom Kippur War
Free Care
Saudi Arabia is all for public health care, and it provides it for free for its citizens. Public schooling is also free, although their literacy rate is under 70%.
Free Care
A Young People
Incredibly, 75% of Saudi Arabia’s population is younger than 35 years old, and the average of citizens therefore is 18 years old. There is no mandatory draft to the military which means their young aren’t shipped off to the army when they turn 18.
A Young People
High Waters
Among many things Saudi Arabia is proud of, a giant water fountain is one of them. The world’s tallest water fountain, which was donated by King Fahd. It is a great attraction as it shoots massive spurts of water high into the air while colorful lights shine up against it.
High Waters
Relations With America
America and Saudi Arabia have a fair share of mutual interests, and have ever since the Second World War. The general relationship has been one of “oil for security”. Both countries feel a mutual need to fight the spread of extremist terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS.
Relations With America
Saudi Arabia In America
This one is going to blow your mind. Saudi Arabia has actually purchased a large plot of land in Arizona. This land is designated for growing hay, just so that they could ship it back to their own dairy farms.
Saudi Arabia In America
The Muslim Brotherhood
Recently Saudi Arabia has taken to new methods when dealing with terrorism. It has introduced and passed numerous new anti-terror laws. Despite outcry by many other Arab nations and organizations, Saudi Arabia labelled the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
The Muslim Brotherhood
The Queen Of England
The Queen of England granted a knighthood in the Order of the Bath to King Ibn Saud in 1935. This was a major action and one that was received with great respect both by the Saudis and the English.
The Queen Of England
Where There’s Smoke
A devastating fire tore apart a girls’ school in Mecca in 2002, killing 15 young girls. Rumors spread that the death of the girls was to be blamed on the “religious police” who prevented the girls from leaving the building, simply because they were supposedly not dressed according to correct Islamic dress code.
Where There’s Smoke
On The Cross
While Saudi Arabia has taken the move away from beheading criminals and moved towards the use of firing squads, there is something else to be wary of. Saudi Arabia actually sentences perpetrators, on occasion, to crucifixion.
On The Cross
Sea Salt
Since Saudi Arabia is mainly covered in desert, and has no access to rivers, the country needed a solution for water. The result is that it has the world’s largest desalination plant, in Jubail. The water is brought in from the Red Sea and from the Persian Gulf.
Sea Salt
The Stampede
On September 24th, 2015, Saudi Arabia suffered an event that took the lives of over 2,000 worshipers. The “2015 Mina Stampede” occurred when hoards of worshipers flocked to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The reason for the stampede is widely argued, but most agree that it was due to overcrowding.
The Stampede
Stoning of the Devil
There are three walls which pilgrims can throw seven stones at, as if throwing them at the devil. The tradition takes place in Islam’s holiest city of Mecca. This rituals happens during the day of Eid al-Adha (the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah).
Stoning Of The Devil
Getting An Atomic Bomb
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has maintained a lengthy military relationship with Pakistan. While it’s not clear, many speculate that the Saudis funded Pakistan’s atomic bomb program with the intention of buying atomic bombs from them later on.
Getting An Atomic Bomb
Deporting Immigrants
Many undocumented migrant workers, who mainly came from Somalia, Yemen and Ethiopia have face difficulties in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom detained and deported more than 500,000 of these migrants since 2013.
Deporting Immigrants
Time For Praying
The current of the day is determined by the times of prayers. It’s common for businesses to close for 30 to 45 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times a day, for praying. Both employees and customers observe this time and break off to pray.
Time For Praying
World War II
Just before the Second World War broke out, the third king of Saudi Arabia, Abd al Aziz maintained a positive relationship with the Axis powers. During the war Saudi Arabia tried to remain as neutral as possible. However, nearing the end of the war, it chose to move closer to the Allies.
World War II
Sticks And Stones
Speaking out against the monarchy can be quite costly… one could potentially pay with their life. Saudi writer Raif Badawi “insulted Islam” and received 1,000 lashes as well as 10 years in prison in 2014.
Sticks And Stones
The Exchange Rate
The currency in Saudi Arabia is called the Saudi riyal. Its value is weaker than the U.S. dollar. With every U.S. dollar, you can receive 3.75 Saudi riyal.
The Exchange Rate
Military Money
Saudi Arabia is serious about its military and allocates more than 10% of its GDP on military expenses. It has the fourth highest military expenditure in the world, with 63.7 billion U.S. dollars a year.
Military Money
Its Borders
Saudi Arabia has a number of interesting neighboring countries. It has Jordan and Iraq in the north, Kuwait in the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates off to the east, Oman to the southeast and Yemen to the south.
Its Borders
Two Calendars
It wasn’t until 2016 that Saudi Arabia decided to implement the use of the Gregorian calendar. While it still uses the lunar Islamic calendar,the Gregorian calendar is used for civil purposes.
Two Calendars
Violence Against Women
Better late than never, I guess you can say. Saudi Arabia passed a law in August 2013 that criminalized domestic violence against women. The sentence for abusing a woman is a 12-month jail sentence and fines that could climb as high as 50,000 riyals ($13,000).
Violence Against Women
Saudi Sports
Seeing as Saudi Arabia has a rich coast, it’s not surprising that water sports are popular there. Some sports of interest are scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing. On dry land sports like basketball and soccer are also among the populations favorites.
Saudi Sports
Soccer Team
Soccer has brought Saudi Arabia to the world stage on a number of occasions. In 1992 during the FIFA Confederations Cup, Saudi Arabia miraculously made it to the final. There they faced South American hotshots, Argentina, but lost 3-1.
Soccer Team
Camel Racing
In 1974 the annual King’s Camel Race began and it has just grown since. The event doesn’t just draw in masses for viewing, it brings in hoards of people from around the world to both watch and participate.
Camel Racing
Under The Sea
If you’re interested in going for a dive in the Red Sea, you’ll be in for a lucky dip. The Red Sea is rich with a huge variety of diverse marine life. In fact, the diverse ecosystem is the home to more than 1,200 species of fish and an incredible 10% of those cannot be found anywhere else in the ocean.
Under The Sea
Water And Oil
We all know that the Arab Peninsula is rich in oil reserves. So would it really be a surprise to find out that a liter of water would cost you more than a liter of oil? Crude oil doesn’t come out of faucets in Saudi Arabia… in homes, I mean.
Water And Oil
