Saudi Arabia: People And Society

Saudi Arabia has a vast and diverse population. The population of the nation is 15 to 12 million people, out of which only 7 million are Saudi Arabians. The number of expatriate workers from Egypt, Pakistan, India and the Philippines is enormous. The Saudi economy is almost totally dependent upon foreign labour, though efforts are now being made to lessen this dependence. While Nej is a homogenous region, Hejaz is an extraordinary mixture because it has been home to Muslim pilgrims from all over the world for centuries. You’ll see Hejazis as dark as sub-Saharan Africans, as light skinned as the Scandinavians, and some even with Chinese features.

Saudi Arabia strictly adheres to Islamic, societal and religious, dictum. The religion and customs of Saudi Arabia call for conservative dressing by both men and women. To be well accepted and safe, you need to watch your step, manners and dress. It is suggested that you avoid wearing shorts except at the beach and swimming pool. Women must always cover their shoulders and leave tight and revealing clothes back home. The best fashion guideline is "conceal rather than reveal". Teenagers are also required to dress modestly in public places. Jeans should not be tight fitting and low necks and tank tops are not recommended. Always accept things with your right hand (the left hand is considered impolite). Sitting cross-legged or showing the soles of your feet to people is considered bad manners.

Alcohol and pork are illegal, and so are theatres and cinemas. At prayer times all shops must close, with the exception of restaurants and a few five star hotels. Saudi Arabians are very rigid and strict about religious practices and it is mandatory for a visitor to observe them too. The public practice of any religion other than Islam is not allowed. Non-Muslims ("kaffirs") may not enter mosques in Saudi Arabia and the area surrounding Mecca (about 25 km radius from the city). So if you are traveling by bus or taxi do find out about your route beforehand, in case you cross the line barring non-Muslims from going near Mecca inadvertently. Public observance of Ramadan (a month of fasting observed twice a year) by both Muslims and non Muslims is mandatory. If you are caught smoking, drinking or eating in public- and that includes office, hotel lobbies, and even moving vehicles on the highway - you can be sent to prison till Ramadan is over.

The Religious Police or "matawwa" and The Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice enforce Islamic orthodoxy, as they understand it, very ruthlessly. So avoid getting into any argument with them.

Men and women are strictly segregated in Saudi Society. Women will not be served in restaurants where there are no family sections, and there is an attempt to bar women completely from some smaller shops and fast food joints. Municipal buses have separate sections for women, and unaccompanied women are not allowed to travel by intercity bus or train. Women are also not allowed to drive.

An unaccompanied woman is not allowed to check into a hotel without a local sponsor’s letter, so your sponsor should inform the hotel in advance about your arrival. Saudi Arabia’s youth hostels are completely out of bounds for women. It would be a good idea for women tourists to wear the "abayya" (a long black cloak like garment) covering their clothes. It is also advisable for women to cover their heads in remote, small and conservative towns such as Jizan, Hail, Najran, Sakaka, and Tabuk. In main cities and areas where there are lots of foreigners, foreign women need not cover their heads. Women who appear to be of Arab descent are expected to be more strict and conservative about their clothes than western or Asian looking women.

Sexual harassment is common in the form of leers or obscene comments, especially in closed spaces such as aeroplanes. If someone gropes you, scream, so that the man is shamed for having touched a woman in public.

You will see be surprised to see Saudi executives, high-ranking businessmen and university professors chewing publicly on a tan-coloured stick, about 15-20cm long and roughly the thickness of the little finger, and without being the least bit embarrassed about it. In Saudi Arabia, cleaning one’s teeth in public is perfectly acceptable. They clean their teeth with the miswak, a natural toothbrush-cum-toothpaste. This multi-purpose stick is the secret to the dazzling white smiles commonly seen in the Arab world.

Whatever their job or social status, Saudi men wear the traditional dress called a thobe, which expresses equality and is also perfectly suited to the hot Saudi climate. During warm and hot weather, Saudi men and boys wear white thobes. During the cool weather, wool thobes in dark colours are not uncommon. At special times, men often wear a bisht or mishlah over the thobe. These are long white, brown or black cloaks trimmed in gold. A man's headdress consists of three things: the tagia, a small white cap that keeps the gutra from slipping off the head; the gutra itself, which is a large square of cloth; and the igal, a doubled black cord that holds the gutra in place. Some men may choose not to wear the igal. The gutra is usually made of cotton and traditionally Saudis wear either a white one or a red and white checked one. The gutra is worn folded into a triangle and centred on the head.