Female Drivers
Up until 2018, women were not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. It had nothing to do with the actual driving, but strict religious law forbade women from getting a driver’s license as well as using a car. In June 2018, this law was overturned and ushered in a new era of women’s rights in the country.
Female Drivers
There’s More
Women are quite limited here still, and despite the advancement in driving rights, women are still not allowed to travel on their own or open up a bank account. Additionally, they are not allowed to go to school or work without getting permission from their male guardians first.
There’s More
Limiting The Love
Since Saudi Arabia follows Sharia law, any LGBT relationships are strictly forbidden and are subject to punishment. These punishments are no joke as well, ranging from lashings to even going as far as the death penalty.
Limiting The Love
Witchcraft
However, same-sex relationships are not the only thing that are banned here. Committing adultery, armed robbery, as well as engaging in witchcraft are all crimes that are punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. In 2006, it was reported that the government executed 154 criminals accused of such crimes.
Witches And Witchcraft
Holy Sites
Two of the holiest cities in Islam are located in Saudi Arabia. These are Mecca and Medina, and every year millions of Muslims come on a pilgrimage to visit. Interestingly, non-Muslims are not allowed to visit these holy sites.
Holy Sites
Reckless Driving
Have you ever seen a car tipped over on its side while driving on the highway? Don’t be shocked if you see that while coasting on the highway in Saudi Arabia. These is called “sidewalk skiing” and Saudis love to do this as a thrill. Passengers will even lean out of the car windows!
Reckless Driving
Banned Photos
If you’re a big world traveler, you might not even think twice before taking a photo of something you find interesting while abroad. However you’ll have to be extra careful while visiting Saudi Arabia, where taking photos of women is not allowed and can get you into trouble. In order to photograph men, you’ll also have to ask for permission first.
Banned Photos
Heaps And Heaps Of Cash
The Saudi Arabian royal family is one of the wealthiest families in the world, with their wealth estimated at about $14 trillion. That far exceeds most celebrities and most other royal families as well. Can you imagine such a level of wealth?
Heaps And Heaps Of Cash
Building Borders
If your country’s borders are threatened, then it might be a good idea to construct a security border. Saudi Arabia has erected a security fence on its border with Iraq in order to keep ISIS out of their country. Additionally, with terror groups running around Yemen, Saudi Arabia built a wall in between their border as well.
Building Borders
Tower Of Babel
Saudi Arabia is building the Jeddah Tower, formerly named the Kingdom Tower, which is set to be the tallest building in the world. Its construction halted for a while, but is back on as of 2023. It will eventually tower over even the Burj Khalifa.
Tower Of Babel
Banned Alcohol
Another thing that most Americans take for granted is the fact that alcohol can be purchased legally in the US. However, because of strict Sharia law, alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia. That means that consuming, selling, and purchasing alcohol is now allowed and is punishable by law.
Banned Alcohol
Desert Meat
Each country you visit will offer up different cuisine according to local tradition and availability. While in most countries that offer meat you’ll find staples like chicken and beef, in Saudi Arabia you’ll have the chance to sample a type of meat that isn’t as common in the US: camel meat.
Desert Meat
Right Handed
In Saudi Arabia, there are customs regarding how to shake people’s hands. People will shake with their right hand, and will also accept things from others using their right hands as well. This is because in Saudi culture, the right hand is the clean one while the left is used for other, less clean tasks.
Right Handed
Dunes And Dunes
Saudi Arabia spans over a massive portion of land, and for miles and miles, it is made up of desert. In fact, it is near impossible to work this land, making it totally not usable for farming, with just about 2% of the land being actually arable.
Dunes And Dunes
UNESCO Sites
Saudi Arabia has a whopping number of four sites that have been deemed UNESCO Heritage sites. These include Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, At-Turaif District In ad-Dir’iyah, Historic Jeddah, and Rock Art Of The Hail Region.
UNESCO Sites
The King
The King of Saudi Arabia is currently King Salman bin Adbulazziz Al Saud, who was born in 1935. He has held the title of King since 2015, and he was also the country’s Prime Minister from 2015 until 2022. Another title that he holds is “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and head of the House of Saud.”
The King
Many Ways To Die
Saudi Arabia is one of the countries in the world that still uses beheading as a form of execution, as has been the case for many centuries. However, it has recently been discussed to change the practice to using a firing squad instead, since there are now so few swordsmen who can partake in the actually task of beheading.
Many Ways To Die
Massive Land Mass
Saudi Arabia is a seriously huge country, taking up 83,000 square miles total. That makes it the largest country in the entire Middle East, and the 13th largest country in the entire world.
Massive Land Mass
Two Weddings
Those who get married in Saudi Arabia have to be prepared for setting up not one but two ceremonies. That’s because the ceremonies are divided into a women’s only and a men’s only. The married couple are then reunited once the two ceremonies are over.
Two Separate Weddings
Traffic Incidents
As Saudis love to drive recklessly for fun, it makes sense that it is one of the most dangerous countries to drive in the world. According to a 2000 World Bank report, the countries that are the most dangerous to drive in include Saudi Arabia, Thailand, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Traffic Incidents
Absolute Monarchy
One of the last absolute monarchies remaining in the world, the Saudi Arabian monarchy is led by the Al Saud family, which has been true since its inception on September 23rd, 1932. Other absolute monarchies are in Brunei, Oman, Eswatini, Vatican City, and Brunei.
Absolute Monarchy
Not Just Smoking Camels
If you ever feel the need to purchase a camel, then make your way over to the Riyadh camel market, which is one of the largest of its kind in the world. In fact, about 100 camels per day are sold here!
Not Just Smoking Camels
No Precautions
Using any form of birth control is absolutely forbidden in Saudi Arabia, but interestingly enough, Saudi’s arch enemy country Iran is home to one of the only condom factories in the Middle East.
No Precautions
All About Coffee
Coffee in Arabic is called “gahwah.” Some say that it means “that which prevents sleep,” and we can’t argue with that. Although it is technically not allowed by law since it is a stimulant, it is not enforced. There are plenty of coffee shops found throughout Saudi Arabia.
All About Coffee
Powerful People
King Abdullah passed away in January 2015 when he was 90 years old. At the time, he was considered one of the most powerful people in the world and was named the world’s most powerful Muslim by Forbes magazine.
Powerful People
What She Wears
There is a strict dress code for all women in Saudi Arabia, as they must be dressed modestly while out in public. One traditional item of clothing is the abaya robe-like dress, and it is often paired with the niqab which covers the face as well.
What She Wears But He Sells
What He Wears
The traditional clothign for men in Saudi Arabia includes wearing thobes, which are cotton garments that are light in weight and typically white. They also sometimes wear a bisht, a robe that goes over a thobe. Men will also wear a gutra, which is the traditional head scarf.
What He Wears
She Wears But He Sells
Up until 2012, because women were not allowed to work outside of their homes, they were not allowed to sell lingerie, so men sold it. This created an issue, since women didn’t want to purchase lingerie from men. King Abdullah changed the law so women were then able to sell lingerie instead of men.
She Wears But He Sells
Slaves
For centuries, slavery was commonplace throughout the entire Arab Peninsula until it was abolished by the Saudi monarchy in 1962, which is considered to be quite late compared with other places that outlawed slavery long before.
Slaves
Voting Rights
In 2011, King Abdullah began to review women’s right to vote, and then by 2015, he announced that women will finally be allowed to vote, making it the latest country to legalize women’s voting rights.
Voting Rights
Police And Police
There are different types of police in Saudi Arabia. Of course there is the police that is in charge of dealing with criminals, but there’s also a religious police force, called the “Committee for the Preservation of Virtue and for the Prevention of Vice.” There is also a crew called the “Mutaween” that is in charge of making sure that both residents and tourists alike are dressed appropriated and behaving well.
Police And Police
Founding Father
King Abdul Aziz bin Rahman Al Saud, or Ibn Saud, helped make Saudi Arabia what it is today. In 1932, he crowned himself king after proclaiming independence for Saudi Arabia. The king had 17 wives and 44 known sons, while also having an unknown amount of daughters.
Founding Father
Arab Astronaut
Prince Sultan bin Salman made history in 1985 when he joined the crew of the US space shuttle Discovery. That made him the first Saudi Arabian, Muslim, and Arab to go into space.
Arab Astronaut
“Winston’s Hiccup”
There was a joke that explained how Saudi Arabia became so huge that involved Winston Churchill. The joke says that while drawing up Saudi Arabia’s boundaries along Jordan, Churchill hiccuped thanks to the large quantities of brandy that he had imbibed. This caused his hand to slip and give Saudi a few extra thousand miles of land.
“Winston’s Hiccup”
No Harry Potter
Since witchcraft is totally banned in Saudi Arabia, that means that anything relating to witchcraft is also not allowed. So in case you’re planning a trip here, make sure to leave behind your Harry Potter books, since those are banned here as well.
No Harry Potter
Non-Muslims
Any non-Muslim who wishes to obtain Saudi citizenship can forget about it. In addition to that, it is also not allowed to build a place fo worship that is intended for any religion except for Islam.
Non Muslims
The Assassinated King
Following a trip to America in 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew. The King had recently been named “Man of the Year” by Time magazine since he helped boost Saudi Arabia’s economy and also helped push for secular reform.
The Assassinated King
9/11
While there’s no need to blame an entire country for the doings of a group of its citizens, people will often make the connection between September 11th and Saudi Arabia since fifteen out of nineteen of the hijackers hailed from Saudi Arabia. In fact, family members of the victims of 9/11 have actually sued Saudi Arabia for allegedly financing the terrorists.
9/11
The Yom Kippur War
The October War, also called the Yom Kippur War of 1973 was between Israel and its enemies Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq. The United States backed Israel, while Saudi Arabia backed the Arab nations against Israel, which is why there was an oil embargo against the US.
The Yom Kippur War
Free Care
In Saudi Arabia, health care is provided for free to all citizens. Additionally, public school is also totally free, but that may not be the best choice, as the country’s literacy rate is just under 70%.
Free Care
