Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the largest country located on the Arabian Peninsula.

Prior to the discovery of oil in the 1930s, Saudi Arabia was nothing more than a poor desert country.

The discovery of oil brought about a new lifestyle to Saudi Arabia. They acquired new wealth, better education, better technology, and new friends around the world. Saudi oil refinery

Oil Petroleum Black Gold Texas Tea

What is oil? The oil that we use today was formed millions of years ago when tiny plants and animals died and sank to the bottom of a shallow body of water. “Oil is formed from by tiny plants being fossilized”

What Countries have the most oil? (darkest=most)

Who imports Oil? Who Exports Oil?

What happens when there are no exports of oil or When oil is scarce? There will be an increase in prices for oil in the importing countries (USA, Europe, etc) What are the effects on the countries demanding/in need of oil?? Those importing countries (USA) must maintain good relations with exporting countries (Saudi Arabia)

How does this arid region go from… This toThis?

And This!?! Indoor ski slope

Desalination plants How do they adapt to their hot environment???? Air Conditioning and Insulation in buildings…

New wealth, same traditions… Saudi Arabia has struggled to keep their culture while modernizing and advancing at the same time.

There is a lot of westernization with a twist. Look closely at the signs!

You’ll find two sections in restaurants: The family section, and the single male section. Why is there no single woman section? Single male section

Because… Women can’t be in public without a male relative escort. Men and women are kept very separated in Saudi Arabia.

Even schools are segregated.

Girls’ schools

Boys’ school

So, if boys and girls are always kept separate, how do they date? They don’t. Marriages are arranged by families.

What about travelers? Do they have to follow all the same rules? Well… You can’t just visit Saudi Arabia. You must have permission from the King and good reason. But just like someone visiting our country, they’d have to follow our laws while here.

During prayer time… Be prepared to wait around for a while, because everything shuts down for 20 to 30 minutes five times a day for prayer. Mosques are everywhere, so you will always hear the muzzein standing atop the mosque call everyone to prayer five times a day no matter where you are. Foreigners are not forced to pray, but outward practice of any other religion is strictly forbidden!

If you do visit Saudi Arabia: Western women don’t have to wear the burka or the hijab, but if you’re stopped by the religious police and asked to, YOU BETTER JUST DO IT! Abaya (Burka) Hijab

Religious Police?!?!?! Who are they?

One way to keep the culture is the Mutaween (religious police). There are regular police to keep the law, and religious police to watch that people are following Saudi’s idea of Sharia (religious law). Strict punishments are enforced if not…

So, how Westernized is Saudi Arabia? Check it out for yourself!

Coca-Cola In Arabic

Saudi Barbie Notice what Barbie is wearing under her abaya! With all that oil money, Saudi women are decked out under their abayas!

Check out those stilettos! Diamonds, gold, designer clothes… You name it, they’ve got it on! When Saudi women are alone, the can’t wait to take off their abayas and show off their fashion!

Saudi bathing suit

But with the oil money, comes better education too.

Aramco Many Americans live in Saudi Arabia who work for the oil company Aramco. However, they live in private compounds, where behind those gates, they can live their American lifestyles.

Their schools are coed just like in the U.S. and they can dress just as they please. However, once they leave the compound, all Saudi laws apply.

What if you want to visit Mecca? You’ll only get in if you’re a Muslim. How do they know? Before entering the gates of Mecca you will be asked to recite a random Sura from the Qu’ran. Muslims who go as far as to make the Hajj, will be able to do it.

Saudi Arabia got rich FAST, so it’s still trying to blend the old and the new. And modernize as well Keep the traditional culture