Saudi Arabia: Facts & Stats

CULTURE

Traditions:

The Saudi Arabian monarchial government recognizes the Quran as the Constitution of the country. The Customs and Traditions in Saudi Arabia are based on the tenets mentioned in the Quran.

Hospitality and guest care are primary features of the Customs and Traditions in Saudi Arabia. When a guest is invited to a local household on formal or friendly purpose the former is treated to a cup of coffee and date palms. This is an ancient custom and is a sign of hospitality. If a guest is invited to a meal then the guest should leave behind some food on his plate to show that his appetite has been satisfied. Inmates of the family may request the guest for a subsequent meal and in that case the guest should oblige and give the family some token gift in return as a gesture of honor.

The Culture of Saudi Arabia is framed by the Customs and Traditions in Saudi Arabia. Traditional garments are a must wear for the people of Saudi Arabia. Foreigners and tourists however are not required to follow this dress pattern. The Cuisine in Saudi Arabia is also partly influenced by the Traditions and Customs of Saudi Arabia in Asia. Since the Religion in Saudi Arabia is Islam most of the Customs of Saudi Arabia overlap with the Islamic customs. One such custom is the prohibition of consumption of alcohol and the eating of pork.

Celebrations:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia uses the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar, in reference to the migration (Hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad and his companions from Makkah to Madinah on Monday the 1st of Rabi Al-Awal, corresponding to 13 September 622 AD. The Hijrah year has 12 lunar months and consists of 354 days (see appendix XV for the calendar of 1417 H., corresponding to 1996-1997 AD). Date writing begins with the day first, then the month, then the year. Since Hijrah is the official calendar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is advisable to use it in your official documents and correspondence. The Hijrah date is usually followed by the Gregorian date; e.g., 1 Muharram 1417 H., corresponding to 18 May 1996, or 1/1/1417 H., corresponding to 18/5/1996.

There are two great festivals in an Islamic year, both observed by the Saudi private sector as well as government. The first is "Eid Al-Fitr" (the feast of the breaking of the fast of the month of "Ramadan"), which lasts for three days. However, "Eid Al-Fitr" holiday is customarily ten days long at the end of the month of "Ramadan" and the beginning of the month of "Shawal.". "Eid Al-Adha" (the Feast of Sacrifice, which commemorates Abraham’s intention to sacrifice his son Ishmael in fulfillment of God’s order) is the second of the two great festivals, and lasts for four days. The holiday of "Eid Al-Adha" is also a ten day holiday usually extending from the fifth to the fifteenth day of the month of "Thul-Hijja." It is observed by the government and private sector for the performance of Hajj (the Islamic religious pilgrimage to Holy Makkah). However, most of the Saudi private sector observes the two holidays for three and five days respectively.

Saudi National Day is September 23rd.

Alcohol:

Since Islamic law forbids the use of alcohol, many Westerners find creative ways to get around that restriction. The most common is to “brew your own”. Usually the equipment and ingredients for making your own beer or wine are brought in the country in several trips or shipments where by themselves they are not suspicious. Once assembled, people make their own wines, beers, and even “bathtub gin” and other hard liquors.

Cantinas and “social clubs” are often run on compounds where the Saudi guards are either unaware or look the other way. Regular alcohol and even drugs can be had in Saudi, but the prices are very steep, as is the penalty if you are caught with them. My recommendation is wait until you vacation outside the country if you must have some alcohol or participate in other activities that are forbidden in Saudi Arabia.

Sports and Hobbies:

Men can often be found playing sports. Women rarely participate in sports, and always away from the presence of men; this often leads to indoor gyms. Even though football is the most popular sport, Saudi Arabia has recently participated in the Summer Olympic Games and in international competitions in volleyball and other sports. The Saudi Arabian national youth baseball team has also participated in the Little League World Series. The Saudi Arabia national football team is often most known for being in four consecutive times in the FIFA World Cup and six times in the AFC Asian Cup, which the team won three times and was runner-up three times. Some popular football players include Majed Abdullah, Mohamed Al-Deayea, Sami Al-Jaber, and Saeed Al-Owairan.

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