Female Drivers
Saudi Arabia had a law in place that wouldn’t let women drive for many years. It was the last country in the world to overturn such a law in June 2018. Though people joke about women drivers, it was all because of a religious law banning women from operating vehicles and getting licenses.
Female Drivers
There Is More
Driving was only one thing on a list of tons that women couldn’t do in Saudi Arabia. For example, women cannot travel or open their own bank accounts. They require special permission from a male guardian to go to work or even attend school.
There Is More
Limiting the Love
Homosexuals in Saudi Arabia are eligible for severe punishments according to Sharia law. You might think they could be jailed or be given community service, but it’s much worse. In fact, lashings and the death penalty run rampant in the country.
Limiting the Love
Witchcraft
In Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is a crime, and offenders could be given the death penalty. However, witchcraft, adultery, armed robbery, and murder are all in the same boat. Reports show that 2006 saw the Saudi government executing 154 “criminals.”
Witchcraft
Holy Sites
Though most people believe Jerusalem is the top holy site in the world for Islam, it isn’t the only one. Medina and Mecca are actually the most popular holy sites for Muslims throughout the world, and Jerusalem is in third place. However, the first two won’t allow non-Muslims to visit.
Holy Sites
Reckless Driving
Most people would be shocked to see a car tip over on the highway, but a two-wheeled vehicle in Saudi Arabia is common. In fact, it’s called sidewalk skiing, and most Saudis claim it’s a great sport. Passengers often climb out of windows to stand on top of the vehicles.
Reckless Driving
Banned Photos
People take pictures of almost anything with their smartphones, and it’s second nature to us. However, you could get in trouble for taking pictures of women, and men think it’s rude to do it to them without asking first.
Banned Photos
Tons of Cash
Did you know Saudi Arabia has a Royal family, similar to the UK? These people are swimming in money and have about $14 trillion to their name. Most people can’t even imagine that much cash, so it’s pretty cool to think about.
Tons of Cash
Building Borders
It’s now trendy to build walls to protect the country, and Saudi Arabia started a project to build a security fence to keep ISIS members out. Then, unrest started in Yemen, so the Saudi government began building a security wall there, as well.
Building Borders
Jeddah Tower
The Kingdom Tower, now called Jeddah Tower, should be the tallest building worldwide. Construction started in 2013, and it was supposed to be finished in 2020. However, it’s not done yet, which makes us wonder why they’re being so slow about it!
Jeddah Tower
Banned Alcohol
Most Islamic states banned the sale and consumption of alcohol, and Saudi Arabia is no different. If anyone is caught selling or buying it, they will get punished. The typical punishment is a whipping!
Banned Alcohol
Desert Meat
Most Americans eat chicken, beef, and pork, and all of those are delicious. However, every country has different staples. In fact, the Saudis enjoy camel meat, with it even being considered a delicacy.
Desert Meat
Right Handed
When you accept something from someone or meet a new person, it’s customary to use your right hand to shake or take the item. In this culture, the left hand is unclean, and the right hand is the “clean” hand.
Right Handed
Tons of Dunes
Everyone knows that Saudi Arabia is in the desert, and the sand dunes stretch for miles. In fact, it’s hard to work on them, so people cannot grow food in the sand. There’s only about two percent of farmable land in the whole country.
Tons of Dunes
UNESCO Sites
Saudi Arabia is home to four total UNESCO Heritage sites, which is a huge feat and something most Saudis are proud of. The four sites are Rock Art of the Hail, Historic Jeddah, At-Turaif District (ad-Dir’iyah area), and Al-Hijr Archaeological Site.
UNESCO Sites
The King
Being a king of a country is a huge honor. The Saudi king is called King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and he’s 82 years old. He’s held the title of prime minister and king since 2005. He must be doing something right to keep being elected into office.
The King
Many Ways to Die
In Saudi Arabia, the traditional form of execution is beheading, and it’s been that way for centuries. However, there aren’t as many swordsmen willing to do the task anymore, so they’ve considered using firing squads instead.
Many Ways to Die
Huge Land Mass
If you want to see a huge country, Saudi Arabia is it. It’s the largest in the Middle East, which is no surprise. However, it’s actually the 13th biggest country on Earth! Did you know it’s about 83,000 square miles or 2,149,690 square kilometers!?
Huge Land Mass
Two Weddings
A wedding is a very expensive event for most people, and they save for years. However, you definitely wouldn’t want to finance two. Saudi Arabia has two wedding ceremonies for the couple. Men go to one, and the women attend the other. Then, the couple meets at the end.
Two Weddings
Traffic Incidents
Saudi Arabia is one of the most dangerous places to drive in the world. In fact, a 2020 World Bank report indicated that Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia were the most dangerous countries in which to drive!
Traffic Incidents
Absolute Monarchy
Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries to have an absolute monarchy still intact. Other countries that have them include Vatican City, Brunei, Swaziland, and Oman. In fact, the Al Saud family has been ruling the Saudis since 1932!
Absolute Monarchy
Not Just Smoking Camels
Most people think of cigarettes when they imagine camels, but Saudis use them to get around the area. If you wish to buy one, regardless of the reason, you’ll visit Riyadh Camel Market. It’s one of the biggest places in the world, selling about 100 camels each day.
Not Just Smoking Camels
No Precautions
According to Sharia law in Saudi Arabia, it’s illegal to use any type of birth control. This is perhaps why many families in Saudi Arabia have many children.
No Precautions
All About Coffee
Arabs call coffee “gahwa,” which means “to prevent sleep” in the native tongue. Technically, the law forbids people from drinking coffee, but it’s not enforced. In fact, the country has many coffee shops, and worshippers often chew coffee beans during prayers.
All About Coffee
Powerful People
Before King Abdullah passed away in January 2015 at 90 years old, most people said he was the eighth most powerful man in the world. According to Forbes magazine, he was considered the most powerful Muslim in the world.
Powerful People
What She Wears
The dress code for Saudi women goes back to the biblical times. In fact, the traditional clothing is the black abaya, though women can wear different colors at certain times. Still, they must keep their faces covered in public.
What She Wears
What He Wears
Men have a little more freedom, but they mostly dress in robes made of lightweight cotton. It’s often white, which helps reflect the sun away from the body. Likewise, men wear bischts, which are like graduation gowns. Gutras are the headscarves they don.
What He Wears
She Wears and He Sells
Women weren’t allowed to work outside the home until after 2012, so men often sold lingerie. This caused many problems for women who wanted to buy because they had to deal with men. Luckily, King Abdullah overturned the law, switching things around so that men couldn’t sell the clothing items.
She Wears and He Sells
Slaves
Slavery ran rampant in the Arab Peninsula long before it died out in other countries. In fact, it was the late bloomer when it came to ridding slavery. The monarchy abolished it in 1962.
Slaves
Voting Rights
It wasn’t until 2011 that King Abdullah reviewed a woman’s right to vote. Finally, he made the announcement that women could vote after 2015. In fact, Saudi Arabia was one of the last countries to legally allow women to vote.
Voting Rights
Police
Most countries have police to catch criminals, but Saudi Arabia also has a religious police force. Its name is quite long, and they’re responsible for many things. For example, the Mutaween makes sure tourists and residents behave and dress correctly.
Police
Founding Father
King Abdul Aziz bin Rahman Al Saud proclaimed Saudi Arabia’s independence in 1932, crowning himself as king in the bargain. He had 17 wives and fathered at least 44 sons and an unknown number of female children.
Founding Father
Arab Astronaut
In 1985, Prince Sultan bin Salman was sent into space. He rode on the Discovery, which was a US space shuttle. In fact, this trip made him the first Muslim, Arab, and Saudi to go to space, which was quite a thrill for sure!
Arab Astronaut
Winston’s Hiccup
How did Saudi Arabia get to be so big? The joke was that Winston Churchill, the English Prime Minister, was drawing the Saudi boundary after drinking too much brandy. He hiccuped and gave thousands of miles to the country. That’s probably not true, but still a fun anecdote.
Winston’s Hiccup
No Harry Potter
Earlier, you learned that witchcraft is banned in Saudi Arabia. This also includes articles and books written about it. Therefore, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you shouldn’t take your books with you because it’s not allowed, and you could get into serious trouble.
No Harry Potter
Non-Muslims
If you are not a Muslim person, you cannot get citizenship in Saudi Arabia. Likewise, it is forbidden to create a place of worship for a religion that isn’t Islam.
Non-Muslims
The Assassinated King
King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew in 1975 after the boy returned from his trip to America. In that year, Time magazine named the king “Man of the Year” because he was pushing for secular reform and rescued the country’s economy.
The Assassinated King
9/11
Everyone knows the tragedy of the September 11 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Saudi Arabia housed 15 of the 19 hijackers who started the attacks. Victims’ families are still suing the country for financing the terrorists.
9-11
The Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War (October War) in 1973 was fought between Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Israel. America chose to back Israel, and Saudi Arabia took the Arab nation’s side, imposing an oil embargo against the US.
The Yom Kippur War
Free Health Care
Saudi Arabia believes in public health care for everyone. Therefore, it’s free for all citizens. Likewise, public schooling is free, but the literacy rate is just under 70 percent.
Free Health Care