The Relationship between Saudi Children and their Pet Camel

  One may not necessarily think of a camel as a pet or think of a young tiny child sharing special moments with a huge camel. But I think this video which captures the essence of comfort and trust between a little Saudi girl and her camel show it all:    

Why Saudis Marry Non-Saudis

Tara maintains an excellent blog with an emphasis on bicultural marriages between a Saudi and a non-Saudi.  She strives to provide up-to-date information on the approval procedure as well as changes and developments pertaining to the convoluted regulations that abound bicultural marriages to a Saudi.  Her posts are always insightful, candid and thought-provoking.  Therefore it [...]

What is the Most Difficult Aspect of Marriage to a Saudi?

  Someone recently asked me what as a western woman married to a Saudi and living in Saudi Arabia do I find as the most difficult aspect of marriage? Was it religion, culture, family, customs or something else. I am choosing to answer this question in more broad terms in the hopes of helping other [...]

Doorbells in Saudi Arabia

Those of us from the West have come to take so many things for granted. Among them is automatically assuming that any home in America, Canada or Europe will likely have a doorbell with a pleasing tone or chime. I remember my last home in the States was built with a doorbell system that gave [...]

Saudi Arabia: WASTA in Action

According to Wikipedia, WASTA is defined as “‘who you know’. It refers to using one’s influence or connections to get things done, such as quick renewal of a passport, waiving of traffic fines, and even garnering prestigious jobs.” The use of WASTA is endemic in the Middle East region and particularly so in Saudi Arabia. [...]

The Hidden Secrets of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

If only Jeddah could talk, what deep secrets would it reveal? I for one believe there are many unique stories just waiting to be told about Jeddah if only we are fortunate enough to unearth them.   For example, a few months ago, a good friend of mine, Donna Abu Nasr, who is the Bureau [...]

Another Saudi Man Speaks Out

Perspectives from a Saudi Man… It is not easy as a woman to have an opportunity to speak candidly and openly with a Saudi man (within the Kingdom) let alone have his permission to share his views. Therefore I do wish to thank him for allowing me to interview him on a multitude of topics [...]

Saudi Arabia: Is This a Hospital or a Grocery Store???

  Several weeks ago a relative woke up with shortness of breath. He had been fighting an infection picked up from an earlier trip to Makkah. As a result he goes to a government run hospital not too far from his home for treatment. He realized he should be given some oxygen as well as [...]

Saudi Arabia’s Carpetbaggers

On 23 September 1932 Saudi Arabia unified into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it is now commonly known. So when you think about it, Saudi Arabia is still a young, growing and developing country. Its unification in 1932 continued to bear some similarities to the wild west of the United States. Some traditions carried [...]

Favorite Places to Eat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This will naturally be an evolving post in progress and I also hope will receive many contributions through comments of readers adding their own favorites. To begin with there is certainly no shortage of places to eat in Riyadh. All cuisines can be found and there are eateries for all budgets!   The five star [...]