Because I did a post last month on what is a typical Saudi woman I was in turn asked by readers to please do a similar post on what is a typical Saudi man. 
I hope I do not disappoint you but just like with a Saudi woman, the Saudi man also comes in all variations! When it comes to individuals, regardless of location, ethnicity or religion, it is very hard to generalize about the Saudi man. Yet I believe that one can provide some categorizations to a Saudi man that is relatively accurate such as open-minded, conservative or even extreme.
The open-minded Saudi man will usually wear an ankle length thobe when he wears traditional dress. He may or may not always wear a smaugh and ghutra (headcovering) when he is out. He will likely wear western dress as well as his traditional dress in the Kingdom. He will be more likely to not have a long beard. Instead he may have only a “shadow” of a beard. He will feel comfortable and at-ease in mixed functions. He will have no qualms holding a discussion with a woman who is not his wife. The open-minded Saudi is the one more likely to take a western wife. However this does not mean that many other open-minded Saudis do not have Saudi wives.
The conservative Saudi will usually wear a shorter thobe. When he wears his smaugh, he will probably not wear the ghutra with it, choosing instead to let the headcover fall freely from his face rather than secured down by the ghutra. When or if he wears western dress his jeans or slacks may be above the ankles. He’ll likely have a prominent beard. He will probably avoid encounters with women who are not related to him. He’ll probably be able to compose himself well in a business setting that may have women present but it will not be his choice. The conservative Saudi may also have chosen to take a foreign wife but if so, she will also be conservative in nature and dress. Most likely he will have a Saudi wife.
For observations on the composition of an extreme Saudi, I encourage you to view this post which I had written earlier on the subject.
Speaking again in general, the typical Saudi man will likely have been coddled from birth onwards by his mother and all other female relatives. He will learn early on that he is favored above the women. In many cases he will be oriented at a young age to also be a protector to the females in his immediate family. The typical Saudi man will enjoy and expect to be spoiled and pampered. Due to the culture in the Kingdom, he is less likely as a husband to assist with household chores, cooking or running of a house. Instead it is expected that the wife with the assistance of a housemaid will oversee such duties. He will want his life to be made easy and peaceful. Saudi men are usually taught to be generous and compassionate with their family to include extended family. They adore children as well as respect and care for the elderly.
Filed under: Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, culture, friendship, gender, relationships, travel
Just a small correction: what goes on top of the shumagh is ‘augal’ not ghotra. The ghotra is like the shumagh but it is plain white.
“When he wears his smaugh, he will probably not wear the ghutra with it, choosing instead to let the headcover fall freely from his face rather than secured down by the ghutra.”
You must have been referring to the “iqal” when you said ghutra. ghutra and shumagh are the same thing, except that, usually, one is the name of the white one (former), and one is the name of the red one (latter(.
Interesting to see how you categorize us, Carol! But let me ask you this…
I have a beard.. my thobes are usually above my ankles, I rarely wear western clothes when in Saudi Arabia, and I cook from time to time for my mother and sisters… what is my category? (smile)
The picture is the stunningly heart-throbb Sheikh Hamdan of Dubai, not a Saudi man
))))
Thanks Ahmed!
Nader – you are indeed one in a million and whoever becomes your wife will be a very lucky lady indeed…but I didn’t notice a short thobe each time I’ve seen you?
Crispy – how funny — on google images it was called “Saudi Man!”
well, as you might be right about the main 2 categories.
accept you forgot the ultra “suit” that doesn’t leave his house unless he is fully dressed in the most elegant of clothing. pretends to be open, but has serious anger and bourgeois issues.
and that guy tottaly looks like he is from the UAE
First of all, the picture you have is for an Emirian prince, never Saudi
Secondly, You meant Iqal as Nader said for both Shmagh and Ghutra are the same except for the colors.
Thirdly, “He will be more likely to not have a long beard. Instead he may have only a “shadow” of a beard. He will feel comfortable and at-ease in mixed functions. He will have no qualms holding a discussion with a woman who is not his wife”
My brother is an open minded but with a beard and never the type to talk to women other than his wife!!
Fourthly, “The conservative Saudi will usually wear a shorter thobe” “He’ll likely have a prominent beard” “Most likely he will have a Saudi wife”. None of this applied in a cousin of mine AT ALL!! He is conservative with a great sense of humor. He is married to non Saudi and can chat with us freely!!
I know there are the conservative and the open minded type but that doesn’t mean they are to be categorized under these two categories. I guess your own perpective evolves under the muttawa type and some of the very open-minded Saudi Carol!!
P.S. Having a beard doesn’t mean being religious and conservative. No beard doesn’t necessarily mean an open minded person at all.
Abdullah, he is an Emirian prince, Prince Hazza
I’m enjoying the comments and diverse views…please keep them coming.
Awwwwwwwwwww Carol! Thanks a lot for your sweet words. You made me blush.. AT AOWRK!
AT WORK*
Why is everybody turning this to a personal view of his realtives. This is just a simple breakdown to Saudi men types. I am sure there are many of them..which resemble any siblings of the commenters.. But remember this is a glance and not a genetic research.
would this picture save us the trouble of the UAE prince refrence? http://initialm.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/22521333.jpg?w=500&h=333
he he…I can just picture a blushing Nader…at work! (smile)
DW – I’m not surprised that if one is Saudi and reading this post it will likely strike a chord and become personal. That’s okay…it gives us more food for thought.
one saudi guy i know is strikingly handsome with his dark stubble, wears modern clothes (sometimes jeans to work as he’s an engineer), rarely seen in thobes, secretly drinks beer at his aramco compound, travels widely, has performed umra countless times during ramadhan with his mom…and yet gets extremely nervous and shy (or perhaps pretend to be, i don’t know) with women who cover themselves from head to toe, minus the niqab of course..non saudi women! he seems to have a very conservative outlook, thinking that women who chose to wear hijab are not supposed to be approached at or friendly with men. and this applies to even the non saudis he meet…so which category is he in, i wonder? the split personality category?
He sounds like a typical Saudi guy to me! (smile)
Saudi Arabia in all aspects is contrasts and contradictions to include its people. And like I mentioned in the beginning of the post, it’s difficult to “box” people in to one specific category or another but just look for certain traits which usually indicate openness, conservatism or extremism.
My own theory is that since segregation has been ingrained in the Saudi society and culture this is then one area where a Saudi man even being more open will still appear conservative when compared to men from about anywhere else.
And I like the split personality category…I can think of a few guys who certainly would fit in that category! (smile)
“Speaking again in general, the typical Saudi man will likely have been coddled from birth onwards by his mother and all other female relatives. He will learn early on that he is favored above the women. In many cases he will be oriented at a young age to also be a protector to the females in his immediate family. The typical Saudi man will enjoy and expect to be spoiled and pampered. Due to the culture in the Kingdom, he is less likely as a husband to assist with household chores, cooking or running of a house. Instead it is expected that the wife with the assistance of a housemaid will oversee such duties. He will want his life to be made easy and peaceful. Saudi men are usually taught to be generous and compassionate with their family to include extended family. They adore children as well as respect and care for the elderly.”
OMG! That white boy I married is a typical Saudi! lol! I do believe this description describes a lot of men including my brother and my husband. my brother is an ‘educated hoodlum’ born and raised in Chicago Il USA. My husband is as American as Apple Pie. Both are only boys in a family of girls and both are the epitamy of what you have said here…yes includng the maid service.
Part may also be the generation in which they were raised…if an American grew up in the 1950/1960 Betty Crocker era he likely was more spoiled and coddled than perhaps the American boy born in the 1980′s/1990′s.
Hm, when my little brother was born (10 years younger, he was sort of an afterthought) everybody kept telling us, his sisters, not to spoil and coddle him to much.
Really strange I thought, as he grew up I was far more inclined to beat him up, obnoxious little squirt!
But I wasn’t allowed…..
Nader has a very decent and palatable beard (from an anti-beard campaigner’s point of view) wears very good stylish western dress when in Amsterdam, is a gentleman and an excellent interlocutor, and should be put in a special category by himself.
PS, and far more handsome than the picture posted, you should have snapped Nader instead. I’m soooo sorry I didn’t!
You’re right…I like …no make that LOVE the idea that Nader could/should be our poster boy! Wonder if he’d agree? Maybe we should just vote on it????
Hmm…Saudi man sounds Latin American!
Does it make a difference if he is from the East or West side of the Penninsula?
Speaking of Betty Crocker- can Saudi’s be categorized in the same way(20′s vs 40′s vs ’80′s vs now- or are the particulars timeless, classical pecularities indicative of KSA men?
Oh and Bedu, don’t know him personally but Nader sounds like a good poster person- you got my vote if he agrees!
My daughters say they should clone Prince Hamdan should be cloned a few million times over!
Girls!LOL
Inal – It does seem like the Saudi men in general are more open and liberal from the EP or Jeddah as compared to Nej’d and Riyadh.
I would like to hear from Saudis on whether they feel they can be categorized (per se) as suggested. I’m not sure.
Yes – so now we have 3 votes going for Nader: mine, Aafke’s and Inal’s!
I want to put something else to a vote: Should Americanbedu categorize American women and tell us where she fits?
That way she can have a taste of her own medicine.
Count me in!! I vote for Nader too!! Though I have no idea how he looks like..
Shall we create a banner “Nader for CHANGE” ?
Saudia – I would very much enjoy seeing a Saudi blogger do a characterization of Americans — male and female! And to a degree Americans can also be ‘somewhat’ categorized just like with Saudis depending if they are from the East Coast, West Coast, ‘Fly Over States’, Christian Fundamentalists, Democrat, Republican, etc…yes….one could apply a lot of labels!
Now that’s 4 votes for Nader! Thanks Nefertiti.
Saudis can also be “somewhat” categorized depending if they are Hijazi, Najidi, Jazani, Assiri, Easterner, from the North, Qabili, Khathiri, Hanbili, Ismalli, Shia, liberal, moderate, conservative, Arabist…etc. Your post is a gross generalization.
I’ve never denied that my post is nothing but a generalization! So please Saudi….fill in the blanks which you have started by identifying regions and what are the traits of Saudis from those regions.
It is not just regional, it’s also religious orientation, tribe…etc. As Saudis we have things in common cuz be come from the same education system and government but we are different just like Americans. As an outsider we look the same to you but you will not be able to KNOW us without at least learning our language.
American Bedu – i think catogarizing americans can be a job for me…. even thought i will be focusing on the north western american (oregon – washington) and its going to deal with young americans… this is going to take a while to do
Saudi – I encourage you to read my earlier posts if you have not. I’m not claiming to be an expert but I do take exception to your assumption that I would think “ya’ll look alike.” I’m married to a Saudi as well as having worked extensively in the region for a number of years. And again….you are jumping to an assumption at least in regards to me on the language. I may not be fluent (yet) but I can get by.
So I hope that your comments will be more informative rather than attacking or finger pointing.
Abdullah Hamed – I so look forward to reading your analysis on categorizing Americans as this will also lead to further understandings. No doubt there will be differences in views perhaps but nothing wrong with that!!
When you are all categorizing Americans (smiling), don’t forget the Indian Nations, they are gladly all over not just one spot and historically many American can trace their roots there- be they white, black, or spanish speaking (I use the general language term instead of Hispanic for cultural reasons)- which only goes Saudi that we all come in different stripes-is the zebra white with black stripes or black with white stripes?
The post-sorry Bedu for these two shiny coppers- was in general terms in the hopes of the natives fleshing out the details as only a native can try to do…
hahaha, Inal you are absolutely right: being myself from Latin America, Saudi men by Carol’s description, sounds prety muck latin men indeed! I saw my brothers there!
Thanks for commenting Zizi. What part of LA are you from?
Hi Carol,
I am from Brazil. But I can tell you that the behavior of the men there is very similiar in all latin countries.
I am 99% sure that is a photo of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum… from Dubai!
Yes, I learned that is correct. And ironically when searching google images, it is classified as “Saudi Man!” c’est la vie!
Reuters has picked up this post:
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/entertainment?bbPostId=B6kcqoGH9Pf8Bzn7nRZ5sNNoCz6AtOSmgRcakB97wcsSr0h5D
From the title, I was expecting some more insight into tribal, cultural,regional, and class differences between diifferent types of Saudi men.
It was funny how all of that was ignored, and the whole article seemed to be based on being an American woman and wether or not he will marry or talk to you.
There are religious men from all types of Saudis, and that is what you described as the “conservative” one.
There are VERY conservative people who are not veryreligious, who may have a trim beard and long thobe and would STILL never marry a western woman lol, who are very into their tribal customs.
As I said when I started the post, there is not “one size fits all” and you’re right – the post can go in so many differing directions, each one which adds further substance and understanding.
hmmm…. your generalizations are almost true. But let me add, even non-saudi conservative muslims wear their pants or pyjamas above their ankles.
And some may have a cap or even a turban or some cloth over their head.
And also conservative muslims behave the same with women world over…
Nice observations any way…