GROUP 1

SAUDI ARABIA
 SAUDI ARABIA
× officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
is a country in Western Asia
constituting the bulk of the Arabian
Peninsula. With a land area of
approximately 2,150,000 km2

× Saudi Arabia is geographically the

largest sovereign state in the Middle
East and the fifth largest in asia.

× Saudi Arabia has since become the

world's second largest oil producer
(behind the US) and the world's largest
oil exporter, controlling the world's
second largest oil reserves.
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→ Saudi Arabia is a desert country
encompassing most of the Arabian
Peninsula, with Red Sea and Persian
(Arabian) Gulf coastlines.
→ Known as the birthplace of Islam, it’s home
to the religion’s 2 most sacred mosques:
Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, destination of
the annual Hajj pilgrimage, and Medina’s
Masjid an-Nabawi, burial site of the
prophet Muhammad.
→ Riyadh, the capital, is a skyscraper-filled
metropolis.
→ The current population of Saudi Arabia is
34.3 million equivalent to 0.44% of the
total world population.

Capital: Riyadh
Dialing code: +966
Currency: Saudi riyal
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King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud

→ He is the King of Saudi Arabia. He is also the

Commander of the Saudi National Guard.
Saudi Arabia has no President.

→ The sixth King and the present leader of the

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

→ This country does not have a democracy, but

a monarcy.

→ Salman became the new King of Saudi Arabia

on 23 January 2015 following the death of his
half-brother, King Abdullah.

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1.
Culture
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→ Saudi society has experienced tremendous development
over the past several decades. The Saudi people have
taken their values and traditions – their customs,
hospitality and even their style of dress – and adapted
them to the modern world.

→ The culture of Saudi Arabia is a rich one that has been

shaped by its Islamic heritage, its historical role as an
ancient trade center, and its Bedouin traditions.

→ The cultural setting of Saudi Arabia is greatly influenced

by the Arab and Islamic Culture.

→ The society is in general deeply religious, conservative,

traditional, and family-oriented.

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Festival
× Janadriya Festival

This is a major cultural event

amongst the Riyadh Festivals and
Events. It is held annually and is
the oldest and the most traditional
of all the festivals. It is usually held
from the 12th to the 26th of
February each year. This festival is
considered to be the National
Festival of Heritage and Culture in
the Janadriyah region of Riyadh.
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Festival
× Riyadh Festival for Shopping and
Leisure
This festival is held every year in the
month of July. Visiotrs can shop all
types of things right from garments,
accessories and electronic goods. The
festival is held in Riyadh.

× Food Festival:
The Saudi Food Festival is among the
most popular amongst the Riyadh
festivals and events, and it is the
longest established food exhibitions
in Saudi Arabia. 8
Dress
× The religion and customs of Saudi Arabia dictate not only
conservative dress for men and women, but a uniformity of
dress unique to most of the Middle East.

1) Abaya, a long black cloak that covers all but the hands
and face in public.
2) Niqāb also called a ruband, is a garment of clothing that
covers the face, worn by some Muslim women as a part
of a particular interpretation of hijab (modest dress).
3) Thobe or thawb An ankle-length, long-sleeved, gownlike
garment worn chiefly by men of the Arabian Peninsula.
4) Ghutra is a square or rectangular headscarf worn by men,
along with a rope band (usually black) to fasten it in place.
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 Niqāb Ghutra

Abaya Thobe
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Rituals
× Saudi Arabia has been following a strict version of Islam
where for example, men and women are segregated in
universities.

× Another example of the strict adherence to Islamic values can

be seen in women who are required to wear the traditional
”abaya” (long, fully covered dress) along with a head scarf.

× Additionally, Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim country where

shops and other public facilities are required to close during
prayer time which takes place five times a day and employees
and customers are sent off to pray

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Holy Month
× Ramadan - the nine month of the Islamic calendar- is a holy
month for all muslims.

friends and families gather by sunset to enjoy breaking their

fast together. By night and particularly after the obligatory
Isha’ prayer, people stay in mosques to pray the voluntary
prayer of Taraweeh. Before down prayer, Fajr, families wake up
to eat, Suhur, which is their last meal before they start fasting.

→ is a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased

devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more
effort into following the teachings of Islam. The fast (sawm)
begins at dawn and ends at sunset.

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Architectural
× Saudi Arabia has a unique architectural heritage that has
developed over the centuries.

× Building designs and materials in Saudi Arabia were dictated

by the climate, geography and resources available.

For example, builders in the central areas preferred adobe for

its malleability, availability and insulating qualities. In western
Saudi Arabia, stone and red brick were common, while Jeddah’s
builders used coral from the Red Sea.

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Folk Music & Dancing
× A living piece of the country’s history, Saudi folk music has
been shaped by the nomadic Bedouins and the pilgrims who
brought musical influences from around the world.

× The music varies from region to region – for example, in the

Hijaz, the music of al-sihba combines poetry and songs of Arab
Andalusia, while the folk music of Makkah and Madinah reflects
these two cities’ influences from throughout the Islamic world.

× Dance is also popular among Saudis. The national dance is the

men’s sword dance known as the ardha. Men carrying swords
stand in two lines or a circle, with a poet singing in their midst,
and perform the traditional dance.

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Jewelry
× Traditional jewelry was mostly made of silver, although gold
was also used.

× Jewelers used stones such as turquoise, garnets and amber

from the Kingdom’s rich mines, and pearls and coral from the
coastal areas.

× Tiny bells, coins and chains were also used for decoration.
Designs primarily evolved from Islamic calligraphy and motifs,
and featured intricate patterns of geometric shapes, leaves,
crescents and flowers.

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2.
Norms
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Living in Saudi Arabia, there's a few things that are considered
'normal' for them, but might seem very 'weird' or 'ridiculous' for
us..

1. Men are allowed to have 4 wives at the same time, as long as

they're treated equallyWomen aren't allowed to show their
faces in public.

2. There are still Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses.

3. Foreign men have to wear long pants, and shirts that cover
their torso, and women should wear skirts with a hemline
below the knee.

4. women aren't allowed to drive vehicles.

5. Drinking alcohol and eating pork are against islam and are
completely forbidden.

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3.
Beliefs
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→ islam is the state religion of saudi
arabia and law requires all
citizens to be muslim.
→ Islam is a monotheistic religion.
There God is Ala. There church
called mosque.
→ Public worship by adherents of
religions other than muslim is
forbidden.
→ Any non muslim attempting to
acquire saudi arabian nationality
must convert to Islam.

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4.
Traditions
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 ×Eating on the floor and
sharing their food with others

some families do eat on the table

but many of them choose to eat on
the floor because Prophet
Mohammad used to do so. Also,
eating with your left hand is
considered a sin unless you have
trouble using your right.

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×Serving Arabic Coffee(Gahwa)
and dates

-serving arabic coffee and date

are a symbol of hospitality. This
practice is also carried out in the
holy month of ramadan. Dates are
eaten in ramadan immediately
after you break your fast because
it fills you up and prevents you
from over eating.

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 ×Going to the barr (desert)

-Going to the barr or desert is an

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essential part of Saudi culture.
Use big image.
Much like a picnic, Saudi families
pack their food and small tents
and head off to the barr with
friends and family to spend their
entire day there.

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 ×FOOD

Traditional fare includes spicy

dishes made with pita bread, rice,
lentils, grains, lamb and chicken.
Islamic law dictates food choices
and preparation just as it did
5,000 years ago. Pork is
considered unclean and is
prohibited. Lunch is traditionally
the day’s main meal.

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 ×Rules for Women

Saudi Arabian women are

required, according to Islamic
law, to cover their bodies in
abaya (black robes and face
coverings) as a sign of respect
for Muslim modesty laws.
Women may not converse with
men or show affection in public.

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 ‫هذا كل شئ‬
“hadha klu shay”
That’s All

‫شكرا جزيل‬
‫ا‬

“shukraan jazilaan”
Thank you

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