culture of Saudi Arabia

1. Assalam-u-Alaikum
‫عليكم‬ ‫السالم‬

2. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
‫العربية‬ ‫المملكة‬‫السعودية‬
Al-Mamlakah al-Arabiyah as-Sa'ūdiyah

3. Capital Riyadh
Religion Islam
Official Language Arabic
Government Absolute monarchy
Establishment 23september 1932
Area 2,150,000 km2
(830,000 sq m)
Population
2014 estimate
30,770,375 approx.
Currency Saudi riyal (SR) (SAR)
Literacy 86.6%
National flag
Emblem
Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East and is bordered by many countries
including Yemen, Oman, U.A.E., Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan.

4. La Illaha Illallah Mohammadun
Rasuloolah Aliyun Waliyulah
Allah is our Almighty Lord
Mohammad is His Prophet
Ali is His messenger
(follower)

5. Geography
 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab
country of the Middle East
 Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula,
with the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba to the west and
the Persian Gulf to the east.
 Neighboring countries are Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar,
the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman,
Yemen, and Bahrain.
 Saudi Arabia contains the world's largest continuous
sand desert, the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter.
 Its oil region lies primarily in the eastern province along
the Persian Gulf.

6.  The Land of the Two Holy Mosques in reference
to Mecca and Medina, the two holy places in Islam. The
two mosques are Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca)
and Masjid Al-Nabawi (in Medina).
Saudi Arabia has the world's largest oil reserves and is
the world's largest oil exporter. Oil accounts for more
than 90% of exports and nearly 75% of government
revenue

9. Political
 Monarchy Ruled by sons and grandsons of the first king, Abdul
Aziz Al Saud
 Quran is declared as constitution of the country Governed on
basis of Sharia(Islamic Law)
 Council of Ministers appointed by King, Consists of a prime
minister
 The prime minister and twenty ministers. Advises on general
policy formulation and directing bureaucracy
 Elections No recognized political parties or national elections (only
local elections)

10. ‫سعود‬ ‫آل‬ ‫العزيز‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫بن‬ ‫سلمان‬
Salman bin Abdul aziz Al Saud

11. Legal system
 The primary source of law is the Islamic Sharia.
 Capital and physical punishments are imposed by
Saudi courts.
 Lashings are a common form of punishment.
 Homosexual rights are not recognized.
 Families of someone unlawfully killed can choose
between demanding the death penalty or granting
clemency in return for a payment of diyya, or blood
money.

13. Economy of Saudi Arabia
 Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong
government control over major economic activities.
 Saudi Arabia possesses 18% of the world's proven
petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of
petroleum, and played a leading role in OPEC for many
years.
 One of the few fast growing countries with a high per
capita income of $53,780 (2014)

Saudi oil refinery

15. Education
• In Saudi Arabia primary education through to high school is open to
everybody and is free.
• Gross enrollment for boys is 99%, but only 96.3% for girls.
• Three years of intermediate general academic education follows. The
percentage of girls is 47% of total students, and the overall gross
enrollment rate 95.9%.
• This time in secondary schools, students have a choice between
continuing general education, and switching to specialized secondary
education at technical secondary institutes.
• 3 year vocational education and training programs are available in the
fields of agriculture, commerce and industry. Overall, the gross enrollment
rate drops to 91%.
*boys and girls have the different schools.

16. Girls school
Boys school

17. Technology
 Saudi Arabia is one of the Arab countries at the forefront of
this modernization. It is a country that currently has 12% of
its total government budget dedicated to upgrading its higher
education system, arguably the highest level of funding in
the world.
 The kingdom is now working towards being a center of
research excellence.
 One by-product of this goal is the development of King
Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), an
independent scientific organization that is essentially the
country’s national science agency.
 The institution has already forged over twenty academic
partnerships with leading universities such as Imperial
College London, the University of Cambridge and the
University of Oxford.

18.  Almost 4% of global research papers now come from the
Middle East, a figure that has almost doubled since the
beginning of the new millennium.
 Saudi Arabia itself is responsible for almost 90% of this
research. It is this country-wide emphasis on research that
engenders a perfect learning environment for graduates across
the academic field, making Saudi Arabia an ideal choice for
students of science and technology.

20. Culture
 The cultural setting of Saudi Arabia is Arab and Islam and is
deeply religious, conservative, traditional, and family oriented.
 Many attitudes and traditions are centuries-old, derived from
Arab civilization.
 Saudi Arabia is a country run by religion. It is very important for
Saudis to follow the Five Pillars of Islam.
1. Shahada (Faith).
2. Salat (Prayer).
3. Zakat (Alms giving).
4. Sawm (Fasting).
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage).

21. Shahada (Faith): The recitation of the creed,
“La Illaha Illallah Mohammadun Rasuloolah
Aliyun Waliyulah ”
Salat (Prayer): Salat is the daily prayer of
Islam. Salat consists of five prayers daily.
Zakat (alms-giving): Zakat is the practice of
charitable giving by Muslims based on
accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all
who are able to do so.
Sawm (fasting): Ritual fasting is an obligatory
act during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj (pilgrimage): The Hajj is a pilgrimage to the
holy city of Mecca and Medina.

22. Mecca (Masjid al-Ḥarām) ‫المسجد‬‫الحرام‬
 Mecca (Makkah in Arabic) is the center of the Islamic world
and the birthplace of both the Prophet Muhammad and Ali
the religion he founded.
 The Masjid al-Ḥarām, also called the Sacred Mosque, and
the Grand Mosque or Great Mosque of Mecca, is the largest
mosque in the world and surrounds Islam's holiest place, the
Kaaba, in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
 The Kaaba or Ka'aba, is a cuboid building at the center of
Islam's most sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam.
 The Well of Zamzam is a well located within the Masjid al-
Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 20 m east of the Kaaba, the
holiest place in Islam.

23. Masjid al-Ḥarām

24. kaaba

25. Medina (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) ‫النبوي‬ ‫المسجد‬
 Medina means the "City of the Prophet," is in the Hejaz
region of western Saudi Arabia.
 Medina is the second holy city of Islam, after Mecca. Its
importance as a religious site derives from the
presence there of the Masjid al Nabawi, the Mosque of
the Prophet.
 Which was built on the site of Muhammad's home and
is where he is buried.

26. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi

27. Attire
 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.
 Saudi women also normally wear a full face veil, such as
a niqab.
 Women's clothes are often decorated with tribal motifs, coins,
sequins, metallic thread, and appliques.
 Foreign women are not required to wear an abaya, but must
cover their hair.
Abaya (Burka) Hijab

28.  Saudi men and boys, whatever their job or social status, wear
the traditional dress called a thobe or thawb, which has been
called the “Wahhabi national dress”.
 Among young men, since around 2000,
Western dress, particularly T-shirts and
jeans have become quite common
leisure wear, particularly in the
Eastern Province.
 Traditionally, men usually wear an
ankle length garment woven from
wool or cotton, with a keffiyeh or a
ghutra worn on the head.

29. Cuisine
 The common food items in Saudi Arabian cuisine
include wheat, rice, lamb, chicken, yogurt, potatoes and
dates.
 Shawarma and Falafel are two common dishes which
are originally Levantine and Egyptian dishes
respectively.
 These two dishes are examples about the influence of
foreign residents in Saudi's food.
 Yogurt is normally made into a drink called Laban.
 The most common types of food and beverages are,
Kabsa, Mtaziz, Motabbaq, Masoob, Mandi, Arikah,
Assidah, Haneedh,kleeja, and many other local dishes.

30. Falafel balls
Shawarma
kleeja
kabsa Mutabbaq

31.  AlBaik is a chain of fast food restaurants in Saudi Arabia that primarily
sells roasted chicken and shrimp with a variety of sauce.
 Rush at albaik
during ramadan
 Albaik chicken
meal

32. Currency
 Saudi Arabian currency is Saudi Riyal
INR=16.9017 SAR

33. MEDIA & ADVERTIZING
Arabic is the fastest growing language on
microblogging site TWITTER, with a 2000 %
increase in Arabic postings logged over the
past 12 months.
Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin
Talal’s Kingdom Holding Company (KHC)
announced a $300 million investment
In social media site, Twitter.

35. Television in Saudi Arabia
 Saudi Arabia dominated by just five major companies: Dubai
TV, Middle East Broadcasting Center, Lebanese
Broadcasting Corporation, Rotana and Saudi TV.
 Though private television stations cannot operate from Saudi
soil, the country is a major market for pan-Arab satellite and
pay-TV.
 Saudi investors are behind the major networks MBC based
in Dubai, and Emirates based OSN
 Al Jazeera network is one of the largest pay-TV players in
terms of subscriptions, with a market share of 59%

36. Magazine in Saudi

37. Saudi Arabian Barbie's

38. FAMILY
Saudis are cognizant (aware) of their
heritage, their clan, and their extended
family, as well as their nuclear family.
Saudis take their responsibilities to their
family quite seriously.
Families tend to be large and the
extended family is quite close.
The individual derives a social network
and assistance in times of need from the
family.

40. Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
 Women's rights in Saudi Arabia are limited in comparison to
many of its neighbors.
 All women, regardless of age, are required to have a male
guardian.
 Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits
women from driving.
 Saudi women constitute 13% of the country's native
workforce as of 2015.
 Women were previously forbidden from voting or being
elected to political office, but in 2011 king Abdullah declared
that women would be able to vote and run in the 2015 local
election.
 Saudi girls are banned from playing sports in schools and
are denied access to sports facilities, including gyms and
swimming pools.

42. Taboos
 The left hand is considered unclean and reserved for
hygiene.
 Do not point at another person and do not eat with the
left hand.
 Men walking hand in hand is a sign a friendship.
 The "thumbs up" gesture is offensive.
 Saudi Arabia takes witchcraft so seriously that the
country has banned the harry potter books.

43.  Avoid admiring an item too much, your host may feel obligated
to give it to you. When offered a gift, it is impolite to refuse.
 Try not to cross your legs when sitting. Never show the bottom of
your feet.
 Flowers do not make good gifts from a man, although a woman
could give them to her hostess.
 If you are invited to a Saudi's house bring something small as a
thank you gift . Gifts are not opened when received

44. Fact
 Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
 The weekend are on Thursday and Friday.
 Almost all restaurants have a separate entrance and
eating area for families, and another entrance and
eating area for men who are unaccompanied by
women.
 All shops and business establishments must
necessarily be closed during times of prayer (5 times a
day).
 Propagation and public practice of any other religion is
strictly prohibited.
 Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without
a river.

45. King Fahd International Airport in Damman,
Saudi Arabia it takes up some 780 square
kilometres - an area larger than many cities.
Many Americans live in Saudi Arabia who work
for the oil company Aramco. However, they live
in private compounds, where behind those
gates, they can live their American lifestyles.
The Rub’ al Khali, or the Empty Quarter, is one
of the driest places on earth.
This desert, which is 1,000 kilometers (620
miles) long and 500 kilometers (310 miles)
wide, occupies a large portion of Saudi Arabia.

46. A voluntary $100 million donation to the UN’s
counter-terrorism center last year was a show
of generosity from Riyadh,
(But what the Saudis give with one hand, they
seem to take away with the other.)
Saudi Arabia is said to be the world's largest
source of funds for Salafi jihadist terrorist
militant groups, such as al-Qaeda, the
Afghan Taliban, and Lashkar-e-Taliban in South
Asia.
Fifteen of the 19 accused hijackers of the
terrorist attacks on New York City and
Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001,
came from Saudi Arabia.

47. ‫شكرا‬
Thank you