Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

What is the size of Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is enormous — and the Kingdom’s scale explains far more than its place on a map. It shapes how Saudis travel, how regions evolved culturally, and why development across a landscape stretching from the Rub’ al-Khali to the Red Sea requires both ambition and patience.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 3rd Dec 2025

Courtney Freer, a scholar of Gulf politics and Islamism, smiling while seated in an office setting during an academic interview.

Beyond Oil: Courtney Freer on Islamism, Nationalism, and Saudi Arabia

Islamism, nationalism, and the shifting politics of the Gulf are often treated as disconnected themes. Yet Dr. Courtney Freer, a political scientist at Emory University, argues that these forces intersect more deeply than outsiders assume. In her conversation with Saudi Times, she explains how the Muslim Brotherhood, state-led nationalism, and new forms of Gulf identity continue to shape the region — far beyond the familiar narratives of oil and security.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 2nd Dec 2025

Minimalist red-and-beige illustration showing a Saudi man walking from an oil pumpjack toward a modern office building, symbolising Saudi Arabia’s transition from oil-based work to skill-driven service jobs.

The Quiet Revolution in Saudi Jobs

Work in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a quiet but profound shift. Jobs that once guaranteed security, status, and a desk in a ministry are giving way to roles that demand skills, adaptability, and competition. The change is economic, but also social: careers now shape identity, ambition, and mobility in ways that previous generations never had to consider.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 25th Nov 2025

View of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s white geometric buildings set over turquoise water, with the museum’s dome behind them, seen on a clear Gulf morning.

Museums and Memory: Why the Gulf’s Cultural Turn Matters for Saudis

The Gulf is rethinking culture. In his ICOM Dubai address, Zaki Nusseibeh — Cultural Advisor to the UAE President and Chancellor of UAE University — captured a growing regional conviction: museums are no longer quiet repositories of memory but active forces shaping identity, belonging, and the pace of change. For Saudi Arabia, that shift could not be more timely.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 21st Nov 2025

Tourist taking a photo in a residential area of Riyadh with the city skyline and mosque minaret in the background, illustrating photography rules in Saudi Arabia.

What Are the Rules for Tourists Taking Pictures in Saudi Arabia?

Photography in Saudi Arabia is far more relaxed today than most visitors expect, but the country still draws a quiet line between openness and personal privacy. Understanding these unwritten norms helps tourists capture the Kingdom with confidence and cultural ease.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 19th Nov 2025

A minimalist illustration on a red background showing an open book, an artist’s palette with a paintbrush, and an oud placed side by side, symbolising literature, visual arts, and music in Saudi culture.

Alzahrani’s Argument for Culture as a National Resource

Culture is moving from the margins of Saudi life to the centre of its public conversation. As Dr. Hatem Alzahrani recently argued, investing in creativity is becoming a way for the country to understand itself — not just an economic choice, but a social shift many Saudis now feel.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 18th Nov 2025

From Oil to Offices — and Beyond

Saudi Arabia is moving from government jobs to skill-driven service work, reshaping expectations around careers, opportunity, and social acceptance.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 13th Nov 2025

Digital illustration of a Saudi city skyline emerging from desert dunes, with wind turbines and solar panels symbolizing the country’s shift from oil to renewable energy.

What Drives the Saudi Economy Today?

For decades, oil powered Saudi Arabia’s rise — shaping its economy, cities, and global role. Today, that dominance is slowly giving way to a new vision: one built on diversification, innovation, and opportunity across sectors from tourism to renewable energy. Saudi Arabia’s transformation is visible not just in its mega-projects but in the changing rhythm of its economic life.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 12th Nov 2025

Off-road buggy carving through desert dunes, trailing sand and dust — a visual echo of Saudi Arabia’s enduring fascination with cars, speed, and open space.

From Drifting to Discipline: The Changing Face of Saudi Car Culture

Cars in Saudi Arabia are more than transport—they’re identity, rebellion, and freedom on four wheels. From late-night drifting in Riyadh to Lucid’s new EVs, the nation’s roads reveal a deeper story: how speed became both a symbol of control and escape in a society still finding its balance.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 11th Nov 2025

A Saudi woman smiles while watching a television cartoon showing two men arguing over paperwork, echoing the style and humour of the Saudi satire Masameer.

Masameer and the Art of Saudi Self-Mockery

Once a scrappy YouTube series, Masameer has become Saudi Arabia’s cultural mirror—an animated satire where laughter doubles as quiet critique. By turning everyday frustrations into comedy, it captures the Kingdom’s shifting social mood, where self-reflection now comes with a punchline.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 6th Nov 2025

Rowa Talal Fitaihi, Saudi humanitarian and UNHCR officer, photographed against a dark background wearing a black abaya and smiling confidently.

Rowa Fitaihi: Linking Local Values to Global Aid

From Jeddah to the UN, Rowa Talal Fitaihi bridges Saudi values with global humanitarian action. At UNHCR Saudi Arabia, she helps translate the Kingdom’s long tradition of giving into structured, transparent systems of international support—linking faith, strategy, and compassion.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 4th Nov 2025

Koelnmesse, Cologne — where experts discussed Saudi Arabia’s social transformation and its impact on global business in 2025.

Interview with the Cologne/Bonn Fair: Observing Saudi Society and Business Dynamics

As Saudi Arabia undergoes a profound social and economic transformation, its evolving identity offers valuable lessons for international partners. The Kingdom’s modernization—spanning workplaces, public life, and trade—reveals a society balancing continuity with change, and a market that rewards cultural understanding as much as commercial strategy.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 31st Oct 2025

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

My name is Dahlia Rahaimy, and I founded SaudiTimes to shed light on a society often viewed through stereotypes. The platform aims to provide a balanced, well-researched insights into Saudi Arabia, exploring the cultural complexities of a nation in transformation.

Born in Vienna and raised across Germany, Jeddah, and living in Dubai, I bring a lifetime of cross-cultural experiences to my work.

Far from a personal blog, SaudiTimes is rooted in journalistic discipline. It digs into the intrcacis of Saudi society, challenging preconceptions and fostering meaningful dialogue. I aim to offer an authentic glimpse into Saudi society – its foundations, its present realities, and the forces shaping its future.

Beyond my work on SaudiTimes, I am a wife and a proud mother of a daughter and a son.

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

My features, analysis, stories, interviews, and pictures of Saudi Arabia and society create an understanding of Saudi Arabia in the Western world.

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

My writings deliver authentic, detailed, and local information to help you understand all aspects of Saudi society.

What is the size of Saudi Arabia?

Beyond Oil: Courtney Freer on Islamism, Nationalism, and Saudi Arabia

The Quiet Revolution in Saudi Jobs

Museums and Memory: Why the Gulf’s Cultural Turn Matters for Saudis

What Are the Rules for Tourists Taking Pictures in Saudi Arabia?

Alzahrani’s Argument for Culture as a National Resource

From Oil to Offices — and Beyond

What Drives the Saudi Economy Today?

From Drifting to Discipline: The Changing Face of Saudi Car Culture

Masameer and the Art of Saudi Self-Mockery

Rowa Fitaihi: Linking Local Values to Global Aid

Interview with the Cologne/Bonn Fair: Observing Saudi Society and Business Dynamics

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

What is the size of Saudi Arabia?

Beyond Oil: Courtney Freer on Islamism, Nationalism, and Saudi Arabia

The Quiet Revolution in Saudi Jobs

Museums and Memory: Why the Gulf’s Cultural Turn Matters for Saudis

What Are the Rules for Tourists Taking Pictures in Saudi Arabia?

Alzahrani’s Argument for Culture as a National Resource

From Oil to Offices — and Beyond

What Drives the Saudi Economy Today?

From Drifting to Discipline: The Changing Face of Saudi Car Culture

Masameer and the Art of Saudi Self-Mockery

Rowa Fitaihi: Linking Local Values to Global Aid

Interview with the Cologne/Bonn Fair: Observing Saudi Society and Business Dynamics

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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