Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

Rijal Almaa UNESCO World Heritage site in the Asir region of southern Saudi Arabia, featuring traditional multi-storey stone architecture in a mountain village.

When Abha Becomes a Destination

Abha is emerging as one of Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations, drawing visitors to the Asir region in record numbers. The shift is welcome, but it is reshaping local life in ways residents are still trying to understand.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 20th Jan 2026

View of Medina in Saudi Arabia, Illustrating how cities developed along livable corridors shaped by geography, water access, and climate.

Where Saudis Really Live

Saudi Arabia may stretch across a continent’s worth of sand, but its people do not. Most Saudis live along a handful of narrow corridors where geography, history, and habitability converge. Understanding these lines is the quickest route to understanding how the country actually works.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 14th Jan 2026

People walking calmly along a public street in Riyadh, reflecting everyday social etiquette and modest public behavior in Saudi Arabia.

What Is Considered Rude in Saudi Culture?

Respect and restraint are key pillars of Saudi social life. What may seem normal elsewhere — loud conversation, direct opinions, or casual affection — might be interpreted differently here.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 7th Jan 2026

Portrait of Lily Moffatt, Australian journalist and co-host of the Saudi Life: Unpacked podcast, photographed against a light background.

Inside Saudi Arabia Through a Podcast Lens

In Saudi Life: Unpacked, journalist Lily Moffatt explores Saudi Arabia as it is lived — through daily routines, small encounters, and conversations that rarely make headlines.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 16th Dec 2025

Nighttime festival in Saudi Arabia with fireworks and a sculptural display, where people gather in public space, reflecting the shift toward visible, community-based evening culture.

What Should Visitors Know About Nightlife and Beverage Rules in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia prohibits alcohol for all residents and visitors, yet a new kind of nightlife is emerging. In Riyadh and Jeddah, the after-dark scene is shifting toward cafés, live music, cultural festivals, and crowded public spaces that stay open late. It is a social opening without a legal one—an evolving model built on atmosphere rather than alcohol.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 1st Jan 2026

Heritage and modernity share the same table — the daily negotiations explored in “Saudi Arabia – Culture Smart!."

A Handbook for Outsiders, and a Mirror for Saudis

Explaining Saudi culture has become essential for travelers and new expatriates searching for reliable guidance. Culture Smart Saudi Arabia positions itself as a practical introduction to social norms, daily behaviour, and etiquette in the Kingdom. This review looks at how accurate the guide is—and what readers should still keep in mind when trying to understand Saudi society.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 30th Dec 2025

Jean-Philippe Linteau, Canada’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, during an interview in Riyadh on diplomacy, education, and sustainability.

A Diplomat of Quiet Reach: Canada’s Jean-Philippe Linteau in Saudi Arabia

Canada’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau, speaks to Saudi Times about diplomacy built not on spectacle but on trust, education, and steady engagement. From his first encounter with the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to his work in Riyadh since 2023, he offers a grounded view of a country in motion—and of the subtle bridges that form when communication becomes a shared priority.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 12th Dec 2025

Photographer standing at the Edge of the World escarpment near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, overlooking the desert landscape.

How the Gulf Learns to See Itself

Photography in the Gulf has long done more than document appearances. From black-and-white family albums to contemporary exhibitions such as Making Space, images have quietly recorded how space is lived, shared, and remembered — often capturing social change before it is named.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 18th Dec 2025

Illustration showing key cost of living elements in Saudi Arabia, including housing, groceries, transport, and education, set against the Riyadh skyline.

What Is the Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia for Expats?

For expats considering a move to Saudi Arabia, the cost of living is often framed in broad generalisations. In practice, it is shaped by city choice, housing decisions, and lifestyle more than by national averages. While costs have evolved, Saudi Arabia remains comparatively affordable by Gulf standards, especially for families and those living beyond the main urban centres.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 16th Dec 2025

The Jeddah lighthouse on the Red Sea, overlooking the entrance to the city’s main port in Saudi Arabia.

The Red Sea Story Behind Saudi Arabia’s Oldest Global Ties

Long before oil transformed Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea’s ports linked the region to global networks of trade and culture. In Jeddah and Yanbu, maritime routes carried goods, ideas, and people across continents — shaping societies that were far more connected than modern stereotypes suggest.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 11th Dec 2025

Single suitcase on a polished airport floor near large terminal windows.

What Is Deportation and How Does It Work in Saudi Arabia?

Deportation in Saudi Arabia can feel opaque from the outside, yet it remains a vital part of how the kingdom manages immigration and public order. For expatriates living and working in the country, understanding how the system functions—its procedures, penalties, and the possibility of return—offers clarity in a landscape often shaped by strict rules and fast-growing expectations.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 10th Dec 2025

Updating Saudi Arabia’s Image, One Joke at a Time

Saudi Arabia’s latest tourism campaign does something rare: it laughs at the clichés that once defined it. With dry humour and quiet confidence, it shows a country telling its own story on its own terms.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 7th Dec 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.

When Abha Becomes a Destination

Where Saudis Really Live

What Is Considered Rude in Saudi Culture?

Inside Saudi Arabia Through a Podcast Lens

What Should Visitors Know About Nightlife and Beverage Rules in Saudi Arabia?

A Handbook for Outsiders, and a Mirror for Saudis

A Diplomat of Quiet Reach: Canada’s Jean-Philippe Linteau in Saudi Arabia

How the Gulf Learns to See Itself

What Is the Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia for Expats?

The Red Sea Story Behind Saudi Arabia’s Oldest Global Ties

What Is Deportation and How Does It Work in Saudi Arabia?

Updating Saudi Arabia’s Image, One Joke at a Time

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

When Abha Becomes a Destination

Where Saudis Really Live

What Is Considered Rude in Saudi Culture?

Inside Saudi Arabia Through a Podcast Lens

What Should Visitors Know About Nightlife and Beverage Rules in Saudi Arabia?

A Handbook for Outsiders, and a Mirror for Saudis

A Diplomat of Quiet Reach: Canada’s Jean-Philippe Linteau in Saudi Arabia

How the Gulf Learns to See Itself

What Is the Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia for Expats?

The Red Sea Story Behind Saudi Arabia’s Oldest Global Ties

What Is Deportation and How Does It Work in Saudi Arabia?

Updating Saudi Arabia’s Image, One Joke at a Time

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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