Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

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

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

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.

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

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?

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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

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?

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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