Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

Four Saudi women in black abayas and hijabs sit together indoors, smiling and laughing while holding small cups of Arabic coffee, with a phone placed on the table in front of them.

On the Saudi Sense of Humour, and Why My Phone Is Full of It

Saudi humour doesn’t shout—it smirks, shrugs, and slips by in casual remarks and text messages never meant for the spotlight. It’s dry, observational, and deeply tied to place, dialect, and memory. For anyone trying to understand Saudi society, you’ll find more truth in a joke than in a textbook—and if you’re lucky, in your own phone.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 8th Aug 2025

Juddmonte’s Sun Maiden, daughter of Frankel, claims victory in the 2019 Nottinghamshire Oaks under jockey Jim Crowley in Prince Khalid bin Abdullah’s racing silks.

Saudi Arabia’s Other Sporting Dynasty

While headlines focus on Saudi Arabia’s flashy investments in football and Formula 1, Saudi Arabia has long been shaping another sport from the shadows. Juddmonte, the horse breeding empire founded by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, has quietly dominated the racing world—proving that long-term vision can outperform short-term spectacle.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 7th Aug 2025

Golden dallah pouring Arabic coffee into a decorated finjan cup, with another cup beside it on a wooden table against a warm-toned traditional backdrop

What Makes Saudi Coffee So Culturally Significant?

In Saudi Arabia, coffee is more than a drink — it’s a structured social practice. Whether served at home, in an office, or at a formal gathering, qahwa comes with its own unspoken etiquette. Understanding how it works offers insight into Saudi norms around respect, hospitality, and tradition.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 6th Aug 2025

Shubhda Chaudhary seated at Suwaidi Park during Riyadh Season, wearing a mustard yellow blouse and olive green pants, smiling at the camera in front of a branded backdrop featuring the park and event logos.

Reframing Saudi Arabia: An Indian Perspective by Shubhda Chaudhary

Indian scholar Shubhda Chaudhary arrived in Riyadh expecting complexity — and found far more. Her journey revealed a vibrant, welcoming Saudi society that defies outside narratives.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 5th Aug 2025

Gulf man and Japanese woman creating animation together on a tablet, symbolizing cross-cultural creativity.

The Quiet Rise of Animation in the Gulf

Animation in the Gulf is quietly stepping into the spotlight, transforming from a niche pastime into a creative force that reflects local life and connects with global audiences.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 1st Aug 2025

Sunlit kitchen with fresh vegetables, flowing water, and a desert landscape outside, symbolizing food and water security.

Food and Water in Saudi Arabia: A Household Challenge with National Stakes

Food and water security in Saudi Arabia is often discussed in terms of megaprojects, supply chains, and national strategy. Yet its impact is most tangible at home. In a country where over 80% of food is imported and water depends on energy-intensive desalination, the real shift is happening in kitchens, classrooms, and family budgets. From mindful hospitality to urban hydroponics, Saudi households are quietly shaping the future of sustainability—one small act at a time.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 31st Jul 2025

Gastronomy and Change: Why Saudi Arabia’s MICHELIN Launch Matters

The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide in Saudi Arabia is more than a culinary milestone. It reflects how food—long tied to tradition—is now at the centre of a wider cultural transformation.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 29th Jul 2025

A view of Salwa Palace at the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The restored mudbrick architecture stands beneath a pale sky, representing the country’s efforts to document and preserve its pre-modern history.

Saudi Arabia’s Buried Past Is No Longer Ignored

In a country often defined by its futuristic ambitions, a quiet but powerful shift is taking place—one that looks backwards. More than 700 archaeological sites have just been added to the national register, expanding a growing movement to preserve and recognize the depth of cultural history. This isn't about new discoveries, but about newfound attention, scale, and purpose.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 24th Jul 2025

Close-up of ornate Arabic calligraphy and geometric mosaic tilework on stone columns outside a historic building in Marrakech, Morocco.

When Poetry Was Data: The Forgotten Archive of Arabia

In the absence of written records, Arab poetry became a living archive—preserving the region’s economic realities through rhythm, metaphor, and memory.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 22nd Jul 2025

Forked road with signs reading “Approval” and “Instinct” in a grassy countryside.

Everyone Knows Best Except You

Everyone has something to say — especially when you didn’t ask. From well-meaning strangers to overzealous elders, advice arrives with drama, certainty, and a cultural twist. But what happens when you grow up between two worlds — one that reveres advice and one that questions it?

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 20th Jul 2025

Illustration of a stylized Gulf map with Oman highlighted in red-orange, surrounded by VAT receipts and a large income tax document — symbolizing Oman’s 2028 income tax policy and its ripple effect across the region.

A Gulf First: Oman Embraces Income Tax

For decades, the idea of personal income tax in the Gulf felt distant — a concept reserved for foreign travel or dual citizenship obligations. Now, with Oman set to introduce the region’s first such tax in 2028, the conversation is no longer hypothetical. What seemed taboo is becoming a new regional reality, with broader implications for how Gulf citizens view spending, subsidies, and their role in sustaining national budgets.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 18th Jul 2025

Two children inside a Saudi baqala (corner shop), one pushing a small shopping cart and the other browsing shelves filled with snacks and groceries.

Baqalas Are fading — And With Them, A Piece of Saudi Neighborhood life

Once a trusted part of daily life, Saudi baqalas are quietly disappearing. Their decline marks not just a retail shift—but the fading of neighborhood familiarity.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 15th Jul 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.

On the Saudi Sense of Humour, and Why My Phone Is Full of It

Saudi Arabia’s Other Sporting Dynasty

What Makes Saudi Coffee So Culturally Significant?

Reframing Saudi Arabia: An Indian Perspective by Shubhda Chaudhary

The Quiet Rise of Animation in the Gulf

Food and Water in Saudi Arabia: A Household Challenge with National Stakes

Gastronomy and Change: Why Saudi Arabia’s MICHELIN Launch Matters

Saudi Arabia’s Buried Past Is No Longer Ignored

When Poetry Was Data: The Forgotten Archive of Arabia

Everyone Knows Best Except You

A Gulf First: Oman Embraces Income Tax

Baqalas Are fading — And With Them, A Piece of Saudi Neighborhood life

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

On the Saudi Sense of Humour, and Why My Phone Is Full of It

Saudi Arabia’s Other Sporting Dynasty

What Makes Saudi Coffee So Culturally Significant?

Reframing Saudi Arabia: An Indian Perspective by Shubhda Chaudhary

The Quiet Rise of Animation in the Gulf

Food and Water in Saudi Arabia: A Household Challenge with National Stakes

Gastronomy and Change: Why Saudi Arabia’s MICHELIN Launch Matters

Saudi Arabia’s Buried Past Is No Longer Ignored

When Poetry Was Data: The Forgotten Archive of Arabia

Everyone Knows Best Except You

A Gulf First: Oman Embraces Income Tax

Baqalas Are fading — And With Them, A Piece of Saudi Neighborhood life

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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