Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

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

Minimalist illustration of Kuwait City and Riyadh skylines connected by a golden arrow over desert dunes, symbolizing parallel progress and transformation across the Gulf.

From Perception to Reality: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s Parallel Paths

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia share more than a border; they share a rhythm of reform. Once seen as cultural opposites, the two Gulf states now move along parallel paths of renewal — modernising economies, reshaping societies, and closing the gap between perception and reality.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 30th Oct 2025

A person wearing a white shirt holds an orange construction helmet in front of the Saudi Arabian flag, representing Saudization and the rise of local employment in Saudi Arabia’s labor market.

What Is Saudization in Saudi Arabia and How Is It Changing the Job Market?

Once a country dependent on foreign labor, Saudi Arabia is now seeing its citizens take on roles once considered unlikely. Saudization—the government’s effort to localize the workforce—is transforming not only employment patterns but also the way Saudis view work, ambition, and contribution.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 29th Oct 2025

Cultivated rows of leafy green plants growing in sandy soil with traditional beige buildings and palm trees in the background under clear desert sunlight.

Saudi Arabia’s Quiet Green Shift: From Desert Scarcity to Sustainable Growth

Food and water security in Saudi Arabia has never been just a policy concern—it’s part of daily life. For generations, Saudis have understood the limits of their land and the value of every drop. Today, as the country modernizes and global disruptions reshape supply chains, that inherited awareness is turning into action. What was once a quiet understanding is now becoming a shared responsibility, uniting households, schools, and communities in the effort to sustain what truly matters.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 28th Oct 2025

Saudi pottery workshop showing traditional craft within the country’s growing cultural sector.

The Return of Art to Public Life

Saudi Arabia’s creative landscape has moved from the margins to the mainstream. What was once quiet and private is now confidently displayed, redefining both public life and national identity.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 25th Oct 2025

Polish architect Tommy Pniewski running through Riyadh’s streets at dawn, capturing the city’s evolving urban landscape—from modern towers and highways to new public spaces like the Sports Boulevard.

Running Through Riyadh: A Journey of Change and Endurance

Polish architect Tommy Pniewski explores Riyadh on foot, reflecting on endurance, perception, and how cities — like people — evolve through persistence.

by Tommy Pniewski | 25th Oct 2025

Drone show above Riyadh’s Boulevard City on July 10, 2025, marking the opening of the Esports World Cup as fans watch from below.

Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Industry Comes of Age

Saudi Arabia’s gaming industry is no longer in its early stages. What began as a niche hobby has evolved into a cultural and economic force — one that mirrors the country’s broader shift toward innovation, creativity, and global participation.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 23rd Oct 2025

Saudi woman browsing on her phone in a modern Jeddah café with Wi-Fi connection.

What Is the Internet like in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia’s internet is fast, pervasive, and deeply woven into daily life. From streaming an d social media to online businesses, Saudis are among the world’s most connected users. Yet behind the digital ease lies a quiet balance—between openness and restraint, between opportunity and tradition.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 22nd Oct 2025

Open Qur’an with black prayer beads placed on its pages, photographed on a wooden surface with a green leaf above, representing spirituality and contemplation.

Therapy in Saudi Arabia has quietly stepped out of the shadows. Once dismissed or confined to privat

Therapy in Saudi Arabia has quietly stepped out of the shadows. Once dismissed or confined to private whispers, it is now becoming a language of understanding for a society in transition. In rooms where faith meets vulnerability, Saudis are learning that healing can be both deeply cultural and profoundly human.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 21st Oct 2025

Silhouette of oil pump jacks at sunset symbolizing Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and energy transition toward a post-oil, data-driven future.

From Oil Barrels to Data Streams: Saudi Arabia’s Real Transformation

In the 1970s, Saudi families measured prosperity by new Toyotas and air-conditioned homes. Today, the symbols of wealth are changing again—from oil rigs to laptops, from concrete to code. As the Kingdom moves toward a post-oil future, its greatest challenge may not be economic but cultural: how 36 million Saudis learn to redefine success in a world powered by knowledge rather than crude.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 15th 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.

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

From Perception to Reality: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s Parallel Paths

What Is Saudization in Saudi Arabia and How Is It Changing the Job Market?

Saudi Arabia’s Quiet Green Shift: From Desert Scarcity to Sustainable Growth

The Return of Art to Public Life

Running Through Riyadh: A Journey of Change and Endurance

Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Industry Comes of Age

What Is the Internet like in Saudi Arabia?

Therapy in Saudi Arabia has quietly stepped out of the shadows. Once dismissed or confined to privat

From Oil Barrels to Data Streams: Saudi Arabia’s Real Transformation

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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

From Perception to Reality: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s Parallel Paths

What Is Saudization in Saudi Arabia and How Is It Changing the Job Market?

Saudi Arabia’s Quiet Green Shift: From Desert Scarcity to Sustainable Growth

The Return of Art to Public Life

Running Through Riyadh: A Journey of Change and Endurance

Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Industry Comes of Age

What Is the Internet like in Saudi Arabia?

Therapy in Saudi Arabia has quietly stepped out of the shadows. Once dismissed or confined to privat

From Oil Barrels to Data Streams: Saudi Arabia’s Real Transformation

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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