Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

Close-up of Makkah Tower in the city, highlighting its role in the daily life and religious landscape.

Religion in Saudi Arabia: Faith, Reform and Public Debate

As Ramadan approaches, questions about religion in Saudi Arabia often focus on politics: does Islam dominate the state or restrict society? Yet daily life tells a different story. Saudis observe fasting and additional prayers like Tarawih and Tahajjud out of conviction, navigating challenges while reinforcing family bonds, community ties, and a shared moral rhythm that underpins society.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 21st Feb 2026

Abstract architectural corridor in Saudi Arabia symbolising the tension between trust-based systems and institutional transparency in a modernising society.

How Saudi Arabia Runs on Trust

To outsiders, Saudi society can feel opaque. Decisions move quickly, explanations come late, and outcomes often hinge on relationships rather than procedures. For those used to systems built on transparency—clear rules, written processes, visible accountability—this can feel unsettling. Something seems to be missing. It is not order. It is articulation.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 16th Feb 2026

Saudi perfume bottle with Arabic label, symbolising the Kingdom’s oud tradition and its position as one of the Gulf’s largest fragrance markets.

Which Saudi Perfume Brands are Most Influential today?

In Saudi Arabia, perfume is not an accessory. It is a daily ritual woven into hospitality, family life, and social expectation. From heritage houses such as Abdul Samad Al Qurashi and Al Majed for Oud to the layered use of oud, bukhoor, and concentrated oils, fragrance in the Kingdom functions less as branding and more as presence. To understand Saudi society, one must first understand its scent.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 11th Feb 2026

Stone steps engraved with Arabic poetry in AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia, reflecting poetry’s role as a form of public cultural expression.

Thuraya Qabil: Writing in Her Own Name

I never expected to write about Thuraya Qabil, one of Saudi Arabia’s early female poets and journalists, in the past tense. Her death, announced this week on Al Arabiya News TV, drew mixed reactions—some warm, some quiet, some uneasy. That response reflects the life of a Saudi writer whose poetry, journalism, and songwriting never sat comfortably with simple praise.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 10th Feb 2026

A conceptual illustration of focus and distraction in everyday Saudi life, reflecting social change and responsibility in Saudi Arabia.

The Making of Responsibility in Saudi Arabia

Responsibility in Saudi Arabia is becoming less assumed and more practiced. As work patterns change and daily life grows more complex, expectations around time, reliability, and shared responsibility are being quietly renegotiated—at home, in the workplace, and in public life.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 5th Feb 2026

Saudi film crew filming on location in Jeddah’s Al-Balad Historic District, a historic area often used for television and independent productions.

What Are Some Famous Saudi Films?

Saudi films are often described as new, yet their stories long predate the reopening of cinemas. What has changed is visibility, not voice.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 4th Feb 2026

Japanese language books and a tourist guide manual on a desk, representing Noura Alharbi’s self-taught journey toward language certification and a guide license.

Crossing Scripts: A Saudi Woman’s Study of Japan

While most language learners opt for French or Spanish, Noura Alharbi took a different route. From a quiet town in Qassim, she taught herself Japanese, earned a tourism license, and now dreams of bridging cultures between Saudi Arabia and Japan. Her journey reflects a growing spirit among young Saudis: a willingness to follow passion over convention—and to prepare even when opportunities are not yet guaranteed.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 3rd Feb 2026

Goitered gazelle standing in the desert of central Saudi Arabia, a native species adapted to arid environments and part of Saudi Arabia’s desert wildlife.

What Animals Are Native to Saudi Arabia’s Desert?

Saudi Arabia’s deserts are often reduced to heat and emptiness. In reality, they are home to a resilient ecosystem of animals uniquely adapted to life in extreme conditions. From the Arabian oryx to falcons and camels, the country’s desert wildlife offers a quiet insight into both its natural history and cultural identity.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 28th Jan 2026

A modern high-rise building in Jeddah, reflecting how rising housing costs are reshaping daily urban life in Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh and Jeddah Are Living Different Housing Realities

Rising housing costs have become one of the most visible ways Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation is felt at home. In Riyadh and Jeddah, the country’s two largest cities, the question is no longer simply where opportunities are growing, but where daily life still makes sense. As rents rise and housing policies evolve, the gap between the two cities is becoming less abstract—and more personal.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 27th Jan 2026

Public entertainment district at Boulevard World in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with visitors walking through an open urban space.

What Are Saudi Arabia’s Public Decency Laws for Tourists and Visitors?

Saudi Arabia welcomes millions of visitors each year, but public life operates within clearly defined boundaries. For tourists, understanding the country’s public decency rules is less about fear of penalties and more about navigating shared spaces with awareness, discretion, and respect for local norms.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 22nd Jan 2026

Bike-sharing docks near Al-Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah.

Saudi Arabia Goes Online—And Gets On With It

Saudi Arabia’s digital economy recently reached 16% of GDP, a figure precise enough to sound abstract. Yet its real significance lies elsewhere. This share reflects not a dramatic technological leap, but a series of small, ordinary changes that have gradually reshaped how people work, pay, travel, and organise daily life — often without noticing when the shift occurred.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 22nd Jan 2026

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

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.

Religion in Saudi Arabia: Faith, Reform and Public Debate

How Saudi Arabia Runs on Trust

Which Saudi Perfume Brands are Most Influential today?

Thuraya Qabil: Writing in Her Own Name

The Making of Responsibility in Saudi Arabia

What Are Some Famous Saudi Films?

Crossing Scripts: A Saudi Woman’s Study of Japan

What Animals Are Native to Saudi Arabia’s Desert?

Riyadh and Jeddah Are Living Different Housing Realities

What Are Saudi Arabia’s Public Decency Laws for Tourists and Visitors?

Saudi Arabia Goes Online—And Gets On With It

When Abha Becomes a Destination

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

Religion in Saudi Arabia: Faith, Reform and Public Debate

How Saudi Arabia Runs on Trust

Which Saudi Perfume Brands are Most Influential today?

Thuraya Qabil: Writing in Her Own Name

The Making of Responsibility in Saudi Arabia

What Are Some Famous Saudi Films?

Crossing Scripts: A Saudi Woman’s Study of Japan

What Animals Are Native to Saudi Arabia’s Desert?

Riyadh and Jeddah Are Living Different Housing Realities

What Are Saudi Arabia’s Public Decency Laws for Tourists and Visitors?

Saudi Arabia Goes Online—And Gets On With It

When Abha Becomes a Destination

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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