Saudi Times: An Authentic Portrait of Saudi Arabia

Disability in Saudi Arabia and the Routes to Visibility

When Wadha Al-Shammari became the first Saudi deaf graduate selected to deliver a commencement speech at Gallaudet University, her achievement reflected a broader Saudi story: how disability in Saudi Arabia moved from a largely family responsibility to a growing institutional one.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 18th May 2026

At the Jeddah Biennale, Islamic artists from across the world reflected Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a centre for contemporary Islamic art under Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia in Venice: Why “A Necessary Fiction” Is About More Than Art

Inside a quiet Venetian abbey, Saudi Arabia is displaying maps filled with myths, trade routes and imagined worlds. Yet “A Necessary Fiction,” the Kingdom’s latest exhibition at the Venice Biennale, is about more than cartography. It reflects a country attempting to redraw its own image — from a state once defined abroad by oil and conservatism to one increasingly using culture, heritage and art to shape how it is understood globally.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 14th May 2026

Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism sector is transforming historic Jeddah into a lively cultural destination where heritage streets, night markets and public spaces attract growing local and international crowds.

What is the Difference Between Headlines about Saudi Arabia and Daily Life on the Ground?

International coverage of Saudi Arabia often focuses on dramatic narratives of reform and transformation. Daily life inside the country, however, is shaped less by sudden change than by gradual social negotiation, regional differences, and evolving cultural expectations that coexist with long-established traditions.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 14th May 2026

Saudi Arabia’s next phase of transformation may be judged less by what it builds than by the opportunities it creates.

Saudi Vision 2030 and the Remaking of Saudi Society

Saudi Arabia’s transformation is often discussed in terms of economics: diversification, investment, tourism and non-oil growth. But beneath the financial language lies something more profound — a renegotiation of the relationship between the Saudi state and Saudi society.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 11th May 2026

The dallah still pours as it always has; only the setting has changed.

The Kingdom in a Cup

In Saudi Arabia, coffee is far more than a daily beverage. From the mountain-grown Khawlani beans of Jazan to the bustling cafés of Riyadh, Saudi coffee culture reflects centuries of hospitality, conversation and social connection. As Vision 2030 fuels a revival of local coffee production and modern café culture, the Kingdom’s most enduring ritual continues to unite tradition with contemporary life.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 11th May 2026

Saudi fans in Russia travelled with their team, with growing interest already directed towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the development of football in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Football Through Foreign Eyes

Saudi Arabia’s Pro League is no longer just a financial magnet for star players—it’s becoming a competitive, intensely observed footballing landscape. Coaches like Matthias Jaissle, who guided Al‑Ahli to domestic success and an AFC Champions League title, navigate high expectations, cultural adaptation, and the passionate scrutiny of local fans. Beyond headlines about money or politics, the league is proving that Saudi football can foster genuine professional debate and competitive intensity.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 26th Feb 2026

An old well at the Al Diriyah ruins, the Kingdom’s former capital, symbolizing centuries of water management and community life in Saudi Arabia.

From Wells to Wonders: Saudi Arabia’s Society and Its Water

In Saudi Arabia, water has long shaped settlement, mobility, and social life. With no rivers and few reliable springs, generations relied on rainfall, wells, and ancient channels—from Ain Zubaydah’s thousand-year-old aqueduct to modern collection systems—to survive. That history still shapes the kingdom’s relationship with water, even as desalination now meets most needs.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 26th Feb 2026

Street scene in Saudi Arabia showing young people walking, socialising, and engaging in public spaces, illustrating modern lifestyles, urban culture, and social change in Saudi society.

What Changes Are Genuinely Reshaping Saudi Society Today?

The most consequential changes in Saudi Arabia are practical rather than symbolic. Expanded employment opportunities for women, wider career paths, the normalisation of entertainment, and greater mobility have reshaped everyday routines. Public behaviour has shifted quickly, while private social expectations have changed more cautiously, producing a society that is transforming in how it operates without fully abandoning continuity in how it thinks.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 25th Feb 2026

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

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.

Disability in Saudi Arabia and the Routes to Visibility

Saudi Arabia in Venice: Why “A Necessary Fiction” Is About More Than Art

What is the Difference Between Headlines about Saudi Arabia and Daily Life on the Ground?

Saudi Vision 2030 and the Remaking of Saudi Society

The Kingdom in a Cup

Saudi Football Through Foreign Eyes

From Wells to Wonders: Saudi Arabia’s Society and Its Water

What Changes Are Genuinely Reshaping Saudi Society Today?

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

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

Disability in Saudi Arabia and the Routes to Visibility

Saudi Arabia in Venice: Why “A Necessary Fiction” Is About More Than Art

What is the Difference Between Headlines about Saudi Arabia and Daily Life on the Ground?

Saudi Vision 2030 and the Remaking of Saudi Society

The Kingdom in a Cup

Saudi Football Through Foreign Eyes

From Wells to Wonders: Saudi Arabia’s Society and Its Water

What Changes Are Genuinely Reshaping Saudi Society Today?

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

Saudi Arabia

DAHLIA RAHAIMY

The author

THE AIM OF SAUDITIMES

DISCOVER SAUDI ARABIA

DUBAI

JEDDAH

FRANKFURT

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