Digital illustration of a Saudi city skyline emerging from desert dunes, with wind turbines and solar panels symbolizing the country’s shift from oil to renewable energy.

What Drives the Saudi Economy Today?

For decades, oil powered Saudi Arabia’s rise — shaping its economy, cities, and global role. Today, that dominance is slowly giving way to a new vision: one built on diversification, innovation, and opportunity across sectors from tourism to renewable energy. Saudi Arabia’s transformation is visible not just in its mega-projects but in the changing rhythm of its economic life.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 12th Nov 2025

Society

Off-road buggy carving through desert dunes, trailing sand and dust — a visual echo of Saudi Arabia’s enduring fascination with cars, speed, and open space.

From Drifting to Discipline: The Changing Face of Saudi Car Culture

Cars in Saudi Arabia are more than transport—they’re identity, rebellion, and freedom on four wheels. From late-night drifting in Riyadh to Lucid’s new EVs, the nation’s roads reveal a deeper story: how speed became both a symbol of control and escape in a society still finding its balance.

Nov 11, 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.

Oct 28, 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.

Oct 21, 2025

Entertainment

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.

Nov 6, 2025

Riyadh’s skyline glows with laughter. The city’s first major comedy festival turns entertainment into a quiet marker of cultural change.

Riyadh Comedy Festival Draws Global Debate

When the Riyadh Comedy Festival opened in late September, its laughter carried more than amusement. Featuring 50 global comedians, the two-week event turned Riyadh into a world stage — and a flashpoint for debate. For Saudis, it marked cultural progress; for critics abroad, a question of free speech and image.

Oct 7, 2025

Traditional Saudi majlis interior, representing spaces that may be adapted for public dining as cultural norms gradually evolve in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Homes Turn Into Restaurants as Culture Opens Up

Saudi Arabia’s transformation is often measured in giga-projects and reform plans, but sometimes the more revealing shifts begin quietly — like the decision to turn your family’s old majlis into a dining room for strangers.

Apr 29, 2025

Culture

Two Saudi schoolgirls with backpacks walk down a street in the historic Al-Balad district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Schools in the 1970s: Chalk, Crowds and Change

This takes me back to my school days in Jeddah, when classrooms were modest but filled with curiosity, and education in Saudi Arabia was just beginning to take shape.

Aug 19, 2025

A Saudi musician in a traditional white thobe and red-checkered keffiyeh plays the oud alongside an African American jazz musician in a dark suit playing the saxophone, blending Middle Eastern and jazz traditions on stage.

Loulwa Al-Sharif Brings Jazz to Saudi Arabia’s Stage

From jazz to opera, Saudi women are stepping beyond weddings and family events, creating music that blends heritage with global styles—and reshaping the country’s cultural soundscape.

Aug 8, 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.

Aug 7, 2025

SaudiFAQ

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.

Oct 29, 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.

Oct 22, 2025

Modern office in Saudi Arabia with men and women working together, reflecting evolving work culture that blends tradition and modern practices.

What’s it like working in Saudi Arabia?

Working in Saudi Arabia isn’t what it used to be. A wave of reforms, a new generation of professionals, and expanding industries are reshaping everything from office dynamics to job opportunities. Whether you're a local or an expat, the workplace here is a blend of tradition and change — formal in structure, but surprisingly warm and flexible in tone.

Oct 15, 2025