Saudi Arabia’s World Cup begins against Uruguay, with Spain and Cape Verde completing a deceptively competitive Group H.

A League Transformed, a National Team Unconvinced

Saudi football has never been more ambitious. Yet growing investment, international stars and global attention have not ended questions about whether the national team is progressing at the same pace.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 16th Jun 2026

Society

Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation is increasingly provoking debates over language, identity and modernity.

Saudi Arabia’s New Arts University Opens an Identity Debate

The controversy over English-language teaching at Riyadh University of Arts reflects deeper Saudi anxieties over identity and modernisation.

Jun 15, 2026

Broader inclusion may prove one of Saudi Arabia’s most important shifts.

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.

May 18, 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.

Feb 10, 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.

Feb 5, 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.

Jan 27, 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.

Jan 22, 2026

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

A hand tapping a smartphone with glowing warning icons, symbolizing cybersecurity threats and digital protection.

Saudi Arabia’s Best Firewall Is Called Fatemah

From a nation once known for limiting women’s access to the Internet emerges the woman now guarding it. Dr. Fatemah Alharbi, twice named Top Cybersecurity Woman of the World, embodies both personal excellence and Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation.

Oct 14, 2025

Off the Feed: Saudi Arabia Bans Children from Influencer Content

Saudi Arabia’s new social media law has banned influencers from featuring children in any content. In a country where family life once filled online feeds, the move signals not just concern for minors’ welfare but a return to traditional notions of privacy.

Oct 7, 2025

Microphone in front of the Saudi Arabia flag symbolising podcasting, expat life in Saudi Arabia, and cultural understanding.

Saudi Life: Unpacked — Expat Voices Beyond the Compound Walls

Expatriates in Saudi Arabia have long lived behind compound walls; Saudi Life: Unpacked offers a rarer glimpse into the everyday rhythms that shape Saudi Arabia.

Sep 30, 2025