Explore societal changes on Saudi national identity and the cultural landscape. Join us to preserve and develop Saudi heritage amidst modernization.
May 15, 2024
On 27 November 2023 the hard rock band Metallica made a surprise announcement on their website: “We’re not done with 2023 just yet, as an amazing opportunity has just come our way to perform at a major festival that we have never played in a part of the world we rarely get to visit. We’re excited to announce that on Thursday, December 14 we’ll be the first hard rock band to ever play at the Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.”
Dec 2, 2023
Until now, there were significant challenges in understanding how Islamic Law (Sharia) is applied in Saudi Arabia. One main issue was the tendency to interpret the law out of context or ignore relevant circumstances, leading to blind adherence without considering the specific situation. This lack of contextualization resulted in situations where individuals felt bound by rigid interpretations, even when they didn’t align with the intended spirit of Sharia.
Jul 9, 2023
Many people frequently inquire about the impact of the various changes that have been unfolding in Saudi Arabia over the past few years. These changes have a profound effect, influencing every aspect of life. The scope of these changes is vast. However, it’s worth noting that perceptions of these transformations differ, particularly between native Saudis and outsiders.
Jul 6, 2023
The video showcases pervasive construction work in Mecca, particularly around Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque. This ongoing development of the city has taken place over several years in stages, aiming to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims annually. The Saudi government continues to enhance the city's infrastructure to cater to this influx of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. AlMasjid AlHaram has been central to numerous expansion projects.
Jun 17, 2023
The recent publication from the Saudi General Authority for Statistics reveals that as of 2023, Saudi Arabia has a population of 36.33 million, with a population density of 16.90 people per square kilometer. The median age of the population is 32.4 years.
Jun 14, 2023
Music and singing is significant in Saudi Arabia, acting as channels of communication and a way for people to express their emotions. While Saudi Arabia’s population is youthful, the country’s music taste spans across all ages. Modern Saudi music includes a wide variety of genres from jazz, hip-hop, rap to techno and rock ‘n roll.
Jun 10, 2023
Located in the western Makkah Province of Saudi Arabia, Taif is known as the “City of Roses.” This nickname stems from its being the home of 700 farms where roses are grown, which are used in the production of rose water and rose oil. In springtime, the city and surrounding bloom with rose bushes stretching from the valley of Wadi Mahram to the towering mountains of Al Shafa. Taif is also famous for its bountiful fruit orchards.
Jun 3, 2023
Saudi Arabia’s presence at this year’s Cannes Festival has been remarkable, with well-known actresses and influencers from the Kingdom gracing the red carpet. This is a significant step signalling expansion of the country’s involvement in the industry, including film production. The festival opener was the historical drama Jeanne du Barry, part-funded by the Red Sea Foundation as an executive producer. The foundation has also supported six other movies by Arab and African directors.
May 31, 2023
Step beyond oil and desert to uncover Kabsa. Much like the UK's love for Fish and Chips, Kabsa holds a dear place in the hearts of Saudis. Explore the origins of this dish, its connection to Spanish Paella, and its role in Saudi Arabia’s gastronomic heritage.
May 13, 2023
This is a fascinating topic. Tribes matter a great deal in some parts of the Saudi Arabia and less in other. It will be interesting to understand the nature of this relation. It has been and is an important factor in political system of GCC, politics and society.
Jul 6, 2022
Dr. Mark C Thompson, a British academic and researcher, has written a book entitled 'Being Young Male and Saudi: Identity and Politics in a Globalized Kingdom', which has been published by Cambridge University Press. In times of transitional changes happening in Saudi Arabia that are impacting women mostly, such a title is intriguing. Are Saudi men becoming minority in Saudi Arabia?
May 26, 2022
Saudi Arabia has had an enormous facelift in the past 6 years. The effects of modernization are fundamental and have benefited the economy and society a great deal in its process of development.
Oct 19, 2021
The German historian Professor Ulrike Freitag, director of the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient in Berlin, published her latest book “A History of Jeddah: The Gate to Mecca in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries’’ in February 2020. Speaking about a historical melting pot like Jeddah these days, when immigration, tolerance, and togetherness are more than ever central issues in worldwide discussions beyond countries’ borders and people’s mind, is of special significance.
Dec 29, 2020
On the World Theatre Day, 27th of March, members of the Saudi theatre scene published a video message produced by the Ministry of Culture and Theatre & Performing Authority, reminding the newly developed scene in Saud Arabia on the importance of theatre, and promising more work to come after the corona crisis. Soha Khan is a member of this society. She is a Saudi producer of plays, musicals, and creative theatre.
Apr 4, 2020
This month, the Saudi government has canceled the rule for the segregation of single men and women in restaurants. For many years it was claimed that the rule was in place to protect women, which recently sparked a fierce discussion on social media - like many such recent rule changes.
Dec 10, 2019
I came across Gudrun Harrer for the first time on Twitter and was surprised for not having known of her before. Reading her articles was smooth like reading prose rather than a political analysis. This was not due only to the Austrian charm and irony in her writing, but her deep knowledge and vision of things that make it easy to understand and learn. Despite a few points here and there that I would say are a Western mentality, I would agree with much of what she writes.
Oct 13, 2019
Tourists will soon be able to visit Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa, although no clear starting date has been announced. The English language daily Arab News and the semi-official Okaz reported that citizens of 50 countries, among them the Schengen countries and the USA, will be granted visa upon their arrival. Where to, is not clear either. Okaz reported that the government is planning a showcase exhibition of Saudi tourist attractions at the end of Sept
Sep 15, 2019
This week I read on Twitter that a Saudi female lawyer has developed an app that helps women understand their rights. I was surprised that this news item was not mentioned in international media, which usually picks up information concerning women’s rights in Saudi Arabia very quickly. Women’s rights is an issue that is strongly associated with Saudi Arabia’s negative image. Not a week passes by without this topic in media, and the Saudi government being criticized for its record.
May 14, 2019
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May 15, 2024
