RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
A History On The Culture of Saudi Arabia And Its Current Struggles
Jason A. Salazar-Munoz
University of Kentucky
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
Abstract
Saudi Arabia is a nation of old and traditional customs, but often misunderstood. Saudi Arabia is
the center of the Muslim religion with Mecca and Medina two of the holiest cities in the religion.
The new Saudi Arabia now strives as a rich nation with oil and new diverse investments. With
the Current Political Struggles in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is no exception. The history of
war and religion Saudi Arabia’s Royal family finds its self against its religious counterpart the
Wahhabi. With the surge of immigrants looking for work the family faces a religious backlash.
As new threats arise and technology increases the religious power loses its grip to the new
generation of Saudis.
Key Words: Saudi Arabia, culture, religion, Muslim
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
The Culture of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one the wealthiest countries in the world. Saudi Arabian culture is
defined by its food, way of life, style of dressing, and religious norms yet Saudi Arabia also faces
many stereotypes from the western world. Its people are often misunderstood and portrayed as an
evil country. The state also faces many inside attacks by
Islamic extremist often driving foreign investment out. With
all these challenges the country manages to be a powerful
country conflicted by its past and modernization. The culture
is now more vulnerable to change from the outside influence of foreign western companies, but
with this modernization brings forth violence from the most conservative power of the country.
Saudi Arabia, located in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula, hasn’t always been what it
is today. The peninsula consisted of many tribes and different religions. The first Saudi State was
established during the 18th century by Abdul Aziz with the help of the Wahhabi a religious group
of Islam (Saudi Arabia, 2014). They captured many of the territories to what is modern day
Saudi Arabia. Although working with the Wahhabi came with a deal, as king Abdul Aziz needed
to instill the Sunni religion on the conquered lands. The most recent Saudi state was established
in 1932. Later through history Saudi Arabia faced many issues as a nation especially with its
own religious conservative. The troubles with alcohol in products, television, and foreign
companies brought forth uproar by many conservative groups. The culture of Saudi Arabia is one
that co-exists with its religion and is important to the way of life.
Religion in Saudi Arabia has been in its roots since the beginning. From the city of
Mecca, the birth place of Muhammad the Islamic prophet, to his tomb in Medina, Saudi Arabia
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
has a big tie to the origin of the Muslim religion. The birth of the religion also brought forth
many of what is today the culture of the Saudi Arabia. The rules of the Koran and Islam have
shaped most of what Saudi culture. Since the birth of the Saudi State in the 18th century, the
country status in the world has change, and the Modernization of Saudi Arabia has brought many
protests by the Wahhabi side of the religion. The Saudi royal family seems to have the final say
to what Saudi Arabia will do, often opposing the conservative group side of the country. The
religion is the law and is deeply rooted and is often described as being part of a Saudi. Religion
in Saudi is practiced religiously from five prayers a day to the holy day of Ramadan. Many
Saudi’s outside make sure to practice their religion even when traveling out of country.
With religion being part of the ruling law in Saudi Arabia, the religion has in a way
shaped the culture of Saudi Arabia. Having the origin location of the Muslim religion has also
brought forth many pilgrims to visit and travel to the
mosque in mecca. Since Saudi Arabia is a collectivistic
culture, many view the elder as wise and all knowing. Many
must consult their elders in the family for permission or
opinion. Cultural traditions are passed down from
generation to generation, and many extended families live together. Religion being rooted in
Saudi Arabia’s culture it is practiced daily. Every Saudi must pray five times a day and there are
mosques at every corner of the country for people to pray in. During Ramadan the holiest week
in Saudi Arabia, citizen must fast from sunrise to sunset praying for forgiveness. Muslims also
must not eat, drink, and smoke until sunset.
Saudi citizens live in accordance to their religion. In public the women in Saudi Arabia
have to be completely covered in an abayah(Gail Cohen), which is long black veil in order to go
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
out in the city. Saudi men also wear a cultural dress that reaches to their ankles and sometimes
wear a cover known as a kaffiyeh (Brendan McGuigan). Saudi Arabia has much traditional food
and spices. There also rules on what can be consumed. Alcohol consumption is prohibited in
Saudi Culture and abstains from pork as it is seemed as unclean. Most of Saudi Arabia food
consists of chicken, lamb and fish. The more traditional foods include the Kebab and stuffed
lamb. Like many countries in the western world one of Saudi’s most favorite and traditional
drink is coffee. Saudi Arabia also has local music and dances, usually associated with poems. A
popular native dance involves men with swords and rifles dancing to the beat of drums. Due to
the Wahhabi movement in the early century of the countries founding many of these cultural
aspects are also very tied to the religion. Marriage in Saudi Arabia is vastly different than most
western countries. Men cannot date women without supervision of the family. Most often the
mother of the potential husband can see the women. When the two parties agree they are only
allowed to see each other, but they can only see each other under supervision from the family
until the couple is married.
Saudi Arabia also has many past time activities. Falconry and camel racing are important
cultural sports in Saudi Arabia. Camels in Saudi Arabia have annual trade shows where they are
sold and bought at high prices. Most of the buyers travel to United Arab Emirates for the camel
beauty contest, where camels compete in races and other activities. Of course Saudi’s have a
giant fascination with football and has since put much money in the sport and hosted the first two
FIFA confederations cup. The religion also impacts what sort of entertainment is allowed in the
city, and due to this many acts, films, and concerts are usually staged out of city limits. Many
citizens travel to Riyadh during cooler season to see the camel racing, and often host big horse
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
racing events. Most of the Saudi’s youth spend their time on video games and visit their friends
like many other cultures and are also active on the internet.
The country has also faces many problems from the outside world since its foundation.
From World War II and its discovery of petroleum, Saudi Arabia has been stereotyped as the oil
capital of the world. Since the discovery of petroleum in 1938 Saudi Arabia has seen many
foreign companies coming over. The Country has also invested it’s money on major
Corporations oversees as well as local infrastructure at home, reducing spending and diversifying
their economy. The first to country to invest in Saudi Arabia was the U.S. The initial contacts
with the American company were received negatively by the Wahhabi right, until the royal
family convinced them otherwise. Since the majority of Saudi Arabia ethnic groups consist of
Arabs, there isn’t much diversity in the country. Along with the foreign investment, came along
the political fight between the royal family and Wahhabi section of power. With introduction of
the outside investors, political infighting and outside extremism has occurred. With the hostage
situation in Mecca to the bombers in Riyadh and attacks on oversees contractors, the Saudi
Government has cracked down on extremist imams and religious schools. The government has
also been criticized for arresting its citizens without charges. The country discourages the public
outcry of political and social matters, and has no labor unions. With war outside its border Saudi
Arabia has also increased their military power.
Outside views of Saudi Arabia are negative in the western world, specifically in the
media. Most outsiders view the religion as extremist and are accused of breaking many human
rights laws. Saudi Arabia has also been accused of helping many extremist groups outside Saudi
Arabia. With the attacks on 9/11 and discovery of Saudi Citizens carrying out the attack. The
country also faced a realization as its country was tied to the extremist terrorist attacks. Many
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
U.S. citizens also blamed the Saudi Government for the harboring and funding terrorist groups.
Since then many negative views have been portrayed in the western media. This is also the same
in Saudi Arabia as Saudi’s believe that the western world also dislikes Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is country with a significant history, with many local traditions and culture.
Saudi Arabia has also encountered many trials and challenges but still manages to contain its self
as a country and its people. With the ever shifting world the country manages to keep its culture
and way of life as the country is modernizing into the new century. With the religion and culture
intertwined its looks at change in a negative aspect. The change in technology and the increasing
use of the internet, Saudi Arabia’s religious find it harder to fight the outside world. Change and
the outside influence will nevertheless be there and in time the culture and customs will change.
RUNNING HEAD: THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA
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