Saudi Arabia People & Culture

Once you've acquired a working knowledge of the local culture and practiced them (not letting your wife drive, she must wear a black robe, certain words and/or christian emblems can't be worn etc.) the first place or places I'd recommend visiting are the Schwarma stands. They're usually found around malls, stores, and anywhere else people congregate. They don't sell pork, of course, but rack of lamb mostly, and sometimes chicken or beef. They're spit often carries a fresh marinated rack of lamb and they offer the meal on a wrap with various condiments, including french fries, pickles and tomatoes. In my opinion, one of the best foods ever!

Known by more than 90 names that generally denote respect and devotion, the city is most commonly called Madinah (city), short for Madinah Al-Nabi (City of the Prophet) or Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (the Radiant or Enlightened City), a reference to its association with the Prophet.Although Madinah came to prominence with the introduction of Islam, its roots date back hundreds of years into the pre-Islamic era when it was known as Yathrib. Situated on a plain with aquifers fed by runoff from the surrounding hills, the city had abundant water supplies that fed vast date palms and vegetable gardens. The availability of food and water made Madinah an important reprovisioning point for caravans that plied the commercial routes from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula along the Red Sea to Syria and Egypt. Its inhabitants sold food to these passing caravans and, over time, became involved in trade.Yathrib may have languished in relative anonymity were it not for events that took place in Makkah, more than 200 miles to the south, at the turn of the seventh century AD. What was taking place in Makkah would not only transform Yathrib, but also much of the known world.Unlike Yathrib and other oasis settlements that relied on agriculture, Makkah's primary significance was as a pilgrimage site. Large numbers of people visited the Ka'abah , the House of God built by the Prophet Abraham. However, at this time monotheism had been swept aside, and the Ka'abah housed numerous idols belonging to the inhabitants of Makkah and nearby tribes.It was against this backdrop that the Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 AD in Makkah and received the first verses of the Holy Qur'an in the year 610. Based on the worship of God, the absolute and single Creator, Islam rejected the idolatry that was prevalent in Makkah at the time. As such, Islam was viewed as a threat to the livelihood and power base of the ruling tribe of Makkah, and its growing number of followers were harassed, persecuted and threatened.During this period, leaders of Yathrib, familiar with the Prophet Muhammad's reputation for honesty and sincerity, had sent envoys asking that he mediate a dispute between two powerful tribes. Impressed by the Prophet's character and teachings, these envoys soon accepted Islam and were followed by other converts. Observing the growing threat to their fellow Muslims in Makkah, the people of Yathrib offered a safe haven to them, and beginning in 620 AD, the Prophet Muhammad started sending groups of Muslims to live in Yathrib.Having learned of a plot to murder him, the Prophet Muhammad himself left Makkah for Yathrib, arriving in the city in September 622. This event is known as the Hijrah (emigration). The Prophet's arrival in Yathrib was a turning point in world history. It marked the establishment of the first Islamic state and the rapid growth of the new faith. From then on, the city became Madinah Al-Nabi , and the date of the Prophet's arrival there marked the first year of the Islamic calendar.With the emigration, Madinah became a center of activity. Upon his approach to the oasis in 622, the Prophet established the first mosque in Islam at Quba, a village on the outskirts of Madinah. Called Masjid Al-Taqwa (Mosque of Piety), the mosque still stands, albeit modernized and enlarged.Once settled in Madinah, the Prophet built another mosque adjacent to his house. Called Masjid Al-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque), the first structure on today's site was a simple one supported by the trunks of standing palm trees, and was built by the Prophet himself. It was this mosque at which the Prophet and his companions prayed, and which soon became the social and economic center of the city and the Islamic state. With the growth of Islam, more mosques were established throughout the city and its environs.The first eight years of the Hijrah were spent strengthening the ummah (Islamic community) in Madinah and in warding off the aggression of the armies sent from Makkah. In the eighth year of the Hijrah , 630 AD, the Prophet and his followers entered Makkah without bloodshed. He ordered the removal of all idols from the Ka'abah , and within weeks all inhabitants of Makkah had accepted Islam. He returned to Makkah in 632 for his final pilgrimage, the rituals of which are followed by all Muslims who have since performed the Hajj .While the Holy Mosque in Makkah was the spiritual center of Islam, Madinah became the administrative hub of the new Islamic state during the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime. It was from here that the successful campaign to convince the tribes to abandon idolatry was waged.It was also in Madinah that the Prophet's companions compiled the verses of the Holy Qur'an and collected the Hadith (teachings and sayings of the Prophet) that would serve as the basis of Shari'ah (Islamic law).And it was also in Madinah that the Prophet died on June 8, 632, and where he was buried in his house adjoining the mosque he had helped build with his own hands.

Once you've acquired a working knowledge of the local culture and practiced them (not letting your wife drive, she must wear a black robe, certain words and/or christian emblems can't be worn etc.) the first place or places I'd recommend visiting are the Schwarma stands. They're usually found around malls, stores, and anywhere else people congregate. They don't sell pork, of course, but rack of lamb mostly, and sometimes chicken or beef. They're spit often carries a fresh marinated rack of lamb and they offer the meal on a wrap with various condiments, including french fries, pickles and tomatoes. In my opinion, one of the best foods ever!

It's stinking hot! If your travelling over there. DO NOT bring alcohol with you or magazine showing part of womens body, Christmas music or religious stuff like a cross. My friend was thrown in jail because he had Christmas music in his suit case!!! Do what they say. No room for negociation. Be prepare to receive proposal to buy your wife or girlfriend. I know someone that was offered camels and gold for his wife. He just flip mad when he was told no.

It's stinking hot! If your travelling over there. DO NOT bring alcohol with you or magazine showing part of womens body, Christmas music or religious stuff like a cross. My friend was thrown in jail because he had Christmas music in his suit case!!! Do what they say. No room for negociation. Be prepare to receive proposal to buy your wife or girlfriend. I know someone that was offered camels and gold for his wife. He just flip mad when he was told no.

The place to visit, is, of course, the big mosque. The big yard is paved with white Pentelis marble, The huge doors are covered in pure gold, centimeters thick. The structure at the centre is covered by a black cloth made of camel hair, woven by virgins, with designs in gold, depicting passages from the quran. In there is an egg-like artifact made of platinum, with a receptacle for the holy stone Kaaba, "given to Abraham(Imbrahim) by Arch-Angel Gabriel (Gavril)". Another very enlightening place to visit is the slave market. There, it's possible to BUY a human being! (Females of course), for use as extra wifes.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaa.now Im gonna tell you how to deal with the cab drivers,first dont ever make a statement that u r new as from your appearances,try wear some flip flop coz they will intentionally charge you double if u wear CAT sneakers and Jansport sack!!! haha,coz ive been neckslit in broad daylite from these cabbers!!!!!ha
but the next day when i dress in a mediocre wear he only charge me 2 rather than yesterday's 6 riyals!

Here are some tips,
When they stop...ask them the PRICE first!!!
Don just jump inside...
Next,If u wanna do some groceries shopping around Khaldiya area (lo0k from maps),tell them to stop at Khaldiyya or spell QALDIYAK,from there u can get some good fresh fishes(samak in arab),pusit in tagalog(squid) etc..Then there is this market named ASIA BAKALAH(ASIA GROCERIES) that sells most stuff from asia,from the infamous gudang garam,our malaysian minyak kapak to the old skool meatball or daging bakso ,sotanghon and many more!!!!!!The cashier is a Thai.....vEry helpful Guuy!Sawadikap!tlungkup tlangkap jangan sampai kene tangkap!!!!

It's stinking hot! If your travelling over there. DO NOT bring alcohol with you or magazine showing part of womens body, Christmas music or religious stuff like a cross. My friend was thrown in jail because he had Christmas music in his suit case!!! Do what they say. No room for negociation. Be prepare to receive proposal to buy your wife or girlfriend. I know someone that was offered camels and gold for his wife. He just flip mad when he was told no.

Known by more than 90 names that generally denote respect and devotion, the city is most commonly called Madinah (city), short for Madinah Al-Nabi (City of the Prophet) or Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (the Radiant or Enlightened City), a reference to its association with the Prophet.Although Madinah came to prominence with the introduction of Islam, its roots date back hundreds of years into the pre-Islamic era when it was known as Yathrib. Situated on a plain with aquifers fed by runoff from the surrounding hills, the city had abundant water supplies that fed vast date palms and vegetable gardens. The availability of food and water made Madinah an important reprovisioning point for caravans that plied the commercial routes from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula along the Red Sea to Syria and Egypt. Its inhabitants sold food to these passing caravans and, over time, became involved in trade.Yathrib may have languished in relative anonymity were it not for events that took place in Makkah, more than 200 miles to the south, at the turn of the seventh century AD. What was taking place in Makkah would not only transform Yathrib, but also much of the known world.Unlike Yathrib and other oasis settlements that relied on agriculture, Makkah's primary significance was as a pilgrimage site. Large numbers of people visited the Ka'abah , the House of God built by the Prophet Abraham. However, at this time monotheism had been swept aside, and the Ka'abah housed numerous idols belonging to the inhabitants of Makkah and nearby tribes.It was against this backdrop that the Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 AD in Makkah and received the first verses of the Holy Qur'an in the year 610. Based on the worship of God, the absolute and single Creator, Islam rejected the idolatry that was prevalent in Makkah at the time. As such, Islam was viewed as a threat to the livelihood and power base of the ruling tribe of Makkah, and its growing number of followers were harassed, persecuted and threatened.During this period, leaders of Yathrib, familiar with the Prophet Muhammad's reputation for honesty and sincerity, had sent envoys asking that he mediate a dispute between two powerful tribes. Impressed by the Prophet's character and teachings, these envoys soon accepted Islam and were followed by other converts. Observing the growing threat to their fellow Muslims in Makkah, the people of Yathrib offered a safe haven to them, and beginning in 620 AD, the Prophet Muhammad started sending groups of Muslims to live in Yathrib.Having learned of a plot to murder him, the Prophet Muhammad himself left Makkah for Yathrib, arriving in the city in September 622. This event is known as the Hijrah (emigration). The Prophet's arrival in Yathrib was a turning point in world history. It marked the establishment of the first Islamic state and the rapid growth of the new faith. From then on, the city became Madinah Al-Nabi , and the date of the Prophet's arrival there marked the first year of the Islamic calendar.With the emigration, Madinah became a center of activity. Upon his approach to the oasis in 622, the Prophet established the first mosque in Islam at Quba, a village on the outskirts of Madinah. Called Masjid Al-Taqwa (Mosque of Piety), the mosque still stands, albeit modernized and enlarged.Once settled in Madinah, the Prophet built another mosque adjacent to his house. Called Masjid Al-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque), the first structure on today's site was a simple one supported by the trunks of standing palm trees, and was built by the Prophet himself. It was this mosque at which the Prophet and his companions prayed, and which soon became the social and economic center of the city and the Islamic state. With the growth of Islam, more mosques were established throughout the city and its environs.The first eight years of the Hijrah were spent strengthening the ummah (Islamic community) in Madinah and in warding off the aggression of the armies sent from Makkah. In the eighth year of the Hijrah , 630 AD, the Prophet and his followers entered Makkah without bloodshed. He ordered the removal of all idols from the Ka'abah , and within weeks all inhabitants of Makkah had accepted Islam. He returned to Makkah in 632 for his final pilgrimage, the rituals of which are followed by all Muslims who have since performed the Hajj .While the Holy Mosque in Makkah was the spiritual center of Islam, Madinah became the administrative hub of the new Islamic state during the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime. It was from here that the successful campaign to convince the tribes to abandon idolatry was waged.It was also in Madinah that the Prophet's companions compiled the verses of the Holy Qur'an and collected the Hadith (teachings and sayings of the Prophet) that would serve as the basis of Shari'ah (Islamic law).And it was also in Madinah that the Prophet died on June 8, 632, and where he was buried in his house adjoining the mosque he had helped build with his own hands.

It's a place where you can really find yourself

Once you've acquired a working knowledge of the local culture and practiced them (not letting your wife drive, she must wear a black robe, certain words and/or christian emblems can't be worn etc.) the first place or places I'd recommend visiting are the Schwarma stands. They're usually found around malls, stores, and anywhere else people congregate. They don't sell pork, of course, but rack of lamb mostly, and sometimes chicken or beef. They're spit often carries a fresh marinated rack of lamb and they offer the meal on a wrap with various condiments, including french fries, pickles and tomatoes. In my opinion, one of the best foods ever!

Spend most of time in Masjid-e-Nabvi. Rest of time could be spent in visiting other mosques which are in plenty all around city.