Culture of Saudi Arabia

  

Saudi Society & Culture 

Islam is practised by all Saudis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam was born in Saudi Arabia and thus is visited by millions of Muslims every year. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. Friday is the Muslim holy day ,everything is closed.
During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day.

Language in Saudi Arabia

Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia, but English is widely spoken. It is used in business and is a compulsory second language in schools. Among the non-Saudi population, many people speak Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, and other Asian languages such as Farsi and Turkish.

Arabic is spoken by almost 200 million people in more than 22 countries. It is the language of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, and of Arab poetry and literature. While spoken Arabic varies from country to country, classical Arabic has remained unchanged for centuries. In Saudi, there are differences between the dialects spoken in urban areas and those spoken in rural areas.

Etiquette and Customs in Saudi

Meeting Etiquette

• Men shake hands. Good friends may greet each other with a handshake and a kiss on cheek.
• Men and women would not greet each other in public from outside the family.
• When Saudis greet each other they take their time and converse about general things.

Gift Giving Etiquette

• If you are invited to a Saudi's house bring something small as a thank you. 
• Flowers do not make good gifts from a man. 
• Gifts are not opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

• If the meal is on the floor, sit cross-legged or kneel on one knee.
• Eat only with the right hand as the left is considered unclean.
• Try a bit of everything that is served. 
• Meals are generally served family-style. 
• Honored guests are often offered the most prized pieces such as a sheep's head so be prepared!
• There is often more food than you can eat. Part of Saudi hospitality and generosity is to shower guests with abundance. 
• There is little conversation during meals so that diners may relish the food.

Dress Etiquette

• Most Saudis wear long white thobes. You would be expected to wear a suit.
• Dress well if you want to make a good impression.  
• Business women should make certain that their collarbones and knees are covered and that their clothes are not form-fitting.
• Women should wear abaya (black clothe)  when they are go out.