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People and Culture
People and Culture
POPULATION: DIVERSE AND CONNECTED TO THE WORLD
The people of Saudi Arabia are a very diverse group. As the economy has boomed over the past 40 years, the Kingdom has imported workers from around the world making the population a mixed group of Arabs, Africans, Asians and Westerners. Non-citizens, called expatriates, or simply “expats”, live in the Kingdom temporarily on work visas. Based on estimates for 2014, of the 27 million people living in the Kingdom, 30%, or roughly 8 million, are expats, of which 90% are from Arab countries. The other 10% come mainly from Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. Many expats have lived in the Kingdom for decades and consider Saudi Arabia home. KSA is also a young country with 46% of its citizens under the age of 25, and 92% under the age of 55. The vast majority of the population, 83%, lives in urban areas, primarily in and around Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
In addition to its resident population, Saudi Arabia hosts millions of international pilgrims who visit every year to perform Islamic rituals in Islam’s holiest cities, Makkah and Madinah. The government has also given refuge to immigrants and refugees of war.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The official language is Arabic, though English is widely spoken in urban areas and is the language of many of the larger businesses, including Nesma.
INTERNET USE
Saudis are avid users of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Nearly 60% of the country uses the Internet, ranking it 35th in the world (as of 2014), and this usage is rapidly increasing year after year. In 2012, KSA had approximately 184 mobile cell phone subscriptions per 100 people, one of the highest in the world, and many use their smartphones to access the Internet.
ISLAM, A WAY OF LIFE
Islam is the official religion of the country and is of utmost importance in the daily lives of people, as it is considered both a religion and a way of life. The government is based on Islamic principles from both the Qur’an (Holy Book) and the Sunnah (practices reported from the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him). These principles govern business enterprises, the laws and also the economy. For this reason, business is not conducted on Friday mornings. The legal system is based on Shari’ah law, which is derived from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. King Fahd bin Abdulaziz adopted the title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” in recognition of the honor and responsibility of guarding the sacred Islamic sites in Makkah and Madinah.
Be respectful of Islam
Show respect for prayer times by being quiet during the call to prayer. If someone is praying, do not interrupt or speak loudly next to them. Understand that the Qur’an is a holy book and must never touch the floor. If you are truly interested in learning about Islam, ask in a polite and respectful manner but avoid getting into religious debates.
ISLAMIC CALENDAR AND HOLIDAYS
Islam has also influenced the country’s calendar and holidays. The official calendar in Saudi Arabia is the Hijri calendar. It follows lunar cycles, so each month is 29 or 30 days long. This means that the Hijri year is 11 days shorter, and therefore dates on the Hijri calendar change from year to year with respect to the Gregorian calendar. If you are not accustomed to using this calendar, you might consider getting an app for your phone to help you compare the Hijri and Gregorian dates.
There are two holy days during the year, which are linked to the Hijri calendar and influenced by religious events. The first is Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the ninth month of the year, Ramadan. For the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. Eid Al-Fitr comes as a celebration of the completion of this important ritual and is marked with a holiday that extends from 3 to 7 days in the private sector and could be longer in the government sector.
The second holy day is Eid Al-Adha, which concludes the Hajj season. During Hajj, which takes place in the 11th month of the Hijri calendar, millions of Muslims come from around the world as pilgrims to the holy city of Makkah. The public holiday to mark this occasion lasts from 3 to 7 days in the private sector, possibly longer in the public sector.
When in public during the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims and non-Muslims alike must follow the rules of fasting by not eating, drinking, chewing gum or smoking.
CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE
If you are new to the country, it is wise to become familiar with the most important customs and etiquette. This will help you to have better relationships at work and in your neighborhood. Customs differ from one province to another, including dialect, housing, clothing, cuisines, dances, and folk songs. However, certain values are consistent throughout the country including generous charity, hospitality, kindness and humility. In addition, family values are strong and the values and principles of Islam guide daily life both at work and at home.
Certain values are consistent throughout the country including generous charity, hospitality, kindness and humility.
Greetings
Greetings are very important in Arab culture. Males and females often greet the same sex by shaking hands with each other and giving multiple kisses on the cheeks. However, males and females are much more formal when greeting the opposite sex. Depending on the situation, males and females may or may not shake hands when greeting each other. Therefore, it’s best to pause before putting your hand out to see if the other person is expecting to shake hands. If they put their hand on their heart, it means they don’t want to shake hands.
Dress
Dress in the Kingdom is conservative and modest. All women, including expats, wear an “abaya” and headscarf in public. Abayas are loose fitting and are typically black in color. Many women in KSA also veil their faces but it is not a requirement. Saudi men wear traditional dress when conducting business and on formal occasions. At work, the custom is to follow the company’s dress code, which often varies from one workplace to another. For the Nesma dress code, please visit the section, “You at Nesma”.
Public Life
In public life, males and females are separated and this is true for any event such as a wedding or other celebration, and also in restaurants and cafes. At restaurants, this means that a section of the restaurant is reserved for single men and another section called the “family section” is reserved for women and families.
Please do
Show respect for elders
Show respect for Islamic and cultural practices
Show respect for the King and the flag
Eat food with your right hand, rather than your left
Please do not
Display physical affection in public
Point at people with your finger
Show the bottoms of your feet
Take photos of women or men without their permission
Take photos of public buildings
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