Hello friends,
I want to share with you little bit about my country, Saudi Arabia. Many people when they hear “Saudi” they only think about desert or oil, but really life here is much more rich and colorful.
Saudi Arabia is very big country, with different regions and traditions. In the west, we have Madinah and Makkah, holy cities where millions of Muslims come every year for Umrah and Hajj. In the east, near the Gulf, life is more connected with the sea, and people love fish and shrimp dishes. In the north, you find desert and Bedouin traditions, and in the south, mountains and coffee farms. So really, Saudi is not one thing, it is many cultures together.
Daily life here is busy but also family-centered. We work, we study, we go to gym, but always family is most important. Friday is our special day, weekend start, and many families gather for big meal. In my family, we go to my mother’s house every Friday night, with my brothers and their families. We eat kabsa, drink tea, and talk until late.
Saudi Arabia is also changing very fast. Before, women had less freedom, but now many things are different. Women can drive, work, travel, and choose how they dress. Some wear niqab, some only hijab, some just abaya without scarf. It is each woman’s choice now, and you will see all styles in the street.
Tradition is still strong – prayer five times a day, Arabic coffee with dates, hospitality for guests. But modern life is also here – shopping malls, cinemas, concerts, international food. My children love sushi and pizza, but they also love kabsa and saleeg. This mix of old and new is what make Saudi today.
For visitors, I always say: come with open heart. Respect our customs, dress modest, and you will find Saudi people very welcoming. We love to host, to share food, to show our culture.
🌸 Personal note: For me, Saudi Arabia is home, but also it is place I want to share with the world. Through postcards, through stories, I hope you can feel little bit of our life here – the call to prayer in Madinah, the smell of kabsa cooking, the laughter of family on Friday night.
Sending you peace, Rana
(For more posts by Rana about of her life in Saudi Arabia, head over to our Members Only section!)
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