Sex and the Saudi

Advantages: Quite revealing
Disadvantages: Quite badly written

...Many years ago I received a very unexpected marriage proposal from a man I'd met just a couple of hours earlier. I was attending an academic dinner arranged by a friend who thought I deserved a night off from studying and invited me along to make up numbers. My unexpected admirer was an outrageously handsome Saudi Arabian working for an international oil company. Did I flirt? I might have done, but not outrageously. Was I loud and outspoken and a bit shocking - probably, because I can't resist doing that when someone is culturally unused to a woman with an opinion. "I've never met anyone like you before" he said, and I thought to myself, "Yep, I can totally believe that". "Marry me, come to Saudi, you'll never have to work again and I'll brew alcohol in the bath for you". Well I think you'll agree that sort of offer doesn't come...

koshkha 04.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Girls of Riyadh - Rajaa Alsanea

Sexy Saudis

Advantages: Saudi chick lit with a difference
Disadvantages: I can't read Arabic.

...A clique of four college-age women are keen on finding Mr Right, they do get to know men, some are right or at least seem to be, some are so-so, some are as wrong as can be. So far, so uninteresting, the topic has been dealt with ad nauseam, however, what makes this novel outstanding, sensational even, is the fact that it is set in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the most Islamic of all Islamic countries. I bet you?ve never heard of a chic lit novel that has attracted the attention of the authorities and involved the author in a lawsuit for slandering society. The author, twenty-something Rajaa Alsanea, knows her country well and foresaw trouble, so she had her debut novel published in Lebanon (in 2005); it was immediately banned in Saudi Arabia, but black-market copies are nevertheless - or rather because of this - widely...

MALU 15.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Girls of Riyadh - Rajaa Alsanea

Work few years here for a better life in future

Advantages: It is a great place to make money!
Disadvantages: Very hot and humid weather !

...This is my general overview of the place , where I lived for thirteen years. It is about Saudi Arabia. Ofcourse, I was fortunate enough to live with my family . First of all, to be able to go over there , you need a work visa . You cannot visit this place on a visit visa . Other middle east countries like Dubai, Abudhabi , Muscat etc, you can visit with a visit visa . Saudi Arabia is a muslim country with strict laws . All the expatriates are expected to abide by the laws of that country . People who violate the laws are put in jail and executed every friday. Saudi Arabia as such is a very grand country , comparable to U.S in all respects , except for the freedom. It’s oil wealth makes it one of the richest countries in the whole world ! Petrol is very cheap here . You will find gigantic monuments everywhere...

Priyat 23.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Saudi Arabia: General

Arab Tradition in the Air

Advantages: Hospitable and friendly
Disadvantages: None so far!

...I remember my first flight on a Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft way back in 1988 when I was at the young age of 10. I remember the boring flight with just a colouring book for entertainment and the ugly bright green surroundings, which were the corporate colours at the time! But things have changed a lot since then... The next time I used the SV carrier was in 1997 and the national airline of Saudi Arabia had gone through some drastic changes. Saudi Arabian Airlines fly out of the United Kingdom from Heathrow Airport in London only, which is a bit of a dis-advantage if you live in the north of England somewhere! I booked a flight from Heathrow to Singapore, with a one week stop-over in Saudi arabia, via Jeddah. The booking procedure was simple and there are numerous travel agents offering different prices for tickets. I shopped...

abdulawwal 11.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Saudi Arabian Airlines

A totally different Culture

Advantages: Weather, People, Tax free
Disadvantages: No Booze! Womens rights, nightlife

...I think people who have not been to suadi get the idea of some draconian state. Yes, women can't drive, alcohol is illegal, and women have to dress up (cover down to the their ankles and wrists). Restaurants are also partitioned with family and batchelor sections (as are buses). Ther e is no nightlife to speak of as we know it clubs bars, cinemas, but the shops are open til late midnight, and later in ramadan when the country seems to shut down during the day. As for the weather, in the summer, it is ridiculously hot 50°C in the shade! But travel October-April , and you will not have a problem! But the coutnry does have a lot to offer, other than the usual expatriate benefits of 0% tax . Living in Saudi is also very cheap, petrol is stupidly cheap, food is also very cheap, as is electricity etc. Shopping is also a favorite...

giblets46 26.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Saudi Arabia: General

Wonderful Riyadh

Advantages: Shopping, low prices.
Disadvantages: Lack of night life!

...hire a car. Hiring is cheap, but petrol prices are even cheaper. We could fill up our Discovery for about £20. A word of warning, Saudi road laws are less than impressive. Saudi nationals are able to drive when their father says they are old enough, so don’t be shocked if you see someone who looks like a 10 year old, they probably are 10… Shopping in Saudi is as good as anywhere in the world. Harvey Nichols has a store, as do countless other internationally known shops. But you can’t visit Riyadh without seeing the souks where you can pick up cheap jewellery! Cheap doesn’t mean low quality though. My mum brought a £1000 diamond ring in Saudi, which was valued at £15000 back in the UK, enough said really! Rates of crime are low, as you’d expect in a country with capitol punishment. If you so wish, every...

eddytheted 29.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Arabian Experience

Advantages: Hot, Cheap, Good Living
Disadvantages: Restrictive

...I have not been to Saudi for almost four years now, but spent the first 12 years of my life there due to my fathers job. I hope this review helps you in your research of Saudi Arabia. There are many expats in Saudi that are working in the health sector in Saudi. I also remeber people from all over the world working at the hospital. From Sudan, Egypt, America, Phillipines, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka to mention a few. A melting pot! We also used to live in a compound as many expats are. This had its advantage of security and safety, but it also but barriers up between us and the local population. One of my biggest regrets was not learning more Arabic. Within the compound we had tennis courts, badmington courts, a recreation centre, a resturant, a shop, and swimming pools. This common in all compounds...

lubz 17.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Saudi Arabia: General

an experience of a life time

Advantages: everything about the way of life there
Disadvantages: the moody arab men

...impressions were that it was a bit of a dump but the room was really quite nice. not the Hilton mind you....but hey.. the bathroom was a bit of a dissapointment but i guess the prices i was paying which was 18 pounds a night 4 2 double rooms it was pretty amazing..lol the bell hops in the hotels are very nice they do allsorts of jobs for you , even running accross the road to buy you a freshly squeezed lemon juice (which i strongly reccomend) but the reception service is terrible......(but i have herd that is common around all hotels in saudi arabia unless they are 5 star) i also stayed in the jabal omar hotel which is a 4 star hotel which was great. the service is great and also the rooms were alot more spacey and the view was good. SHOPPING the shopping in mecca is not all that brilliant but i guess your not really there to do...

nazzy 19.08.2003 · Read review
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Review of Mecca (Saudi Arabia)

COME ON THE FIGHTING IRISH

Advantages: Fighting spirit in abundance.
Disadvantages: Not a lot!!!

...~ ~ When the Roy Keane saga (or rather debacle!) hit the headlines in the week before the start of the World Cup, many pundits wrote off Ireland’s chances of making it out of a very tough group to progress to the knockout stages of the tournament. But, yet again, the fighting spirit of the Irish has proved them all wrong, (and may they now choke on their words) after a spirited display against Saudi Arabia that eventually saw Ireland running out convincing winners by 3-0. The Irish players knew going into this game the task that lay ahead of them. After opening draws against the African Champion’s Cameroon, and ex-winners of this trophy Germany, they were aware that nothing less than a victory by two clear goals against Saudi Arabia would be enough to absolutely ensure that they progressed in the competition. ~ ~ Right...

the_mad_cabbie 11.06.2002 · Read review
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Review of Saudi Arabia : Republic of Ireland (2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan)

Girls of Riyadh, the truth

Advantages: Easy language, Insightful, addictive
Disadvantages: there isn't a sequel yet

...The Girls of Riyadh, where should I begin? Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia. For those who may be unfamiliar with the country, Saudi is a nation located in the Arabian Peninsula and has captured the attention of the media due to its theocratic government. Although there are several misconceptions regarding Saudi Arabia, it can be affirmed that there is a large difference in permissibility within society when contrasted with the United Kingdom. The official religion is Islam (Saudi encompasses the two Holy places of Mecca and Medina) and the government is rule by an absolute monarch. The law of Saudi Arabia is based on the Islamic Law and the Qur'an is referred to as the absolute text in all legal and civilian matters. There is also a strict monitor of unreligious acts such the consumption of alcohol and excessive display of the body...

mfdecarli1 13.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of Girls of Riyadh - Rajaa Alsanea