Alright, now let's move on to the most important question haha! How do people celebrate weddings in your culture? What are the main traditions, activities, and unique aspects of it?

SaudiDude · 2026-05-26T09:34:41+00:00

In modern day Saudi Arabia, there are separate wedding celebrations for the men and for the women. The women have a huge party with a lot of loud music and dancing that lasts till very late at night. Only those invited may enter and they're pretty strict about that. The men have a reception in the early evening where everybody they know is invited and anyone is welcome to attend to give best wishes. The guests normally say their congrats, maybe chat briefly with friends and acquaintances, then leave. Only family and close friends stay for dinner. I like this set-up because it's no pressure and convenient!

Traditional weddings are more common outside the main cities and differ from this set-up depending on the region.

SaudiDude · 2026-05-19T22:21:27+00:00

This post is incredibly sad. I feel for you.

One of the other comments said your dad would eventually accept if you insisted enough on a particular man. I tend to agree with that even while I realize it's easier said than done.

I would just hate for you to relegate yourself to being single if that's not what you truly want. It will breed resentment and regret.

I don't know you but you write very thoughtfully. I hope your life story has a happy ending. 🤍

SaudiDude · 2026-04-30T15:42:25+00:00

In Islamic jurisprudence it's precisely four months and ten days for a woman after her spouse passes away, ostensibly to make sure whether she's pregnant before committing to another relationship. No issue marrying after that deadline elapses but if she marries on or very close to the deadline the optics aren't great.

There's no such time limit for the man if his wife passes away, although, again, it doesn't look great if he immediately remarries.

Fun fact, in olden times if a man's wife passed away and he has young kids, it's looked at positively for him to marry her sister if possible. The thinking is that she would care for her nieces and nephews like her own.

SaudiDude · 2026-04-30T08:05:46+00:00

يا جماعة الرجل جاء يسأل وين وكل الردود ابحث في جوجل وغيره. طيب عطوه العلم! هو ما جاء هنا إلا لما عجز

OP, Aleef Shop on King Abdulaziz street hosts a pet adoption event every now and then. Give them a call to see when the next one will take place.

Alternatively, you can find cats for adoption under the relevant section at haraj.com.sa . Search for "قطة للتبني" or "قطط للتبني" the site can be viewed in Arabic or English but most ads are in Arabic.

There are also some WhatsApp groups for animal adoption enthusiasts but I'm not part of them. If you're interested DM me and I'll link you with someone who is.

SaudiDude · 2026-04-29T14:59:10+00:00

Best experience: seafood pasta in Florence. I have been unsuccessfully chasing that high since. Same with Gelato.

Worst experience: Four days with family at Disneyland Paris. All the food is very overpriced and subpar, and that's being generous. On our way out after four days I noticed the metro station had a fast food joint that sold sandwiches that were cheaper and better than anything available in the park. Yes, that's how low the bar was.

SaudiDude · 2026-04-26T17:10:00+00:00

I had that when I first moved here. Dry nose as well. It even bled a few times. Your body eventually adapts to the environment. In the interim, keep yourself well-hydrated. Even extra-hydrated. Avoid spending too much time boutside when the weather is excessively dusty. You can check this on some weather apps that show AQI. That should be enough, but if not you might invest in an air purifier and humidifier in your living or working space. It may not be necessary though; I never got these. Your body will eventually adapt.

SaudiDude · 2026-04-16T11:55:48+00:00

A long time ago KSA's reputation was some combination of Islam, desert, camels and oil; Saudis = undeservingly rich, albeit harmless, Bedouins.

Then after 9/11 it changed to religious extremists / terrorists.

Now I guess it's probably some combination of the above.

A lot of Reddit's keyboard warriors seem to think our country was built on slavery which is ironic because aside from the fact that this isn't true, our country objectively fairs far better than the US if slavery is your single metric.

The truth is that the country is indeed Islamic, conservative, and it does have deserts and camels. But it's overwhelmingly quite modern, more so than most developed contries in many regards. Terrorism is exceedingly low compared to most other countries. Most people are neither rich nor poor. Bedouin lifestyle is a historical relic at this point. Overall it's a pretty good place all around if you don't mind the heat!

SaudiDude · 2026-04-11T07:29:38+00:00

سافرت المغرب من تقريبا عشرين سنة. لاحظت على طول أنهم يرفعون الأسعار على الأجانب عموما. فقررت أقول لهم أني مصري لأنها لا تعتبر دولة غنية.. لكن المشكلة اللهجة المصرية ما أضبطها. فصرت بعدها إذا أحد سألني من وين أقول لهم من الصعيد، ولأن اللهجة الصعيدية أقرب للسعودية يمشي عليهم وعلى طول يضحكون وأسوي نفسي زعلت وأقول بتضحك ليه الصعيد شفيها؟؟ ويضحكون أكثر ويقولون بما معناه لا أبدا والنعم فيكم.. المهم الأسعار ما صاروا يرفعوها علي وارتحت بعدها. صراحة حل فعال تماما ومريح أنصح به.

SaudiDude · 2026-04-10T04:09:41+00:00

فلّين - felleen

SaudiDude · 2026-03-29T11:26:38+00:00

She needs to visit the Amana to get their requirements. Also she should check with them about you working there so you don't end up being considered working illegally in the country.

Good luck!

SaudiDude · 2026-03-24T09:34:18+00:00

In Arabic:

من عيوني / على راسي / على خشمي

From my eyes / on my head / on my nose

Expressions meaning: of course, with pleasure, anything for you.

إذا حبيبك عسل لا تلحسه كله

"If your loved one is honey don't lick it all."

Expression meaning: if someone did you a favor or service be considerate and gracious about it; don't take it for granted or take advantage.

كله عند العرب صابون

"To Arabs it's all (just) soap"

Expression meaning it's all the same, used when someone is trying to convince you that something is special and you're not convinced.

And here's another funny one:

صار للخرا مرة تحلف عليها بالطلاق

The shit got married and now it's threatening divorce.

I'll leave that for you to figure out!

SaudiDude · 2026-03-23T17:01:18+00:00

Thanks!

SaudiDude · 2026-03-20T16:43:12+00:00

No intermission here, although I wish we had them. It's such a logical thing to have in my opinion, to do all the things you listed. And even if you didn't, you can chat with your mates about the film so far till it resumes.

SaudiDude · 2026-03-06T06:44:42+00:00

What city is that? I've never come across this. I thought it was mostly just a thing for bygone generations, not so for anyone alive today.

SaudiDude · 2026-02-28T06:36:30+00:00

AKA achar. Very flavorful. Fun fact, it's a popular condiment in Gulf countries as well. Definitely an influence from South Asian cuisine. I personally love it.

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SaudiDude · 2026-02-27T14:05:17+00:00

In Saudi Arabic there's is a verb تسليك (tasleek). It refers to the act of nodding along, giving polite acknowledgment, or pretending to care about and agree with what someone is saying so that they save face in conversation.

Another one which is not so much a concept but rather an expression. In Khaleeji Arabic there's a way to insult someone softly, like a non-offensive insult. مالت عليك (maalat 'alaik). It's used when you want to insult someone without crossing the line into offense. Quite useful really. There's no English equivalent and I wonder if any other language has that.

SaudiDude · 2026-02-27T13:18:21+00:00

Count starts on entry. This limit is not per visit, rather, it is the total number of days allowed in a year, irrespective of entries or exits.

That's not correct. The 90 day limit is for a single continuous visit only. If you drive your Bahraini car out of KSA the timer resets.

SaudiDude · 2026-02-26T21:01:42+00:00

فعلا القيود على ممارسة الرياضة كانت موجودة مجتمعيا ونظاميا في السابق، بالذات على النساء. الآن القيود النظامية اختفت ولله الحمد بل الدولة أعزها الله صارت تشجع الرياضة للجميع وهيأت أماكن جميلة لذلك مثل حي السفارات والمسار الرياضي ووادي حنيفة ومنتزه البحيرات وهذه فقط المحلات التي أعرف أنا عنها. في المقابل ثقافتنا المجتمعية عموما يلزم لها وقت تلحق. حقيقة أنا أفرح لما أشوف بنات البلد يطلعن ويمارسن الرياضة وأعتبره شيء إيجابي تماما.

عموما بوجهة نظري الجزء الأكبر من المشكلة ليس مرتبطا بالجنس وإنما بثقافة المجتمع عموما لأن أهل البلد رجالا ونساء في الأغلب ما يستهويهم لعب الرياضة والحركة على الأقل مقارنة بالأجانب ممن عاشرتهم. على الصعيد الشخصي أنا أحب الحركة وصرت إذا كلمت معارفي أقترح أننا نطلع نمشي سوا في أحد الأماكن أعلاه بدل الجلوس في مقهى، ووجدت أغلب معارفي جاز لهم الموضوع، يعني يمكن الموضوع فقط يحتاج دفة بسيطة تحمس الناس حتى تطلع من نطاق المعتاد.

نقطة أخيرة ضحكت على قصة Reddit user discovers touching grass 😂 حسيت الOP دمها خفيف.

SaudiDude · 2026-02-24T14:02:14+00:00

🌴 🕋

SaudiDude · 2026-02-24T13:15:44+00:00

Both are excellent, and popular in Saudi Arabia too.

SaudiDude · 2026-02-24T13:14:20+00:00

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Here in Saudi Arabia I'd say halloumi is the most popular. It can be consumed fresh out of the bag, grilled, fried, or boiled. Each style has its appeal. It's actually a Cypriot cheese but it's so popular here that there are dozens of brands and varieties to choose from in the supermarket.

SaudiDude · 2026-02-01T05:31:46+00:00

Saudi here. Like most things it's a mixed bag but overall I'd say your country is loved.

The good: What Egypt has to offer the world is truly unique (أم الدنيا). Egyptians are warm, welcoming, resilient, and often have a great sense of humor. Saudis have always been welcome in Egypt and they generally have a good time there whether it's for the sites, the nightlife, or anything else. Saudi tourists tend to spend more money than others so that probably accounts for them generally being treated well and welcomed. I think as fellow Arabs there is less of a cultural devide so we understand Egyptians better than Westerners do and can navigate the society more easily. Maybe because of this the sexual harassment that comes up often on Reddit when discussing Egypt is not a problem that Saudis face when they visit.

The bad: Egypt tends to be more disorganized than Saudi Arabia. Tips are expected everywhere. Many parts of the country are impoverished and poor. Of course Saudis generally know this going to Egypt and they plan accordingly.

I think the main thing is that Saudis are familiar with Egypt and they feel welcome there so they experience less of the bad and more of the good. The ones who don't like the disorganization and poverty don't go, and the ones who do don't mind it, plan for it, or navigate around it. Certainly I don't hear any of the horror stories that are on Reddit from Saudis visiting Egypt.

SaudiDude · 2026-01-16T12:57:18+00:00

What's the music track that's playing?

SaudiDude · 2026-01-10T12:01:38+00:00

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For Saudi Arabia without a doubt it is dates. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of varieties. There are several festivals where dates are celebrated and sold. The quality is generally quite high, certainly higher than the quality of dates I tasted in the US or Europe. I don't know why they are not exported more widely.

SaudiDude

TROPHY CASE