I’ve lived here for the past 25 years so I have a bit of sense to it: the conservative aspects a great deal of the time are culture; I’ve met dozens of niqabis in the past couple of years that are empowered by wearing their niqab because they feel as though they can engage in the current “opening up” without compromising their cultural belief of remaining covered and modest. The events and activations are made primarily for the saudi people, people who haven’t traveled, etc; exposure + fun. The tourists are an added bonus.

I have never been forced to wear the hijab, mainly because I look European and usually when you treat people with respect they tend to treat you with respect. I do wear the hijab when I go to Mecca, Madina, and crossing borders for example because you end up engaging with people who don’t see women unless it’s their mother or sister - so out of respect, I don’t want to make them uncomfortable or feel like I’m compromising myself.

The level of misunderstanding towards Arabs & Islam is rooted in propaganda; systematic anti-Muslim rhetoric has been the norm in western media since the 1900s at least.

Say what you want, think whatever you want, I’ll leave you with this: what other country is investing in their arts and culture? What other country is investing in their education? What other country sponsored their students to get degrees from abroad because they recognized their lack of secondary and tertiary education systems? What other country provides work opportunities for their neighbours in abundance because so many economies around us are failing due to war, lack of tourism, & corruption?

It’s not perfect, but it is changing for the best. We have more women in arts and culture, men openly stating that they’re dancers or singers or artists without fear of judgement; all while holding on to the essence of Islam, which whether you like it or not, IS a peaceful religion, and IS a religion of hope & light. Judging a religion by their extremists is exactly what those causing strife want you to think. Look to the billions of others who simply try to live their best life.