Etiquette and customs in Saudi Arabia
Settling in Saudi Arabia can create a culture shock among many expats due to the lack of proper information. It is important to come with an open mind and to be prepared to join the Saudi society respectfully by following certain rules and understanding what's appropriate and what's not. Nowadays, the country is in a dynamic period of modernization, and some of the strict rules that used to define its image in the past are not applicable anymore.
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is widely known as a conservative country closely tied to the practices and beliefs of the Islamic religion. It is growing more and more liberal recently, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. However, the society is strongly tied to its culture and customs. You should always be aware of how people behave and act, especially while out in public. Saudi Arabia enforces its customs on the general public, and lewd behavior and disobedience are punishable by Sharia law.
After opening up the country to tourists, the government implemented a public decency law in September 2019. It can be found on the official web page for tourist visas application. Read the fines carefully, considering each violation. We've outlined a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you are able to adjust to the Saudi society and you may fit right in.
Saudi Arabia is a country with a lot of rules—especially for newcomers. Make sure to allow yourself time for adjustment, and don't hesitate to ask for advice from more experienced expats on the best behavioral practices.
We'll start off with some very basic rules to follow while in Saudi Arabia:
Avoid public displays of affection and profane language and gestures, as they are not consistent with the local culture.
Both women and men are required to dress modestly in public, avoiding any tight-fitting clothing or clothes with profane language or images. Wearing the black, loose cloak dress—abaya—is not obligatory for foreign women, but the shoulders and knees should remain covered in public.
Eating, drinking water, chewing gum, or smoking during the holy month of Ramadan (during fasting hours, i.e., before sunset, out in public) are forbidden and considered very inappropriate actions. “Ramadan Kareem” and “Ramadan Mubarak” are the common greetings used during the holy month of Ramadan.
At prayer time, five times per day, music is turned off in public places, and many shops close briefly. The business is allowed to operate 24 hours, but the prayer time breaks should be respected.
Weekdays and school days are from Sunday to Thursday. The weekend break for government, public servants, and educational institutions is on Friday and Saturday. On Fridays, Muslims perform a special and longer prayer service, so most private entities, shopping centres and restaurants are closed from 11 a.m. to around 1 p.m. (timings vary, according to the sun's sky path) or open only in the afternoon.
The sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol are illegal in Saudi Arabia. This means that you won't be able to purchase or consume alcohol even on the territory of international hotels. While there is a black market for alcoholic drinks in the country, purchasing alcohol there is strongly advised against. Breaking the dry law comes with serious consequences, including imprisonment and deportation.
Eating with hands is appropriate, even at restaurants, but locals tend to eat with their right hand, as per the Hadiths of the Quran, the holy book of Islam.
Skipping lines while queuing is punishable.
Taking pictures of government buildings, military installations and palaces is forbidden. It's best to avoid taking pictures of locals as well — especially without their consent, as privacy is very important. For this reason, you won't be able to bring binoculars into the country—if found, they will be confiscated at the port of entry.
Practicing any religion other than Islam in public is illegal in Saudi Arabia, as it is regarded as proselytism with the intention to convert. With that in mind, private practice of religions other than Islam is allowed. Non-Muslims are also allowed to practice their religions within their private environments. However, they are not allowed to spread their religious beliefs, as doing so is a punishable offense. You can also bring religious texts into the country—provided these are for personal use. However, bringing in large quantities of religious texts is not allowed.
Saudi people are polite and well-mannered in general. They are curious to meet tourists and expats. Usually, the Saudis are communicative and welcoming, friendly hosts and interesting interlocutors. If people respect their customs and culture, they can make unforgettable friendships and memories in Saudi Arabia.
The religious police in Saudi Arabia
From 1976 to 2016, everyday life in Saudi Arabia used to be under the strict watch of the Mutawwa-Hai'a, also known as the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), also known as the religious police. The role of the religious police was to ensure that Saudi nationals were punctual in their prayers, followed all the social norms, dressed appropriately — and more. The religious police used to hold a lot of power in the country and were able to detain people for misbehavior.
In 2016, the powers of the CPVPV were sharply curtailed. While they still function today, their role is now minor. They are unable to detain, question, or ask anyone for identification. If there is an offence to be reported, they need to report it to the police for action to be taken.
Important:
Homosexual relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia and subject to severe penalties. Transgender people are also generally advised against traveling to Saudi Arabia, as they may face severe legal troubles if discovered by the authorities in Saudi Arabia.
Compound life in Saudi Arabia
Life in Saudi Arabia can be quite difficult for a lot of expats to adjust to. This is why most foreigners moving to the country prefer to settle in Western-style compounds. These are secure gated communities complete with a whole set of amenities, from gyms and swimming pools to pre-schools and convenience stores. Life within the walls of a compound like this is pretty much unconstrained: expats can dress the way they like, freely interact with the opposite sex, and more.
Moving into a compound helps minimize the culture shock and lets expats preserve (for the most part) the lifestyle they are used to back home. Note, however, that outside the compound walls, keeping to the rules and social norms of the country is essential.
Major holidays in Saudi Arabia
There are five main holidays in Saudi Arabia:
The most important public holidays are:
- Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan and constitutes a public holiday of 4 days.
- Eid al-Adha, which celebrates the end of Hajj, the holy pilgrimage, and constitutes a public holiday of 4 days.
More recently, two public holidays have been officialized with a third announced:
- National Day, which celebrates the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdulaziz in 1932. It is a one-day holiday and is celebrated on 23 September. It became a public holiday in 2005.
- Founding Day, which celebrates the founding of the al-Saud dynasty. It is celebrated on February 22. It became a public holiday in 2022.
- Flag Day, which celebrates the adoption of the national flag of Saudi Arabia in 1937. It is celebrated on March 11. It became a public holiday in 2023, but workers are expected to show up, and businesses have normal opening hours.
National Day, Founding Day and Flag Day are celebrated on a fixed date every year — September 23rd, February 22nd and March 11th On the other hand, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are celebrated according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
The Islamic lunar calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar by about 11 days, and the start of both holidays shifts every year.
National Day
Saudi Arabia's National Day marks the unification of Najd and Hijaz and the formation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The holiday is celebrated with fireworks and parades, music, traditional outfits and Saudi flags. There are special festive events held all throughout the Kingdom.
Founding Day
Founding Day celebrates the first accession to the throne of Muhammad bin Saud, in the town of Diriyah which is located west of Riyadh. This marked the start of the alSaud dynasty which later founded the First and Second leader, and then the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of today.
Flag Day
Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of Saudi Arabia by its founder, King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, on March 11, 1937. While it is a public holiday since 2023, schools and businesses are open and people will usually witness celebrations at their workplace.
Eid Al Fitr
The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar marks the holy month of Ramadan. This month is dedicated to fasting and reflection. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn till dusk. The month of Ramadan starts at the first sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the next crescent sighting. The holiday concludes with a three-day holiday and the breaking of the fast called Eid Al Fitr.
Important:
During Ramadan, do not drink or eat in public places. You can keep to your normal lifestyle in the privacy of your home. However, outside, avoid breaking the rules of Ramadan in any way.
Eid Al Adha
Eid Al Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, takes place on the 10th day of the final month of the Islamic calendar. The festival commemorates the sacrifice of Ibrahim as an act of obedience to Allah's command. On this day, many Muslim families still follow tradition and sacrifice a sheep, goat or camel.
Business culture in Saudi Arabia
Historically, Saudi Arabia has always been involved in international business relations. However, the country's inner business culture has always been guided by tradition and a long list of unspoken rules. With the new push towards a more open economy (as part of the Saudi Vision 2030), things are becoming more relaxed although much of the country's business networking and interactions are still guided by conservative values and strict hierarchy.
The first thing to keep in mind about the local business and work culture is that Saudi Arabia is a deeply hierarchical society. You will find this hierarchy observed in the workplace, during business negotiations, in meetings, and more. Note that most key decisions are traditionally made by high-level management, and most of the team is rarely included in strategy planning or brainstorming sessions.
A lot of businesses in Saudi Arabia are family-run enterprises, which often makes decision-making a family affair. You may also find that new practices and ideas take longer to get implemented, as operations are often slowed down by corporate complications and bureaucratic delays. Nepotism is another issue to take into account.
When working in Saudi Arabia, you should be prepared to attend a lot of business meetings. Business meetings often take place over coffee, during lunch or dinner, and often take place in rather informal locations like restaurants and hotel lobbies. Business meetings are often looked at as an opportunity to build trust and get to know the other party — while business matters are typically discussed later on. Small talk is very common; some “safe” topics include family, culture, sport, business, art, etc. It's best to avoid topics related to politics, religion, or the royal family.
During business meetings and negotiations, it is important that you listen to your host and not disagree with them—at least publicly. Sensitive matters should be discussed in private, and it's best to do it in a way that doesn't place blame on any party. Note that discussing the price, or, simply, bargaining, is quite normal during negotiations.
If you are giving a speech or making a presentation, keep it brief and don't get too technical. Visuals are generally appreciated, and having your presentation translated into Arabic will also be seen as a sign of respect.
While Saudi Arabia is a very strict country when it comes to social rules and norms, many Saudi nationals are used to interacting with foreigners. This means that you can often ask for advice, and minor cultural faux pas will be interpreted as genuine mistakes. With that, in order to avoid trouble and to be respectful of local traditions, make sure to do proper research before visiting Saudi Arabia and always stay on the side of caution. If you do not know about the proper custom, it is best to ask. Saudis will, in general, not take offense and will gladly explain the best way to behave.
