Saudi Tourism: Is It Finally About To Happen?
CROSSROADS ARABIA: We’ve had many false dawns on the Saudi tourism story but we may be on the cusp of a breakthrough now.
‘Busted!’ Major Crackdown on Illegal Workers in Saudi Arabia
ROB L. WAGNER: Although it had been widely anticipated the scale of the recent crackdown in the Kingdom has surprised many people
The Good, Bad and Interesting of Life in Jeddah
ABU MOHAMMED: Life’s more expensive than the capital, Riyadh, but Jeddah provdes a haven of outdoor art and it’s close to the sacred sites.
Offended Saudis: U.S Comedienne ‘Crosses the Line’
AHMED AL OMRAN: The American comedienne Chelsea Handler has stirred up a hornet’s nest of indignation in Saudi Arabia
Women ‘Making Inroads’ Into Saudi Workforce. Slowly.
SUSIE OF ARABIA: The furore over the decision to employ women as waitresses in the fast food restaurant Hardees illustrates that progress comes slowly
‘Waitresses Are Prostitutes’: Saudi Media Firestorm
CROSSROADS ARABIA: The obstacles facing women in the workplace in Saudi Arabia are exemplified by a row which has broken out via social media.
Your Prejudices About Saudi Arabia: Time for Overhaul
STEVE ROYSTON: Say the words ‘Saudi Arabia’ to someone who has never been there and the results are as predictable as could be.
‘Beep, Beep’: ‘Your Wife Has Just Left Saudi Arabia’
ROB L. WAGNER: There has been an outcry about the service the Saudi authorities provide to men to keep track of their wives. It doesn’t go far enough
Saudi Conservatives ‘Froth’ At Female College Visit
AHMED AL OMRAN: It seems to have become a regular stop for foreign dignitaries visiting the Kingdom. But that hasn’t stopped conservatives offence-ometer going off the scale
My First Hajj: It’s ‘Your Whole Life In Microcosm’
ABU MOHAMMED: There will always be some little detail from your first Hajj that will stay with you as the years roll by.
Saudi Female Attorneys ‘Get Green Light’ for Court
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Not alone are they being admitted to the religious police but women are also now being allowed to appear in court. Heady days.
Saudi Religious Police Have Their Powers Reduced
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Too often they appear to act as an ill-disciplined militia but their powers have been dramatically curtailed.
Healthcare in Saudi, the US and UK: Who does it Right?
STEVE ROYSTON: In one respect he is fortunate: Saudi has abundant resources to throw at these problems, unlike the US and the UK, where health services are competing for funds.
Could Saudi Arabia become a Net Oil Importer?
CROSSROADS ARABIA: If the rate continues as it is going, Saudi Arabia could be a net importer of oil in 17 years’ time. That’s plausible, based on the figures, but unlikely…
Jeddah: The Sculptural Capital of the Arab World
SUSIE OF ARABIA: It’s a little known fact but the original work of some of the world’s most famous sculptors is scattered throughout the Saudi port city.
Underground Rail Next Stop for Jeddah
CROSSROADS ARABIA: The challenge building underground where water can be inches below the surface is considerable, but not insurmountable… given enough money.
Progress or Not? The ‘Digital Eid’ Has Arrived
CROSSROADS ARABIA: It seems that no element of life is safe from the encroachment of social media – not even sacred Eid customs
Wojdan’s ’90 Second Olympics’: A Game Changer
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Media reaction to Saudi women’s participation in the Olympics has been mixed but it’s marked a clear watershed.
Muslims: The Victims of ‘The New McCarthyism’
ROB L. WAGNER: The odious campaign by Michelle Bachmann against Huma Abedin marks the real beginning of a potentially disastrous period in U.S history
The Joys and Challenges of Raising Expat Kids
ABU MOHAMMED: Raising children in the United States provides challenges that are all too familiar. Raising them in Saudi Arabia brings different issues, however.
