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Saudi Arabia Hotels - Reservation Information in Saudi Arabia Riyadh Hotels
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| History: |
In spite of the difficult climate conditions of the country, Saudi Arabia was inhabited by people of various cultures during pre-Islamic times. These people were involved in trade with the empires of the ancient world; one such culture was the Dilmun culture.
The Saudi State began in Central Arabia in 1744. A new political body was created by the efforts of the joined forces of local ruler Muhammad bin Saud, and Islamic reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab. The Saud family faced Egypt, the Ottoman Empire and other Arabian families for 150 years in order to gain control over the land. Then, the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud founded the modern Saudi state. Before becoming king of Hejaz in 1926, he captured Riyadh in 1902 from the Al-Rashid family and then repressed Al-Hasa and the rest of Nejd and the Hejaz between 1913 and 1926. In 1927, Abdul Aziz’s Kingdom became independent, and in 1932 Hijaz and Najd became unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Oil was discovered in 1938 and that changed the entire course of the history and economy of the country.
After King Abdul Aziz passed away in 1953, his eldest son, Saud, succeeded him to the throne. However, in 1964, Saud was forced to give the title to his half-brother Faisal. In 1962, Faisal set a reform program which emphasized economic advancement, and he became king in 1964. |
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King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew in 1975, and was then succeeded by his half brother Khalid.
With time, Saudi Arabia’s role in regional politics and international economic affairs became more powerful. King Khalid was succeeded by King Fahd in 1982. |
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With the invasion Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s forces in 1990, Iraqi troops threatened to invade Saudi Arabia. To protect the country, King Fahd allowed American and Coalition soldiers to oppose the Iraqi threat.
The occupation of some bases in the kingdom by American forces angered many Muslims, who declared a religious war against the United States. |
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Saudi Arabia has been subjected to several attacks. In 1995, seven people were killed when the Saudi National Guard base was bombed. The next year, a truck bomb killed 19 American servicemen at the Khobar Towers in Al-Khobar.
Fifteen out of the nineteen supposed hijackers of the September 11 attacks were found to be Saudi.
In 2003, al-Qaeda began its attacks on foreigners to drive them out of the country; although the number of attacks has decreased, there were still some attacks in 2005. |
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Despite all these facts, the Saudi Arabian government has pledged its support to the War on Terror.
King Fahd died in 2005 and was succeeded by his brother, Crown Prince Abdullah. |
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| Climate: |
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| Saudi Arabia, a unique country, also has a unique weather, for during the day, most of the country’s weather is characterized by extreme heat and dryness due to its desert climate, but a sudden drop in temperature occurs during sunset, creating a cool night with slight rainfall. |
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| Saudi Arabia is one of the few regions in the world which has temperatures rising above 50 °C (120 °F) in the summer, and snow and frost covering the grounds of its interior and higher mountains in winter. Because its climate is very dry, the average rainfall in it is less than 5 inches per year; some regions do not experience rainfall for several years. Its coastal cities are hot and humid throughout the year, but its higher inland areas are cooler. Sunny days and cool nights are the major weather characteristics during the months between October and May; as for the months of April till November, the temperature becomes so high that air-conditioning becomes a must! |
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| In the west and southwest, Saudi Arabia’s weather is affected by tropical winds during summer, which is the case in the Asirhighlands, leading to monsoons which result in rainfalls. In the south, tropical continental winds blow (particularly in winter) and they are often accompanied by sandstorms which may occur in any area, and can last for days. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s climate differs from one area to another; in the Empty Quarter, the great southeastern sand desert, ten years may pass with no rain. Jeddah, situated on the shores of the Red Sea, has a hot and humid climate throughout the year. Taif and Abha, on the other hand, enjoy much milder weather. |
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| At last, it is interesting to note that “marked seasons”, in the European and American sense, don’t exist in Saudi Arabia. |
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| Health and Safety: |
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| In order to enjoy a trip to any region, one must be energetic, and, necessarily, healthy. That’s why we at Foundok want to provide you with the proper pointers to make sure you have a healthy stay in Saudi Arabia. |
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| The country has developed its healthcare and medical services, and has the facilities to train highly qualified doctors, so treatment is costly. Thus, in addition to taking the proper vaccinations, it’s always recommended that you have health insurance as well. Basically, the recommended vaccinations you should consider getting are those against meningococcus, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. |
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If you are visiting from a country infected which is known to have yellow fever dispersed through it, make sure that you have a vaccination certificate or you won’t be able to enter the country.
In the south and some areas of the western region, there is a risk of malaria, thus visitors must brush up on anti-malarial precautions prior to their arrival.
As it is possible anywhere, food poisoning is a risk, so avoid eating outside a good, trusted hotel, and always drink bottled water.
For more information concerning health, visit the WHO website. |
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| To avoid trouble with the law, you need to make sure you follow the “rules”, meaning drinking alcohol is forbidden, and you have to follow the imposed dress and behavior codes, which the religious police patrols is always on the lookout for – basically, if you are a woman, you have to cover yourself and avoid driving. |
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| Places associated with westerners (public places such as shopping malls, restaurants and hotels) might be subject to terrorist plots, so always be alert, keep a low profile, and make individual security arrangements. |
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| Follow these guidelines, and you’ll definitely enjoy your stay in Saudi Arabia! |
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| Time and Place: |
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| Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East and comprises 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. To the west, it is bound by the Red Sea and to the northeast by Egypt and Jordan. Iraq and Kuwait are at its north, the Persian Gulf, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to the East, Oman to the southeast and south, and Yemen to the south and southwest. |
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| It contains the world’s largest continuous desert, the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, which is considered one of the four geographical regions the country is divided to. The second one is the Red Sea escarpment, from Hejazin the north to Asir in the south. The central plateau, which extends to the Tuwaiq Mountains and beyond, constitutes the third division. Finally, the sand deserts of Dahana and Nafud are considered the fourth division. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich area mainly lies in the eastern region along the Persian Gulf. There are no stable bodies of water in the country. |
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| The major cities of Saudi Arabia are Riyadh, Jeddah and Mecca. Its area includes 0 sq km of water and 1,960,582 sq km of land. Its natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, and copper. Natural hazards include frequent sand and dust storms. |
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| As for the time, the Saudi Arabia Standard Time is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3), and the country does not operate Daylight-Savings Time. |
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| Crossing Borders: |
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| To visit Saudi Arabia, you need to have a passport with a validity period of at least 6 months as well as a visa. Tourist visas don’t exist in Saudi Arabia, so your visa needs to be for one of these purposes: business, a visit, transit, residency, family, Hajj, or conference attendance. To get a visitor’s visa, you have to be sponsored by a Saudi individual or company. For a Hajj visa, you must be a Muslim; for a transit visa, you need to prove that you have to make a 24 or 48-hour stop to the country in order to reach your final destination. |
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| To get one of these visas, you have to present the documentation needed to the Saudi Embassy or Consulates in your home country. In general, the price of the visa is 200 Saudi Riyals. In addition to the passport and the visa, a return ticket is a must. |
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| If you are a pilgrim, make sure that you have all the required documents in addition to the passport and the visa. |
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| If you are a female, you need to wear unrevealing clothing: your hands and feet must be covered once you set foot in Saudi Arabia; also, your husband or sponsor must pick you up at the airport if you are traveling alone. |
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| More detailed information about visas can be found on the website of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
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| Government: |
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| The government of Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, ruled by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the Head of State and the guardian of the two Holy Mosques. Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and other ministers aid him in his duties. The country received its independence on September 23, 1932, and the Kingdom became unified. A basic law was adopted in 1992, after the late King Fahd revised the kingdom’s political and administrative system, which stated that Saudi Arabia is ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and that the Qur’an is the foundation of the country, governed by the Islamic law (Shari’a). The revision also redefined the relationship between the king and his citizens, and stated that the king’s power is restricted within the limits of the Shari’a and has to be in harmony with the religious leaders, the Ulema. |
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| The governors of all the fourteen provinces of the saudi arabia kingdom are selected by the king; these governors are either princes or close relatives to the royal family. The king also appoints ministers, each responsible for performing the governmental policies of his particular ministry. The council of ministers, headed by the king, are responsible for managing the implementation of the internal, external, economic, social, educational, defense, and other State matters. |
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| Saudi Arabia has no parliament. Instead, it has the Majlis Al-Shura, (the Consultative Council) which currently has 90 members and advises the king and the Council of Ministers on issues that have to do with the government. |
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| Political parties are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, and the government also forbids the practice of any religion other than Islam and hires religious policemen to impose the Shari’a Law. Justice is based on the Shari’a. |
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| The first Saudi Arabian civic elections were held in 2005, which could mark the beginning of democratic processes in the Kingdom. |
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| Culture: |
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| Religion defines the culture of Saudi Arabia, so its culture is basically homogeneous, with Arabic as its official language, and strictly religious Muslims as its population. The people devote time for prayer, five times a day, in the mosques that are found in abundance throughout the country. The whole foundation of the country is based on Islam’s holy book, the Qur’an, and even the government is restricted to the Islamic law. In addition, the family is the basis of social structure for Saudis; family responsibilities are taken very seriously, and great value is given to family. |
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| Like any other country, Saudi Arabia has a national dance called the Ardha. To draw an image of the Ardha in your mind, picture men holding swords, dancing shoulder to shoulder to the sound of a poet chanting verses, and drums beating out a rhythm. This dance is derived from old Bedouin customs. The folk music of Saudi Arabia is called Al-sihba, and most of the dances and songs in the country are accompanied by a woodwind instrument called “al-mizmar”, in addition to drums. |
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| Saudi Arabia has a unique dress code for men and women, which reflects the county’s bond with its land and religion. The baggy yet unrevealing style of clothing fits the requirements of living in a desert and respecting the conservative dress code Islam forces. In general, men wear shirts that go down to the ankle, known as the thawb, and cover their heads with what is called the ghutra or shimagh. As for the women who have to be covered at all times, the conventional dress code is a long cloak, the “abaya”, and a veil on their heads. During festivities, and in the house women wear more decorated dresses that are adorned by coins, metallic threads and other designs. |
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| Cooked lamb, grilled chicken, falafel, and fuul are some of the traditional dishes you will see in the country’s restaurants. If you enjoy alcohol and pork, you will certainly be deprived of both in Saudi Arabia because they are both prohibited. Every meal in the country is served with Arabic (pita) bread. Saudis always serve their guests a great amount of food, and always eat with their right hand because the left hand is unclean. Two of the most famous drinks, which have also become a part of the country’s custom and are served during gatherings with friends and family, are Arabic coffee and Arabic tea; the latter is black tea with different types of herbal flavorings. |
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| The most important traditional holiday in the country is Ramadan; during that month, you will see Saudi Arabians fasting from sunrise to sunset, abiding to the fourth pillar of Islam. Then every day after sunset, families and friends break the fast with a huge celebratory feast. Ramadan ends with “Eid al-Fitr” which begins with a prayer and is followed by visits to friend’s and family’s houses. This holiday lasts for three days. The second major holiday of the year is the Eid al-Adha that marks the time during which Muslims complete the first day of pilgrimage to Mecca. Finally, the Saudi Arabian people celebrate their cultural heritage during February at the yearly Jenadriyah Cultural Festival, during which visitors enjoy a piece of the Saudi national cake, carrot cake. The festival is a meeting point of poetry, intellect, culture, art, theater, heritage and history. |
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| In general, Thursday and Friday are considered the weekend in the country, and all businesses close during the five daily prayers on weekdays. |
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| Public theatres and cinemas are forbidden in the country; however, there are theatres for music and arts in Dhahran and Ras Tanura. Videos and DVDs of American movies are legal and accessible in the country. |
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| People and Society: |
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| Generosity, selflessness, and hospitality are some of the words that define the characteristic traits of the Saudi Arabian society. With family being the main element of society, Saudis have valued family life ever since the time they lived in tribes in the deserts. In the family there exists a hierarchy, whereby the father is seen as the patriarchal and authoritarian figure. The Saudi Arabian society also respects religious and cultural values. Marriage is a civil contract for Saudi Arabians; according to the Islamic law, men are allowed to marry as many as four wives. However, that law is not followed by every male in today’s society. After marriage, a woman keeps her father’s name (maiden name) and does not take her husband’s name. |
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| Of course, no country is spared the problem that has haunted societies since the beginning of mankind: the loss of values with the acquisition of wealth. After undergoing three decades of modernization, Saudi Arabia became technologically advanced and built great infrastructure like excellent hospitals, schools and universities, shopping malls, restaurants, and amusement centers. Thus, the Saudi Arabian society became one filled with contrasts because it was a struggle between keeping the cultural and religious heritage while being exposed to wealth and Western influence. What made things harder was the urbanization that brought foreigners to the country. |
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| Another contrast found in society is the presence of both a highly developed and a Third World nation in the same country. Next to the educated people, there are agricultural and/or illiterate workers. This struggle goes on as some Saudi Arabians try to regulate the conditions of the present so that they fit in with the traditional, and others try to fit the traditional ones with those of the present. |
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As for the women’s role in society, it has come a long way throughout the past few decades. Before, women were completely alienated from men in the public life, and their only education was related to domestic skills. Get
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| Human Rights: |
| Following the Shari’a, the Saudi courts enforce capital punishment and physical punishment which include amputation of the hands and feet for serious robbery, and severe beating for lesser crimes such as sexual deviance and drunkenness. . |
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