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Turks in Saudi Arabia

Turks in Saudi Arabia, also known to as Turkish Arabians, Turkish Saudi Arabians, Saudi Arabian Turks, Arabian Turks, or Saudi Turks(Turkish: Suudi Arabistan Türkleri, Arabic: الأتراك في السعودية) refers to ethnic Turks living in Saudi Arabia. The majority of Arabian Turks descend from Ottoman settlers who arrived in the region during the Ottoman rule of Arabia. Most Ottoman Turkish descendants in Saudi Arabia trace their roots to Anatolia; however, some ethnic Turks also came from the Balkans, Cyprus, the Levant, North Africa and other regions which had significant Turkish communities. In addition to Ottoman settlement policies, Turkish pilgrims to Mecca and Medina often settled down in the area permanently.

Turks in Saudi Arabia
الأتراك في السعودية
Suudi Arabistan Türkleri
TurkeySaudi Arabia
A group of Turkish pilgrims at Jabal Thawr to perform umrah
Total population
Total:
270,000-350,000
Turkish minority (Ottoman descendants only):
150,000[1]
Additional modern Turkish immigrants:
120,000-200,000[2][3][4]
Regions with significant populations
Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca
Languages
Religion
Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
Turks in the Arab world, Syrians in Saudi Arabia

There has also been modern migration to Saudi Arabia from the Republic of Turkey as well as other modern nation-states which were once part of the Ottoman Empire.

History

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Ottoman migration to Arabia

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The Turkish presence in Saudi Arabia can be traced historically from the bastions of the Arabian Peninsula painted of Ottoman dominion in past centuries. The Ottoman Empire, which arose in the 13th century starting in the Middle East and Europe, expanded in the 16th century to cover almost the entire Arabian Peninsula, including the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Turkish domination of today’s Saudi Arabia began at this period and continuing on towards Ottoman rule. The Ottoman leadership of the area was mainly accomplished by appointing local influentials; however, the empire also deployed a network of Turkish soldiers, administrators and academics to garrison these territories and secure the pilgrim routes.

During this period, many Turks emigrated to Hijaz, especially to the cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah; some their descendants are still living there. The Ottomans brought along with them architectural styles, culinary traditions, and systems of education into this land and mixed them with the local Arab culture. This period of Ottoman rule lasted until the early 20th century despite intermittent local rebellions and tensions. The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire following World War I brought a redrawing of the Middle Eastern borders, and in the 1920s, Abdulaziz Al Saud founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Thus, after huge Ottoman influence in the region, yet the many-centuries-long Ottoman presence had left its mark, and Turkish cultural traits could be found in the architecture, the cuisine, and some of the local customs of Saudi Arabia. In recent years, with the strengthening of the diplomatic and economic relations between modern Turkey and Saudi Arabia, a new wave of Turkish nationals to Saudi Arabia has emerged, mainly for work in the construction, education, and health sectors, further enriching the historical Turkish presence. Today, though not overwhelmingly numerous, Turkish people and culture are still woven into the fabric that is responsible for the diversity and shared history of Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula.

 
The Ottoman fortress of Ajyad in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, demolished in 2002

Politics

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During the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum, more than 8,000 Turkish expats from Saudi Arabia cast votes whether Turkey should abolish its parliamentary system and become a presidential republic.[5] 58.34% of the Turkish expatriates in Saudi Arabia opted for "No", while 41.66% voted for "Yes". The yes vote was concentrated in Jeddah and the Western Region, while in Riyadh no was the dominant choice. The no vote wassignificantly higher compared to votes of several European Turkish expat communities.[6]

Religion

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Most Saudi Arabian Turks are Sunni Muslims, and laborers returning from Riyadh seem to be less likely to espouse Shariah(Islamic law) than those living in European countries.[7]

Economic contributions

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Ethnic Turks in Saudi Arabia have played a vital role in the Saudi economy, mainly due to their large presence in construction, trade, and healthcare. Turks have worked on construction for decades, erecting much of the Saudi skyscrapers, roads and hotels that powered the desert kingdom’s ambitious modernization plans. Additionally, Turkish businesses have played a key role in bilateral trade between the two countries(especially goods and services). Moreover, Turkish specialists within sectors such as engineering and healthcare with their knowledge have covered workforce shortages supporting local competencies. Such contributions have not only bolstered economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but also aided the development of the Kingdom.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Akar, Metin (1993), "Fas Arapçasında Osmanlı Türkçesinden Alınmış Kelimeler", Türklük Araştırmaları Dergisi, 7: 94–95
  2. ^ Harzig, Juteau & Schmitt 2006, 67
  3. ^ Koslowski 2004, 41
  4. ^ Karpat 2004, 12
  5. ^ "More than 1 million Turkish expats vote in charter referendum - Turkey News". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  6. ^ "Referendum divides Turkish expats". Saudigazette. 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  7. ^ Gerald Robbins. Fostering an Islamic Reformation. American Outlook, Spring 2002 issue.

Bibliography

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