clothing

Saudi Arabian dress strictly follows the principles of hijab (the Islamic principle of modesty, especially in
dress). The predominantly loose and flowing, but covering, garments are suited to Saudi
Arabia's desert climate. Traditionally, men usually wear a white ankle length garment woven from wool
or cotton (known as a thawb), with a keffiyeh (a large checkered square of cotton held in place by
an agal) or a ghutra (a plain white square made of finer cotton, also held in place by an agal) worn on
the head. For rare chilly days, Saudi men wear a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. In public women
are required to wear a black abaya or other black clothing that covers every part of their body other
than hands and eyes. This requirement applies to non Muslim women too and failure to abide will result
in police action. Women's clothes are often decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread,
and appliques.

Ghutrah (Arabic: )is a traditional headdress typically worn by Arab men. It is made of a
square of cloth ("scarf"), usually cotton, folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is
commonly worn in areas with an arid climate, to provide protection from direct sun exposure, and
also protection of the mouth and eyes from blown dust and sand.

Agal (Arabic: )is an item of Arab headgear constructed of cord which is fastened around
the Ghutrah to hold it in place. The agal is usually black in colour.

Thawb (Arabic: )is the standard Arabic word for garment. It is ankle length, usually with long
sleeves similar to a robe.

Bisht (Arabic: )is a traditional Arabic men's cloak usually only worn for prestige on special
occasions such as weddings.

Abaya (Arabic: )is a women's garment. It is a black cloak which loosely covers the entire
body except the head. Some women choose to cover their faces with a niqb and some do not.
Some Abayas cover the top of the head as well.

Entertainment, sport]
During the 1970s, cinemas were numerous in the Kingdom although they were seen as contrary to
Wahhabi norms.[297] During theIslamic revival movement in the 1980s, and as a political response to an
increase in Islamist activism including the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the government
closed all cinemas and theaters. However, with King Abdullah's reforms from 2005, some cinemas have
re-opened,[298] including one in KAUST.
From the 18th century onward, Wahhabi fundamentalism discouraged artistic development inconsistent
with its teaching. In addition, Sunni Islamic prohibition of creating representations of people have
limited the visual arts, which tend to be dominated by geometric, floral, and abstract designs and by
calligraphy. With the advent of oil-wealth in the 20th century came exposure to outside influences, such
as Western housing styles, furnishings, and clothes. Music and dance have always been part of Saudi
life. Traditional music is generally associated with poetry and is sung collectively. Instruments include
the rabbah, an instrument not unlike a three-string fiddle, and various types of percussion
instruments, such as the abl (drum) and the r (tambourine). Of the native dances, the most popular
is a martial line dance known as the arah, which includes lines of men, frequently armed with swords
or rifles, dancing to the beat of drums and tambourines. Bedouin poetry, known as naba, is still very
popular.[80]
Censorship has limited the development of Saudi literature, although several Saudi novelists and poets
have achieved critical and popular acclaim in the Arab worldalbeit generating official hostility in their
home country. These include Ghazi Algosaibi,Abdelrahman Munif, Turki al-Hamad and Rajaa al-Sanea.
[299][300][301]

Football (soccer) is the national sport in Saudi Arabia. Scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing and basketball
are also popular, played by both men and women, with theSaudi Arabian national basketball
team winning bronze at the 1999 Asian Championship.[302][303][304] More traditional sports such as camel

racing became more popular in the 1970s. A stadium in Riyadh holds races in the winter. The annual
King's Camel Race, begun in 1974, is one of the sport's most important contests and attracts animals
and riders from throughout the region. Falconry, another traditional pursuit, is still practiced.[80]
Human life
Cultural life in Saudi Arabia rests strongly within the confines of strict interpretations of the Quran. In
practice, this means that the visual arts, for example, are limited to geometric, floral or abstract
designs, as representations of humanity are forbidden. Although there are some cinemas in larger
cities, relinquishing the joys of theater comes with the territory for expats relocating to the Arabian
Peninsula.
Music, dance, and Bedouin poetry form an important part of Arab culture. Literature in general is,
however, kept in check by strict censorship rules. Expats in Saudi Arabia will quickly become aware that
not only is there no freedom of religion but freedom of expression is also repressed to the extent that it
is non-existent.
You may be surprised at the lack of religious heritage sites in the cradle of Islam. This absence can be
explained by the fear of idolatry in Wahhabism (or Salafism), the form of Islam which dominates life in
Saudi Arabia.

Foods and dishes[

Baladi cheese

Ful medames

Haneeth

Hininy

Jalamah

Jibneh Arabieh

Ka'ak

Kabsa

Khmer

Markook

Mutabbaq

Sambusak

Traditional coffeehouses used to be ubiquitous, but are now being displaced by food-hall style cafes.
According to the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, "serving coffee (gahwa) in Saudi Arabia is a sign of

hospitality and generosity". Traditionally, the coffee beans were roasted, cooled and ground in front of
the guests using a mortar and pestle. The host would then addcardamom pods to the coffee beans
during the grinding process. Once the coffee is brewed, it is poured for guests. Today, gahwa is not
prepared in front of the guests; instead it is elegantly served in a dallah (Arabic style Kettle) and poured
into small cups called finjan.[1]
Drinking tea is also a famous custom in Saudi Arabia. It is used in both casual and formal meetings
between friends, family and strangers. The tea is black (withoutmilk) and has herbal flavoring that
comes in many variations.
Sheep, goat and camel milk are also used by the Bedouin.
occupation
Most people work in jobs that provide ordinary services to each other just as they do in all countries,
that is retail medical, government etc. In Saudi Arabia oil dominates the export economy so there are a
lot of Jobs there. This is also true in Iran, but to a lesser extent and they also have a lot of jobs in
agriculture. Israel has high tech industry and the job distribution is similar to the US or Europe
Musical instrument
The music of Saudi Arabia includes both Western and traditional music. The most distinguished
musician in recent Saudi history is Tariq Abdulhakeem, who composed hundreds of famous Saudi songs
for himself as well as for other singers. Saraj Omar has become a very prominent composer after
composing the music for the Saudi national anthem. In 1999, the 1st Arab Pioneers Festival, which was
held in Cairo under the patronage of the Arab League, honored four of the lead composers in Saudi
Arabia: Tariq Abdulhakeem, Ghazi Ali, [Mohamed Abdu]], Saudi Arabia's first pop star, and the late Talal
Maddah, known as the "Sound of the Earth", who died in August 2000 while singing in the summer
festival on the stage of Al-Muftaha Theatre in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Of the same
generation was the 'ud virtuoso Abadi al Johar, and lately Abdul-Majeed Abdullah came strongly to the
scene.
Saudi traditional music is quite limited, however. The migratory lifestyle of the bedouin mitigated
against carrying excess baggage, including musical instruments. Simple rhythms, with the beat
counted by clapping or striking together everyday implements formed the basis of the music.
Instruments like the double-reeded neyor the stringed rababa were sometimes used, after being
obtained in cosmopolitan cities such as Basrah, Baghdad, and Jeddah.
Music, however, is considered "sinful" or "haram" by some Muslims. This is based, in part, on
certain ahadith which speak negatively of non-percussion musical instruments and the idea that music
and art are distractions from God. Particularly in the early days of the current Saudi state, religious
authorities were quick to repress music other than the rhythmic percussion that still dominates
contemporary Saudi music.
First Music Channel in Saudi Arabia was Music Now launched in 1994 followed by ART5 which was the
first ever Saudi Free-To-Air Music channel in 1995.
With the coming of satellite TV, music video stations, ranging from MTV Arabia, VH1, and assorted
European and Arabic music channels are very popular.
Samri is a popular traditional music and dance in Najd Region.
Omar Basaad was chosen as the best Saudi DJ and Electronic Dance Music Producer in 2012, by Saudi
Gazette. [1] He became the first official Saudi EDM (Electronic Dance Music) producer to represent Saudi
Arabia internationally. [