14 Popular Destinations for Saudis during Summer Holidays

Dear Readers,

Most students in Saudi Arabia are finishing off there exams or waiting for results, and getting ready for the annual summer vacation.


As soon as the results are out expats and Saudis alike jet off to cooler climes to escape the blistering heat. This year people who like to spend Ramadan in Saudi (I think its the best place in the world to spend Ramadan,) have quite a narrow window of opportunity from June 6th till July 15th I think.


In the past the US of A has been a favourite, but due to visa issues, and other reasons, U.K has replaced it along with France, Switzerland and Spain, especially Marabella. This year with the Olympics to be held in London in July it may attract sports enthusiasts from Saudi to the much hyped event.

Those who prefer to head to the Far East: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand  (officially only for non-Saudis), for their beach vacation on picturesque island resorts, where it is less expensive and the Saudi riyal when converted still has quite a bit of purchasing power.

Berjaya Resort Langkawi, Malaysia

Still others like to vacation in the Middle East, popular destinations are U.A.E, which despite temperatures of up to 50 C, and very humid weather manages to attract a huge chunk of tourists from Saudi, with its Dubai Summer Surprises Festival favoured by families.

Egypt has been popular in the past, but recently due to the political climate andthe Saudi Embassy in Cairo  being shut down it is no longer a destination of choice.

Lebanon is also a local favourite due to great weather, a hospitable people, and it offers beaches, picturesque cottages on hillsides, shopping, plastic surgery, and wide variety of entertainment venues. Unfortunately this year the political climate has forced many to cancel their vacation plans.

Tunisia was another destination which has suffered due to political unrest.

Ever since Noor aired on MBC channels followe by a barrage of Turkish soaps, Turkey has attracted a huge number of Saudi tourists, despite language problems and in the beginning a rather frosty welcome to Arabs from the Middle East due to the historically hostile relationship between the two countries ( the Turkish Ottoman Empire was overthrown by the help of Lawrence of Arabia and the Bedouin tribes, which later gave rise to an independant Saudi Arabia or something like that I'm not a historian).

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As the wedding season will now be in full swing newlyweds will be off to their honeymoons, and Maldives secluded romantic resorts are the perfect fit.

I wonder what will be the most popular destination this year among Saudis, we'll know in a week or so when the stats start to come in.. Where are you flyng off to this summer, or if you are staying Saudi what will you be doing? Comment below, its free!

Morrocan Maids:Magicians or Man Magnets? From a Saudi Women's perspective

Recently, there has been a bit of an uproar amoung Saudi women, and no, its got nothing to do with driving; Saudi women have been protesting the import of Morrocan women as domestic helpers in lieu of Indonesian and Phillipine women.

Previously, most domestic helpers were from either Indonesia and the Philipines and after a growing number cases of unpaid wages and abuse these two countries decided to put a ban on sending their domestic workers to Saudi Arabia, and I think other Gulf countires until a better wages and rights for their workers. The governments were n't able to come ot an agreement and there has been a shortage of maids ever since, with families struggling to find help, and having to do without in Ramadan (when there is a high demand for maids as ironically cooking and parties increase).

So, when it was announced that Saudi Arabia would getting maids from Morrocco, you would think Saudi women would breathe a collective sigh of relief. Instead, this was received like a stab in the back, a sprinkling of salt on the wound.

Why, you may ask? Well, it is a well known fact that Saudi men, tend to vacation in Morroco-alone. It is how should I put it politely... considered an adult playground. I once went to a travel agent with a sibling to plan our summer vacations, we'd been thinking of Tunisia/Morocoo/Jordan and wanted more information so that we could decide. You should've seen the travel agent's face when my brother asked about Morroco, he first froze, glanced  slightly in my direction, then looked back at my bro, and as my bro was still looking at him naively for an answer -quietly said its not appropriate for families. Needless to say, we were very embarassed and almost afraid to ask about any other country in case we made a similar mistake!

That's not all, Saudi women feel threatened due the unfortunate reputation the country has developed for practising Black Magic (as Muslims we believe in it to be real and it uses Jinns(spirits) to cast spells), and often Saudi men are said to have been deceived into marrying them. It helps that they are considered pretty and full of feminine qualities and 'know the way to Saudi man's heart'.

Some Saudi women have threatened to quit their jobs and stay at home to do the housework if the alternative is to hire Morrocan maids-or they could continue working and do the housework as well like women all over the world. And what about those who don't work but cannot even fetch a glass of water without a maid let alone take care of their kids? I think its a devilish plan concocted by Saudi men, its a win-win situation for them, if their wives don't hire the maids they will save the salary spent on the maid, and if they do-at least they will have some one pretty and sweet to look at :-). It would be funny, if this step ended up turning many Saudi women into domesticated and caring non-creepy version of Stepford wives.

Personally, I don't like the idea of live-in help unless absolutely crucial, as it creates numerous problems regardless of nationality. Would you be willing to hire a live in Morrocan maid?

Saudi National Day- Ten things I love about Saudi Arabia

In celebration of the Saudi National Day I am doing this post to highlight the positive points of Saudi Arabia. I find a lot of Saudi bashing goes on the internet, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the positive some obvious but oft forgotten and sometimes humorous aspects of Saudi from a Muslim expatriate perspective :

1. Makkah and Madinah- the two holiest sites in Islam- as a Muslim you just cannot argue with that :-)

2. No TAXES. There is NO income tax, NO VAT, and NO Petrol tax. :-)

3. Reduced working hours for employees and holidays for schools in Ramadan: Where else in the world can you have it so easy?

4. All food is Halal food; this means that you can eat at all the international fast food chains :-)

5. Low levels of crime, inflation usually, and despite all the propaganda a stable political climate (.Alhamdulillah, Thank God)

6. Instead of annoying coins for change we get a packet of gum :-)...what am I going to buy with 10 ten halalas anyway?

7. Very family friendly, of course no scenes of public nudity or indecency, so you don't have to worry about where your kids are looking.

8. You can make friends from all over the world, there are so many different nationalities represented in the expat population it’s amazing. The people are generally easy going and helpful.

9. You can find a masjid or prayer area wherever you maybe.If you are on the highway and it happens to be time of prayer, and there isn'ta rest stop nearby, then simply stop the car off the highway and pray.

Tell me how many places in the world you can do that?

10. Last but by in no means least: You can put on your abaya over your pjs and go out, without anyone being the wiser (unless you are in an accident).

Hope all citizens of this wonderful country: Saudis and Non-Saudis alike acknowledge and be grateful for their blessings and have a great day!

P.S What do you like about Saudi, don't be shy now speak up!

If you like this post be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter :-). Thanks! Ma'salamah.

Summer Holidays in Saudi

I think I am one of the few people who don't particularly like summer holidays, I think they are much too long. This time the summer holidays in Saudi Arabia have been combined with Ramadan holidays which will result in a three and half month holiday. Woe to all teachers! Although the Ramadan holiday will be nice especially as it will be quite hot this year, I think they should have extended the school year to make up for the time that will be lost next year.

I think once the initial excitement wears off and you catch up on sleep and errands you get bored. Well, that's the case with me. I have had a few rather unpleasant summers..usually August ..so thats a time of year I can never quite feel comfortable with.


Optimist that I am ..and try to be, I will try and make this summer worthwhile instead of just letting the time slip through my fingers. I'm feeling quite restless so just may have enough motivation to get stuff done.

Mainly, I 'm dreading being stuck at home for the better part of three months. I really do need to arrange for a driver. (Women cannot drive in Saudi Arabia, my pet peeve with this country).