I'm looking at signing a 1 yr. contract job in Saudi Arabia and wondering how safe it is for single 30 y/o American women? The job is in Riyadh. I read online that in this area in particular, single women are pressured by Mutawwa to wear full length black abaya. And always long sleeves and ankle length skirts, no pants. Does anyone have any experience being or living in that area that can help?
Saudi Arabia - 9 Answers
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1 :
If you make the decision to come to Saudi, then you will abide by the rules of the host country.. If you are a smoker and come to a house of a non smoker, do you just light up anyways? or do you respect the rules of the hostess house and not smoke whilst there?.. Same here.. IF women are required to dress modestly and wear a covering cloak (abaya) and a scarf,, then you either abide by these rules, or elect not to come here.. Simple.... NO ones twisting your arm forcing you here.. Anyways.. You will be perfectly safe.. There have been american women living and working safely in Saudiarabia for the past 75 years.. Some love it here so much that their children are now returning to work and live here.. I have many American friends that have been here for more than 30years on a stretch and absolutely love it here.. Certainly its not the place for everyone, some hate it.. But most love the good moral atmosphere and generocity of the people here. SaudiARabia as you know is a muslim governed country.. We are expected to live our good moral lives. Our Women dress concervatively while out and cover up to not to show our bodies.. We are respected for our minds, not our bodies as a piece of meat.. You will actually feel good about doing this here.. (and hey, it works for a bad hair day or if you just want to run into town in your PJ's and can toss over this cloak) You can wear whatever you like under the abaya.. We women are not prudes, we are fashionable and have all the same clothing that any girl does in the west.. We just dont show it out in public.. Depending on what town you will be in.. Jeddah in the west and Khobar in the east.. Those are very forward open minded towns.. I know see a trend to women wearing loose fitting slacks (not tight jeans painted on).. and longer tunic tops that come down to the thighs so as to cover a bit, and a decent scarf only.. no abaya.. as long as you are decently covered, it will be fine.. The religious police dont bother foreign women like the used to.. They are now becoming better about this, as long as you dont purposely do something like come out in town wearing cutoffs, or knee length dresses or flirt it up with a man in public... otherwise you will be fine here..
2 :
Well This what your life would be like For starters, you cannot: •Drive (culture, social and legal) •Sponsor a non-Saudi husband for residency (iqama) in the Kingdom (legal) •Visit a graveyard (although there is debate on this topic) (culture and religious) •Attend Friday prayers in a mosque unless there is a women section (there is also debate on this topic) (culture and religious) •Be alone with an unrelated man who is not a “sanctioned†relative (father, grandfather, brother, uncle, husband) (culture, social and legal) •Travel alone without approval of the male mahrem (culture, social and legal) What can they do? •Work •Have their own bank accounts •Have their own businesses •Own properties •Own businesses •Make investments •Have their own driver •Own a car YOU NEED A MALE TO LIVE WITH YOU ITS DRANGEROUS WITHOUT ONE.
3 :
I'm an atheist saudian guy i live in Saudi some of what the other guys said is true and some of it is not anyway it isn't dangerous as it sounds rather than boring since you can't drive in there ,have to wear abaya but people will do respect you i see how others (Saudians ) treat Americans with high respect if u needed any details about Riyadh ill be more than glad to tell u (cuz that's how boring living in Saudi i can waste time talking to strangers than the idiots on the streets) you can IM me or email me for further details
4 :
Americans are specially treated and specially protected by the saudi govt. Americans are sorta VIPs here, so its no problem. And times are getting changed here abaya thing is getting reduced day by day. So chill out, you wont face any problem :)
5 :
Well, Riyadh is really become more relax on some things. You would have to still wear the abaya, it has to be black, but it doesn't have to be plain. You'll see beautiful abayas here, full with blings and embroideries. You should have a head scarf handy, just in case someone bothers you. But, it is saver just to wear the head scarf so you'll blend with the crowds. What you wear under your abaya is your own business. I see women wears capri pants, flip-flop, and even jammies. When you work though, you would have to wear long sleeves and long skirts, in some places, they even want you to wear black skirts only. If you decide to come to Saudi, come with an open mind. It's a fairly save country, saver than most places in the western world. Enjoy your time here, enjoy another atmosphere and experience the way Saudi Arabia is. Every place is different, if you come with an open mind and low expectations, you'll enjoy it, God willing.
6 :
everyone is save in Saudi arab as long as i know unless you wont try to be bad
7 :
They lifted the driving ban on women. My husband lives in Riyadh, and I have Saudi in-laws scattered throughout Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is VERY conservative, unlike Jeddah which is sadly westernized and open. The Muttawa are known to harass women if they don't wear abaya properly so be prepared for that. I suggest you research the laws of Saudi Arabia/Riyadh in particular before you bother going there.
8 :
I think it's experience should have fun with Does not assume there is no experience of the difficulties that are afraid of them Just an Islamic city, the province needs some modification in behavior modification may not even be annoying to those class Do not be afraid We have a donut and we have Mac and Burger King and Pizza Hut are the lives of modern Muslim You will not see any significant difference in the life there is only a sharp drop in crime rate I hope to have fun with life there
9 :
Your 30, and hung up over what you are going to be wearing. Even when all the other women are wearing the same thing. You need to read more about Saudi Arabia if the only thing in your mind is the abaya.
