2. Location
Saudi Arabia or Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies
most of the Arabian Peninsula.
Separated from Africa by the Red Sea, bordered to
the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, on the east by
the Persian Gulf, Qatar, Bahrain and the United
Arab Emirates, Oman to the south and the Republic
of Yemen and to the west by the Red Sea.
3. Three quarters are covered by deserts An Nafud,
north, Ad Dahna, in the center, and Rub 'Al Khali,
the driest in the world, to the south.
The capital is Riyadh.
They spoke Arabic and his demonym can be Saudi
Arabian or Saudi.
4. Places you must visit
1. Riyadh
This capital is a modern city that receives
thousands of daily business men.
Ibn Saud Museum testifies to the ancestors of the
reigning dynasty. The Museum of RIAD is more
complete and recounts the history of the country
and the region since the Neolithic. The Camel
Market, 30 km from the city, is the most important
as camel market in the world, is lively, colorful,
takes place every day and during the April races are
held which are followed throughout the Arab world.
5.
6. 2. Jeddah
A port for no rest.
Provides the ability to perform many activities of
both adventure tourism such as ecotourism or
cultural tourism ... pristine beaches, crystal clear
warm waters of the Red Sea.
Despite its modernity, this city, like many others in
the region has preserved its cultural heritage and
we can see on our walk through the historic homes
built with coral in the eighteenth century.
7. 3. Mecca
Forbidden City for those who do not profess the
Muslim faith.
This city that gave birth to the prophet Muhammad
keeps relics of unsuspected value for the history of
the humanity.
It is the largest religious pilgrimage center in the
world, is part of the "Five Pillars of Islam”
8. 4. Medinah
Also this city is sacred and not allowed entry to
those who profess the Muslim faith.
In the vicinity of this sacred city also found Umm
Cave Garsan a priceless historical and
archaeological value
Here have been engraved, stuffed animals, utensils
and human remains dating, in principle, more than
8,000 years old. It is the largest, its size, of the
Arabian peninsula.
9. 5. Jubbah
In this city, in the north of the country, there are
places of historical, archaeological and
anthropological little visited.
There are paintings of more than 5,000 years old.
The Mosque of Omar, is one of the oldest in the
world and close to the tombs of the Nabataeans.
10. Things banned in Saudi
Arabia
In Saudi Arabia there are no specific statutes or
laws to govern by. The sole constitution that is used
is the Quran, which all judges have to interpret
conservatively. Many actions that are considered
illegal have no actual written laws to ban them – a
lot of them are not even addressed in the Quran.
The general rule in regards to the legality of
something is that if it is suspected to be “haram”
(forbidden or clashing with Islamic law or may lead
people astray from Islam) then suspicion alone is
grounds for banning it.
11. Happy Valentine’s
Banned: Selling or wearing anything red on
Valentine’s Day.
The penalty for violating that rule would lead to the
store being shut down.
Also on that day, schoolgirls are
prohibited from wearing anything red
– not even a red scarf.
12. Social mixing
Banned: The mixing of sexes at malls and
restaurants.
In many malls in Saudi, only “families” are allowed.
And by families, they mean either women visiting a
mall by themselves, or men who are accompanied
by women.
For restaurants, there are typically two sections:
one for families and one for singles.
13. Movies
Banned: Movie theaters
Movie theaters are prohibited and they are only
located within private company compounds, such
as theaters at Saudi Aramco residential camps.
14. Bacon
Banned: Pork
Since Saudi Arabia operates under Islamic law, all
food entering the country must be “halal”.
15. Music school
Banned: Music classes in public schools
Music is legal in Saudi Arabia and there is an active
music industry.
However, there are no formal schools to teach
music. The general attitude for many religious
people is that music is forbidden; malls and stores
do not have music playing through speakers in
order not to offend religious customers.
16. Gyms for girls
Banned: Gyms and sports for women
For a while, private gyms for women were allowed
to operate until the Religious Police decided to
close them down for good.
17. Every other god
Banned: Other religions
It is against the law for non-Muslims to worship in
public in Saudi Arabia and there are no houses of
worship to cater to non-Muslims.
The main reason, yet again, is because the two
holy mosques are located in the country and that is
would be blasphemous for churches or other places
of worship to exist there.
18. Women at work
Banned: Women working in certain jobs
Women are not allowed to do most of the jobs that men
can do in Saudi Arabia.
Industry-wise, the sole company that employs female
engineers is Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in
the world.
Other companies would not be allowed to hire women
as engineers. Most women work in either education or
the medical field.
Women have only recently been allowed to work as
store clerks or at department stores.
19. Roaming women
Banned: Women traveling without permission
Over in Saudi Arabia, women cannot travel alone
without a specific form or an electronic
authorization. This ban is only lifted when a woman
turns 45.
Women under 45 must either travel with a husband
or father or else hold a permission form signed by a
male guardian.
20. Woman behind the
wheel
Banned: Women driving
This is the most notorious ban involving Saudi
women.
Women have never been allowed to drive unless
they drive in the desert or inside private
compounds.
21. Homosexuality
Banned: Having a relationship with a person of the
same sex.
The penal code is not written formally, and penalties
are based on the opinions of judges and clerics
All sex than made within the traditional heterosexual
marriage (adultery, fornication, etc..) Is a crime, and
some of these crimes are punishable by the death
penalty.
22. Alcohol
Banned: Alcohol consumption is prohibited.
Prohibits their use, production and import.
Violating the law implies severe punishments that
include weeks or months in jail and having to get
lashes.