RIYADH, 7 April 2005 — Cultural communication has become a necessity of modern-day life here in the Kingdom as an economic, social and information revolution takes hold. Many Saudis remain unable to accept foreigners, particularly those of different religions and cultural backgrounds. With privacy continuing to be a major pillar of Saudi society, this represents a major obstacle to cross-cultural integration.
Meanwhile, Westerners elect to accommodate themselves far away from the Saudi general public, surrounding themselves with barriers, huge walls and barbed wire. There are several reasons for this, namely, the current political climate necessitates these precautions. However, even before the terrorist activities of recent years, Westerners chose to segregate themselves, due to the language barrier and the desire to fulfill a normal Western life here in the Kingdom.
“An educational system that has been built on ignorance of the outside world has influenced Saudis enormously, making them reluctant to accept foreigners in general, and Westerners in particular,” said Dr. Baker Ibrahim, head of the Media and Information Department at King Saud University. “If we look at schooling here in the Kingdom, we will notice that the private schools — unlike public ones — accept a range of Arab nationals, enabling Saudi students to foster new relationships, making them more likely to interact with foreigners outside school hours. However, students attending public schools might feel uneasy interacting with foreigners owing to their lack of experience.”
In the first century of the United States, for example, economic growth was based on a “melting pot,” in which newcomers first took jobs, then spouses and later citizenship. In the first century of Saudi Arabia, however, cultural, legal and religious obstacles have kept groups from “melting” into Saudi society. Exceptions often come on an individual basis.
“I have chosen colleagues according to mental compatibility regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds,” said Ziad Al-Saati, a Saudi bank clerk who says most of his friends are Westerners. “I think every culture is special, and I think one has to search it deeply.”
Perhaps he is one of the exceptions to the rule. Restaurant worker Saleh Muhammad takes an openly hostile view of foreigners. When asked whether he serves foreigners, he said: “Yes, I do, but only if they are Muslims.”
Dr. Ibrahim said young people are more likely to accept others, owing that to the information age of mass media and satellite communication. The older generation, however, is rather less interested in technological advancements, and as a result, older Saudis’ knowledge of external cultural systems is limited.
If guest workers remain aloof, it is understandable when their range of interactions with Saudis includes outright hostility, as in the case of the restaurant worker, to the kind of apathy that contradicts the concept of Saudi hospitality.
“I have been living in Riyadh for seven years now, and I have never been invited to a Saudi home,” said David Melhuish, an English guest worker. “Not only that, but one Saudi has even forbidden his son from playing with mine.”
Dr. Ibrahim believes that both the nature of a city and its population are factors in assessing the acceptance of Westerners into society. Each year during Haj huge numbers of people from various ethnic backgrounds visit the Western Province, giving the Saudi population an opportunity to interact and communicate with other nationalities. However, Riyadh remains much more closed and conservative than the other regions of Saudi Arabia. Melhuish denies that the language barrier is a factor in isolation foreigners in the mainstream of Saudi life.
“I have lived in both Russia and Japan, and I wasn’t able to speak either of their languages. But that did not prevent me from forming many relationships there,” Melhuish said.
Dr. Ibrahim said he believes the problem lies in the lack of a proper atmosphere in which both cultures might interact. Multicultural social clubs and activities would activate the cultural dialogue. “Westerners accommodate themselves in compounds, wary of being the next terrorist target, and Saudis perceive Westerners as not wanting to associate with them. In my view this is the problem.”
“Sometimes, I like to chat with Westerners in public,” said Jihan Motlaq, a Saudi woman who works as a secretary for a foreign firm in Alkhobar. “Western men are unpretentious and friendly while their female counterparts are rather snobbish.”
The differences in the perceptions of guest workers who live in Riyadh and Alkhobar are readily apparent.
“I don’t have any problems dealing with Saudis,” said Demetry Alexander, a Canadian who works in Alkhobar and lives in a residential neighborhood instead of a walled compound. “They are really nice and very friendly. They show a great deal of interest in the outside world.” It’s almost as if the two cities were two different worlds.
“What has really impressed me about this society is their hospitality. I think we Westerners could learn a great deal from that,” Alexander said. “I have never felt as a Westerner for one single moment. I’m a member of this great society.”
Alexander places 60 percent of the blame on his fellow expatriates. “How can Saudis accept people they never have the chance to meet? I have shown interest in the Arabian culture and have received a wonderful response.”
There are cultural challenges, but Alexander finds the people of Alkhobar tolerant and friendly. “As long as you correspond with their cultural rules, they respect you and welcome you with open arms,” he said.
“I could easily get along with the locals,” said Jan Versliejen of the Netherlands who was a football coach. “They accepted me for who I am, regardless of my Western identity and religion,” Versliejen said. “I have been to many Saudi homes and attended many of my players’ weddings. Saudis are so kind and generous.”
He says more could be done to dispel Western preconceptions about Saudi Arabia. “I think they should show the comedy series ‘Tash Ma Tash’ around the world, to educate people as to the true nature of Saudi and remove the existing stereotype of a nation of fat, rich men with many wives,” Versliejen said.
At the same time, however, the element of Saudi society that refuses to serve non-Muslims and wants to isolate children from the larger world must realize such arrogance and isolation could make the Kingdom a loser in an ever-more interconnected world.
Dr. Ibrahim agrees. “We should convey the true image of Saudi using our press and media to reach the rest of the world,” he said.
