Saudi Arabia

After months of campaigning at the recruitment company that I work for, I was given the opportunity to be a tourist in Saudi Arabia. Well, not exactly a tourist, for tourism is still something in its infancy in this closed Kingdom, but a visitor on business. But, I believe that within any person travelling for business there is at least a grain of a tourist.

So there I was, touring a housing facility for expatriate hospital workers in the desert a few miles outside of the capital city of Riyadh. And what did I see in the distance? Camels! A fan of the strange-looking ruminants, I had been disappointed at not having seen any, despite having been in Saudi Arabia for almost two weeks. I called my colleagues over to see the pair roaming the desert scrub. They were not as impressed.

The two Saudi men who were showing us around were quite baffled by my excitement, and found it rather amusing. (No doubt they were thinking "foreigners!" or "tourists!" like we all do when we see visitors gawking over what we consider common in our own countries.) They volunteered to drive us over to get a closer look and invited me over to a family party where I could eat one – but I declined both kind offers. There's a limit to the spectacle I'll make myself. (Well, that's not entirely true – I did proceed, later that week, to haggle the wrong way in a gold souk [market]. Despite this error, I did get an incredible deal on an 18-karat, tri-color gold ring – perhaps there is a plus side to being a figure of amusement.)

Saudi Arabia is unlike anything most Westerners have experienced. We may have experienced dry desert heat, such as in the southwestern United States, and we may have experienced foreign languages, clothing, architecture, and cuisine in any number of countries, and we may even have had a chance to haggle for already inexpensive, exquisitely crafted gold – but, nonetheless, Saudi Arabia stands out.

Its large cities, like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, are a fascinating mix of ancient Arab and Muslim traditions, sights, and sounds – mosques and minarets, prayer call five times a day, men and women in traditional flowing garments, mud brick houses that look like sand castles, street-side shawarma stands (sure, give me the hot sauce!), and bunches of Bedouin tents – combined with the modern – skyscrapers, malls, satellite TV, computers, chain restaurants (e.g., McDonald's, Pizza Hut), endless cars (well, Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of oil!), and every electronic gadget you could want.

Particularly intriguing is the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, with the preserved Old City in the center and newer neighborhoods and developments radiating out from it. Its long, coastal Corniche, the boardwalk and highway along the Red Sea, provides a great view of both city and sea. For art lovers, the Corniche is home to many large sculptures. For families, it's a great place to picnic in the cooler months, and its amusement parks will keep the kids entertained. For the diver, the Red Sea is home to what many feel are the best coral reefs in the world.

Jeddah, with its international airport, is also the main port of entry for Muslims travelling to nearby Mecca (about 50 miles/80 kilometers from Jeddah) and to Medina (about 250 miles/402 kilometers from Mecca) to perform their Haj or Umrah pilgrimages. (Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Mecca and Medina.) The devotion of these pilgrims – who sometimes fly halfway around the world – is inspiring.

And, in part, that is the fascinating thing about Saudi Arabia. It is an exotic blend of modernity and tradition – a place that in many ways that has embraced the modern world, while, in others, it is thoroughly devoted to maintaining tradition. It truly is a Magic Kingdom.

See our 55 Jobs in Saudi Arabia

Discuss This Article

Have something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article.

Find a Job in Saudi Arabia

Choose your career:

MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 17,179 jobs with 2,428 hospitals and other direct employers.

We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now.