Life in Saudi Arabia through the eyes of a Russian woman. Work wherever she likes. Attend outdoor sporting events

53 Saudi clerics called on Arab countries to support the "jihad" against Russia, Iran and the Syrian authorities.

Third Saudi

The state of Saudi Arabia was born on September 23, 1932. In 1926, Abdul al-Aziz from the Saudi family united the regions of Nejd and Hejaz and founded the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz, in 1932, after the conquest of Asir and the strengthening of positions in Al Hasa and Katif, the country became known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Modern Saudi Arabia is also sometimes called the Third Saudi State, thus distinguishing it from the First and Second Saudi States, which existed from 1744 to 1813 and from 1824 to 1891, respectively.

Oil map

Saudi Arabia is a real oil barrel. The export of this raw material accounts for 90% of the country's export revenues, 75% of budget revenues and 45% of the state's GDP. Oil has become for Saudi Arabia not only the main product that boosts the country's economy, but also a serious geopolitical trump card.

Colossal oil reserves were discovered here in 1938, but due to the Second World War, large-scale development had to be postponed. The United States had its share in the Arab raw materials business since 1933; the Standard Oil Company of California operated in Saudi Arabia.

Without waiting for the end of the war, US President Franklin Roosevelt in February 1945, after the end of the Yalta Conference, met with Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud. The talks took place aboard the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal. Then the so-called "Quincy Pact" was signed, according to which the monopoly on the exploration and development of oil was transferred to the United States. Roosevelt, in turn, promised the Saudis protection from external threats.

Oil made Saudi Arabia the richest state in its region, Abdul-Aziz by 1952 had a personal fortune of about $ 200 million. The United States, in turn, received a good leverage on the oil market.

Rights of women and men

When it comes to Saudi Arabia, they always remember the harsh Sharia law. Women there are severely limited in their rights. So, in Saudi Arabia, a woman is not recommended to appear outside the house without the accompaniment of a mahram man (relative, husband), she is forbidden to communicate with other men if they are not mahram. In 2009, the brothers publicly shot two of their sisters for communicating with other men, and in 2007, the father personally executed his daughter for communicating on Facebook with a stranger.

Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear black abayas everywhere, and in 2011, the religious police also began to require women to close their eyes in public, as they might be too sexy. Men in Saudi Arabia must defend the honor of the family and the honor of their women. There is such a concept "namus" or "sharaf", which translates as honor. Observing namus, a man can himself determine the punishment for a woman who has violated the ird - the rules of female piety.

To be fair, it must be said that segregation in Saudi Arabia extends to both women and men. Single men are restricted in their rights here no less than women. All public areas are divided into two parts - for families (read "for women") and for men. In most places, entry for single men is, in principle, forbidden, therefore, socially, they are oppressed in their rights no less than women. Women in Saudi Arabia are fighting for their rights and have already achieved success in this matter, they can even hold political positions.

Executions

The legal system of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia law, the death penalty in the country is provided for premeditated murder, armed robbery, homosexuality, extramarital (premarital) relationships, religious apostasy, sexual assault, the creation of opposition groups to the government.

Compliance with the norms of Sharia law is controlled by the religious police - the Mutawwa, also called the Sharia guard. She reports to the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Refraining from Vice.

For various crimes, Sharia norms establish various punishments - from blows and stoning to cutting off the head.

The right to execute executions in Saudi Arabia is considered honorable; there are still several dynasties of executioners in the country, this skill is inherited. In 2013, Saudi Arabia faced a shortage of personnel, the number of sword-bearers is now decreasing, so the forms of execution have also changed.

Mecca and Medina

Saudi Arabia is one of the most closed countries in the world. Staying in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina for non-Muslims is strictly prohibited by law. You can get to these cities only in groups of pilgrims performing the Hajj. In history, however, there have been cases of violation of these prohibitions.

The first known non-Muslim to visit Mecca was the Italian traveler from Bologna, Ludovico de Vertema, who visited here in 1503. Another non-Muslim who visited Mecca was Sir Richard Francis Burton. In the middle of the 19th century, he performed the Hajj from Afghanistan under an assumed name.

Few facts

There are no rivers in Saudi Arabia. Water is more expensive here than gasoline. Magic is officially banned in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia there are nesting dolls for sale, but they are made in accordance with the norms - women in abayas, men in tobi and guthrie. Saudi Arabia has adopted the Islamic calendar, now it is 1436 Hijri. Favorite sport is football, the national team of the country was three times the champion of Asia. It is not so easy to obtain a visa, especially if the passport contains a note about visiting Israel.

Simple female happiness

The world's largest women's prison. This is how journalists dubbed Saudi Arabia. "Women in my country are ignored by fathers, bullied by brothers and insulted by their husbands," writes Jean Sasson in his documentary book "The Princess. A True Story of Life Under the Veil in Saudi Arabia".

“Men believe that they are supreme beings and behave accordingly,” the writer explains. “The authority of a Saudi man is limitless. He punishes and has mercy, and his wife and children will live if he so desires.

At home, he represents the highest authority. From childhood, boys are taught the idea that a woman has no value and serves only for convenience and pleasure. The child sees the neglect with which the father treats his mother and sisters, and begins, in turn, to treat all members of the opposite sex with contempt, which further makes it impossible to have friendly relations with women.

Accustomed from childhood to the role of master, the boy, when the time of maturity comes for him, considers his girlfriend to be nothing more than a part of his property. "

In Arabic, hormah for woman is etymologically derived from haram, which translates as "sin." The bestseller about "living under the veil" is often accused by critics of exaggeration and excessive emotionality, but the story must be given its due. Evidence of this is found in other publications.

In the book In the Dark Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia, Carmen bin Laden, the wife of Osama bin Laden's sibling, describes the following incident: “One afternoon I was at the market. Due to the heat, a pregnant woman fainted and fell. to her aid, but the religious police were right there.

They attacked him because he tried to touch his wife in the presence of strangers. "The so-called textbooks on" Islamic etiquette "are shocking at all. A favorite theme of their authors is the technique of beating wives.

Mohammed Kamal in his book "Woman in Islam" teaches that the spouse should be hit with a not too thick rod, since the blows should bring her, first of all, not physical, but spiritual suffering. He recommends hitting sensitive parts of the body: face, chest, head.

The expert on family relations, Gazi al-Shimiri, in his work disputes the opinion of a colleague: he believes that hitting a woman in the face is not worth it in any case. His trademark advice - the husband should certainly warn his wife about how many blows he intends to inflict on her.

The author of the opus "On the Submission of Women in Islam" Hassan Asha lists cases in which a husband should dismiss his hands. For example, when a woman refuses to preen before meeting her legal spouse, does not want to satisfy his sexual needs, neglects her religious duties, or leaves home without permission.

Women's rights in Saudi society are based on patriarchal Sharia law, the Koran, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and tribal laws. Pundits and prominent politicians often refer to the life of the Prophet Muhammad to prove that Islam encourages strong women.

As you know, the first wife of the Prophet Khadija was an entrepreneur and at one time took the initiative in proposing a hand and heart. Another wife - Aisha - led the army in one of the battles. Popular and quoting the words of the prophet: "You have rights over your women, and your women have rights over you."

All Saudi women are required to wear the hijab as a primary sign of gender segregation. In order for a man (not a husband or a relative) to be seduced by a woman, in a public place she must cover all parts of the body, except for the oval of the face, hands and feet. In some provinces, women are required to cover their faces, except for their eyes, and leave only their hands open.

Two years ago, Saudi Mullah Sheikh Abdullah Daoud called on girls to hide their faces under a veil from birth in order to protect them from sexual harassment. However, other clerics and officials urged the Saudis not to take his recommendation to attention, as in their opinion "it is unfair to force children to wear a burqa."

In the West, the Saudi dress code is usually interpreted as the main symbol of oppression of women. However, local women advocating for their rights are the last to consider abandoning abaya.

Saudi Arabian women are required to live and move outside the home with a mahram man - a relative or husband. The male guardian plays an important role in all aspects of a woman's life. Without a mahram agreement, a woman cannot get married, get an education, get a job, travel within the country, go abroad, open a bank account and even have a planned operation.

Formally, these rules were canceled in 2008, but in fact, the practice of having a mahram continues to be ubiquitous.

Moreover, among local women, there are often supporters of male guardianship. An employee of the Ministry of Education, Noura Aburakhman, said in an interview: "As a Saudi woman, I require a guardian with me."

Several years ago, another proponent of this phenomenon created a petition "My Guardian Knows What's Best for Me", which managed to collect more than five thousand signatures. However, there are many who are critical of male guardians, arguing that this degrades the dignity of a woman, equating her with a child or a subordinate.

Be that as it may, the guardianship of the mahram allows the women of the Kingdom to avoid any contact with unfamiliar men and to maintain their "feminine purity." Violation of the principles of gender segregation is called "halva", which can amount to a crime, especially on the part of a woman. In 2008, 75-year-old Kamisa Mohammad Sawadi was sentenced to forty lashes and four months in prison for delivering bread to her house by a stranger. In no other country in the world is there such a division between men and women as in Saudi Arabia.

Women do not have the right to use public transport, elevators shared with men, restaurants, where separate entrances and exits are specially equipped, as well as separate halls for married couples and for men.

Most of the houses are also divided into two halves. Traditionally, building designs have high walls and small windows covered with curtains in women's quarters to allow them to isolate themselves from the outside world. Sometimes segregation leads to pointless tragedy.

In March 2002, in one of the women's schools, several dozen female students were burned to death only because the male firefighters refused to enter the women's quarters and take the schoolgirls out of the burning building. Religious police officers who arrived at the scene of the fire prevented the girls from being evacuated from the burning building on the pretext that they were "inappropriately dressed."

From early childhood, girls are taught that they were born solely to maintain the family hearth, to give birth and raise children. A woman can work only with the permission of a mahram, and even then on condition that she does not neglect her family responsibilities.

According to Saudi law, a woman is allowed to work only in strictly designated areas where a woman client could avoid unwanted contact with a man. The main areas of work for Saudis are education and medicine, less often you can find women working in the field of finance.

Since 2013, women have been officially allowed to work as lawyers. Conservative Saudi citizens, labor ministry officials and religious leaders all unanimously say that being able to work for women of the weaker and highly oppressed sex is contrary to her nature: "The best place for a woman is her home."

Women in Saudi Arabia make up only 17% of the workforce. For comparison: in the UAE, their share is more than 40%. Every second working Saudi woman has a university degree. It should be noted, however, that the quality of education for women is significantly lower than for men.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that completely suppresses any manifestation of women's sports. Until 2008, the country did not represent women at the Olympic Games, despite the fact that women's teams exist in the kingdom. Only in June 2012 were Saudi athletes admitted to the Olympic Games in England. Just a year ago, the government first authorized sports lessons for girls in private schools.

Since 2013, women in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to ride bicycles and motorcycles, which were previously strictly prohibited. Needless to say, cyclists must be fully wrapped in abaya and accompanied by a guardian.

However, this rule does not apply to travel by car. According to local regulations, women are not allowed to drive, although this prohibition is widely violated in rural areas. Due to the fact that women are not allowed to leave the territory of the house unaccompanied by a husband or male relative, the movement of Saudis around the country is very limited.

There is no specific law prohibiting women from driving, but they are not issued state licenses to drive a car. As usual, Saudi scholars and religious leaders consider it a sin for a woman to drive a car, although nothing is written about it in the Qur'an.

Professor Kamal Subhi argues that once women get their driver's license, Saudi Arabia is on the verge of moral decay. According to him, "this rash step will open the door for Satan, will promote the development of homosexuality, pornography, prostitution and divorce, and within ten years all Saudi virgins will die out." Since the woman herself does not have the right to drive, many are forced to hire a foreign driver to transport women, which is very costly for their husbands.

Sometimes it comes to the point of absurdity. In 2010, an adviser to the royal court and the Department of Justice issued a fatwa requiring a woman to breastfeed a driver who works for her in order to intermarry with him. In this case, a male relative will be able to communicate with a woman without violating the laws and serve as a cab for her.

Perhaps the worst thing about Saudi women is that the law does not protect them from domestic violence and gender discrimination. A woman's statements about beating by her husband are not considered to be evidence of his guilt. A Saudi woman who reports rape or sexual harassment will not only receive no support from the authorities, but she herself will be accused of provoking the incident, inappropriate behavior or secret sexual intercourse.

In 2009, a 23-year-old unmarried woman was sentenced to one year in prison and 100 lashes for "adultery" after being raped and attempting an unsuccessful abortion. The spanking was postponed until after delivery. Lawlessness applies to girls altogether. The world community was shocked by the story of a Saudi preacher who raped and brutally murdered his five-year-old daughter. For the murder of the girl al-Ghamdi, the death penalty was threatened.

However, after he agreed to pay just over 182 thousand Saudi riyals (about $ 48 thousand) to the mother of the murdered woman, the court released him. It is also striking that, according to Islamic law, compensation for the death of a female child is half as much as if a boy were killed.

The plight of women in Saudi Arabia is the subject of endless controversy. Despite the fact that public relations between women and men in the state are extremely limited, and the fairer sex has fewer rights than responsibilities, many of them are quite satisfied with this state of affairs.

Not all Saudi women consider themselves to be slaves. Outfits from the best fashion designers and expensive jewelry are often hidden under their black abayas. Their husbands maintain a whole staff of maids to make life easier for their wife. A correctly drafted marriage contract will allow you not to live in poverty after a divorce, which can take place in the event of mistreatment by your husband. The ban on education has long since been lifted.

Since 2011, Saudi women have been granted the right to vote. Moreover, in 2013, an active campaign began to end violence against women. For the first time, the Council of Ministers passed a law prohibiting domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women. And bypassing gender segregation, alternative forms of communication through technology and communication began to gain particular popularity. It is now fashionable among the inhabitants of the kingdom to meet and communicate via bluetooth.

Saudi women are active on social media and have penpals on Facebook, despite some conservative clerics claiming Facebook promotes gender mixing and is a "door to lust." “Let the women in my country hide their faces under the veil, let them be under the complete control of the patriarchal society in which we live, but I believe: this cannot last forever,” wrote one of the women hopefully.

There are many rumors and tales about how women live in Saudi Arabia, which, at first glance, arouse interest, but do not raise doubts, since this country is unknown to a common man in the street, and he takes on faith everything that somewhere once was heard.

It is usually argued that it is very difficult for women to live there: no rights, no freedom of speech, no opportunity to somehow express themselves. However, if you travel around Europe or other countries of the world and about Russia, you can hear a huge number of fables that have no basis whatsoever. The only really correct way to find out the truth is to travel to Saudi Arabia.

In fact, the position of a woman in the ordinary and Muslim world is the concept of different poles. And a girl who came, for example, from Europe, will immediately feel the restrictions and prohibitions. Thus, women are prohibited from being on the street without a man, and he must be a spouse or close relative who has reached the age of majority. Arabian women cannot drive. In addition, they cannot walk in anything other than a long black robe that covers the body from head to toe, a kind of coat-dress called abaya, and if a woman does commit an unlawful act, her husband is responsible for her. All this information is easy to find on the Internet, but it is much more interesting to make sure "live" in the veracity of the assumptions.

The most difficult thing, however, upon arriving in the country (which is not so easy, especially for women who find it extremely difficult to obtain a visa), is to ask a real Arab woman about the conditions, since the snag is that women are prohibited from being in the presence of men who are not relatives. In addition, the fair sex from Saudi Arabia cannot visit absolutely all public places. The only way is to get an invitation to visit from the locals.

Accommodation in Saudi Arabia

By the way, remarkable features can be found not only in the way of life, but also in the dwellings themselves. As a rule, this is a cluster of one-story buildings with its own rather large courtyard and garden. Indoors, there are usually very low sofas, on which Saudis like to sit much more than on the usual high (for them uncomfortable) European chairs. The earnings of men, as it is right, are quite large, therefore it is not uncommon to find huge plasma screens and rather expensive furniture and equipment in houses.

Women and outfits

When guests come to her husband, the wife usually does not go out to them, and if something is necessary she calls the internal phone. However, they are allowed to see women who come to visit. By the way, they walk around the house in ordinary and familiar European clothes. The difference between street and home outfits is explained by the fact that traditionally women are used to keeping their beauty out of prying eyes, showing it only to their relatives. For them, this is a kind of comfort zone, and women do not suffer from this at all. The custom has been around for many years, and women simply take it not just for granted, but as correct and the only true.

Even if a family friend is a man, a woman can go out to him only in black clothes, while with women it is easier - they can see them in ordinary clothes. By the way, Arab girls prepare amazingly delicious national coffee with a nutty flavor, reminiscent of weakly brewed tea in color. The wife's ability to properly brew such coffee is a reason for her husband's true pride.

In addition to the modern clothes they wear in the house, women speak not only Arabic. Almost every girl here can boast of a decent knowledge of English, and some speak other languages. By the way, all abayas are the same and monotonous only at first glance, in fact, they come from different fabrics, they can be decorated with sparkles or rhinestones, and putting on such an outfit correctly is not so easy, there is a certain sequence. And also Abai differ in style, the fashion for which changes every season, as for the most ordinary outfits. Saudi Arabian women are no different from European or American women in following trends.

One cannot fail to note the practicality of such black clothes in everyday life. An Arab woman does not have to dress or paint to go out, say, to a store or somewhere on an urgent matter. It is enough just to throw abaya on casual clothes (even on pajamas or a dressing gown) and the woman immediately looks decent and dignified. She also does not need to paint. All this saves a lot of time, which can be used for more useful or interesting things.

Under black attire, which seems to be a constant, monotonous thing for those who are not familiar with Arab culture, women from Saudi Arabia wear ordinary clothes, no less fashionable than non-Muslim women are used to wearing. But only relatives and friends see her. By the way, Arab women attend parties, where they come in fashionable dresses and sets. They wear shorts, miniskirts and tops. Of course, with a black suit on top, which can be taken off while visiting a friend. Naturally, there are no men at these parties.

Arab girls

You should also not believe the information from the Internet, which says that Arab women are stupid and obsessed with household chores, and apart from this they know nothing and do not see anything. On the contrary, they are quite well educated and modern. However, the fact that with a stranger, especially if it is a man, they are unlikely to be frank, and indeed to talk for a long time, makes them consider Arab women downtrodden and modest.

By the way, they have their own half in the house, where there is usually modern household appliances and in almost every home there is an Internet connection, so you should not assume that Arab women live in an information vacuum. They watch movies online, sit on social networks and use Skype.

Rights and opportunities for girls in Saudi Arabia

Women are not slaves in Saudi Arabia. The fact that they wear a black abaya, often, by the way, decorated not only with rhinestones, sparkles, but embroidery and even precious stones, does not at all mean that there is a weak-willed creature under it. The rights of women are protected by the marriage contract, in violation of which a man bears responsibility and punishments for offenses against women are often much stricter than in other states. Moreover, they can concern not only such egregious facts as assault, for example, but also ill-treatment (rudeness is also considered) or even not providing decent living conditions. In addition, Arab women have the opportunity to work. With some limitations, but nonetheless. They also receive a good education.

Training is worth mentioning separately. Saudi Arabia has special universities for both men and women (of course, separate). Moreover, they teach not only the fair sex, but also men, but without direct contact. The teacher is in one room, the students in another, and the teaching is conducted using a huge plasma screen. If one of the students has a question, then she can call the lecturer on a special internal phone. The women themselves believe that their education is good enough. True, in communication, some gaps in geographic education are revealed, which, however, can be attributed to the fact that confusing the names of places where you have never been is not so scary. Do not just think that they never leave their country or city. It happens that women travel with their husbands, but this is not as popular, for example, as in Europe.

Women from Saudi Arabia know very little about the life of other peoples and are very interested in when they manage to meet a woman of a different nationality (since it is forbidden to communicate with strangers), they ask about traditions, national dress, and food. In general, they are curious about Europeans, all the information that interests them themselves Europeans. They learn strange for them habits of other women and men from someone else's words, or by reading articles on the Internet.

Arab women often study not to work, they are interested in knowledge in itself, and work only from the point of view of hobby or desire to be useful - a man traditionally earns money. If he is parasitic, this is not just a shame, but in a sense, an offense. Although traditions do not allow Arabs not to provide for their wives and sit around.

There are special institutions in the country, for example, banks, where both visitors and staff are women. True, one has to work not without restrictions, however, in general, it is allowed to do this, contrary to the convictions of visitors. The most significant nuance is that in order to start work or study, a woman must obtain permission from the head of the family (spouse, father, brother).

Marriage in Saudi Arabia

Many also believe that marriage in Saudi Arabia is a must for those who have just emerged from childhood or adolescence. In fact, the age for marriage there, as elsewhere in the world, follows an upward trend. Often Arab women get married after graduating from university. A marriage at 25 or 27 years old is not considered something out of the ordinary, although representatives of the older generation are not entirely happy and agree with this state of affairs.

By the way, about the tradition of marrying a girl off to a "pig in a poke", that is, a man to whom she has not only no feelings, but whom she has never seen at all. In fact, things are a little different. Indeed, the spouse is chosen by the parents. The parents of the bride and groom also agree on the conditions of the wedding. But the future husband and wife meet for the first time about a month before the proposed wedding, where they have the opportunity to get to know each other. If they don't like each other or can't find a common language, the family most likely won't insist on getting married.

Auto

As for the ban on driving a car, then, of course, you cannot argue with it, however, in Arab families there is usually a driver who is ready to take a woman wherever she needs at any time, and she also does not have to do homework on her own, since most often there are special assistants housework.

Conclusion

Arab women are not envious of European women. On the contrary, they are terrified that they are forced to constantly be in sight of other people, unable to hide their face and body. However, it could not be otherwise, because both of them were brought up in completely different cultural conditions. Cases when a wife provides for a husband sitting at home, for an Arab woman in general, seem wild and unnatural. They take pride in the fact that they can not work without desire, and at the same time, they constantly feel surrounded by care. Women from Saudi Arabia, as a rule, do not feel dissatisfaction with their lives.

We ended up in Saudi Arabia almost by accident. My husband worked for an international company, and at a banquet after one conference, one of the regional leaders approached him and asked if my husband wanted to work in another country. For example, in Saudi Arabia. My husband was in a good mood, and he said that visiting Saudi Arabia was his old dream.

The next morning, this idea no longer seemed so tempting, but it was too late to refuse.

Before the trip, I began to surf the Internet in search of information about this country. Five years ago, it was almost impossible to find anything other than "horror stories". And not only on the Internet: having already arrived in the country, I met a friend from Scotland - at that time he had already been in Riyadh for eight years and in my eyes was a mega-specialist on life in Saudi Arabia. He began to tell me how dangerous it is here, that without my husband I shouldn't go anywhere at all. I believed him, but I soon realized that all these horrors exist only in the imagination of our friend. Everything turned out to be much simpler. Yes, of course, there are some specifics, but nothing terrible or particularly difficult was waiting for us.

This perception of Saudi Arabia is common to many foreigners.

They come here in anticipation of horrors, then live in gated communities and travel along the "home-work" route.

As a result, they do not even have the opportunity to find out whether everything that they read is true or not: they do not go anywhere, they do not see the country and do not communicate with the locals.

The only thing that turned out to be really unexpected for me was that people won't talk to me everywhere. I was used to solving all my problems myself, but here I had to constantly involve my husband and ask him for help in the simplest everyday matters.

It was funny that the shop assistants did not answer my question if my husband was around. They will only talk to him, even if I asked the question. This is due to the fact that it is not customary for them to talk to a stranger and look at her. If I come alone, they talk to me without looking into my eyes. Staring at a woman is extremely disrespectful. This is about the same as if on a Moscow street they grab you by the ass, and even happily inform everyone about it.

If an accident happens, but the cars get minor damage, then the drivers may not even stop, let alone call the police.

The only entertainment here is shopping and restaurants. There are a lot of shops, and they are all just huge. The selection of goods is gigantic. Discounts several times a year, and quite large ones. A huge number of goods can be bought 70-90% cheaper. Although, of course, there are some peculiarities. Many stores bring in old collections that no one else buys in Europe.

There are also a lot of restaurants for all tastes. But almost all of them, even the most expensive ones, do not reach the luxurious European ones. It is very common for locals to order food at home. Every restaurant or even the smallest eatery offers delivery services.

The restaurants have separate areas for families and women and for single men.

Russians are treated quite normally. To be honest, in all the years we have lived in various countries, we have not encountered open hostility. Only once, at some barbecue in Riyadh, the Syrians approached my husband and began to explain that he was to blame for the deaths of their compatriots.

We were lucky to have the people we met here. For example, one of my husband's colleagues turned out to be an absolutely wonderful person. He immersed us in Saudi reality with great pleasure, helped us to adapt, showed us interesting places, and introduced us to the local culture. Among our acquaintances there were people from various countries, and this made it possible to constantly learn something new. I didn’t regret at all that once we decided to go to Saudi Arabia. Yes, we will not stay here for many years, despite all the financial benefits, but we will take away only pleasant memories from here.

Ksenia Ivanova

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From choosing a husband to traveling by public transport, almost everything is banned for women in this country. According to the World Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia ranks 129th out of 134 countries for gender equality. How does the beautiful half of humanity actually live in the country of the Arab world, where women's rights are particularly severely restricted? Which of the stereotypes we are used to is a myth, and which is true?

site will talk about the most unexpected prohibitions that local residents face every day. Read on to find out how those who refuse to live by strict rules and risk breaking them are punished.

1. Not a step without a mahram

Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to travel on their own without a legal spouse or male relative. Such an accompanying person is called mahram... Without his permission, the girl cannot go abroad, get a job, get married, go to university and even have an operation.

If you go to court or the police, a male guardian is needed to confirm your identity, since a woman cannot take off her hijab. In such conditions, it is impossible to complain about the mahram, even if he exceeds his authority. However, local girls not only do not rebel, but also actively defend their right to be under the care of a man.

2. The right to rights?

But this point will soon become a myth. In recent years, a number of laws have been adopted in the Gulf countries to liberalize women's rights. In September 2017, the King of Saudi Arabia issued a decree allowing residents of the country to drive a car. The permit will come into effect in June 2018. However, in order to get behind the wheel, motorists will need to obtain permission from a guardian. In the meantime, driving a car, alas, is illegal.

3. Public transport is prohibited

It would seem that you cannot use a car, go by public transport. But even here everything is not so simple. You can move on the train, but only in a separate carriage located at the end of the train. And most bus companies refuse service to women altogether.

In this regard, residents of Saudi Arabia have to move on foot, by taxi or with a personal driver.

4. Quite a rather big black dress

On the street, Saudi Arabians completely cover their bodies, leaving only the oval of the face, hands and feet open. Black abaya (long dress with sleeves) and hijab (headdress) are all the variety that a woman can afford. Clothing should be of dense fabric, loose, opaque and not emphasize the curves. The rules can be more or less strict depending on the region. For example, the port city of Jeddah is more liberal, while the Saudi dynasty's Najd district is very strict and conservative. In some areas, the niqab is still required - a veiled headdress that leaves only the eyes open.

Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, said that women have the right to refuse such a strict dress code. Whether they will heed such a recommendation is a big question. Public opinion and tribal laws are very important in the country. Thus, a rape victim can be found guilty if her clothes were not modest enough.

5. Higher education is possible. Do you need?

You can study for girls, but there are also enough restrictions. Ironically, the percentage of women in Saudi Arabia with a college degree is higher than among the male population. At the same time, the quality of teaching in women's universities leaves much to be desired.

If the girl's guardian gives permission, she can get an education outside the country, but with the award of a scholarship it will be more difficult: preference is given to men. Most women have a teaching or science education. But after training they don't work.

6. Work is not a wolf?

Despite numerous reforms and lifting of bans, the share of women in the labor market is only 17%. This means that the lot of the majority of Saudi Arabians remain home and children.

Sharia does not prohibit women from working as long as they do not neglect family responsibilities. The permission of a male guardian is required to get a job. The choice of professions for women here is small: they can be doctors, nurses, educators - in order to avoid communication with unfamiliar men. Women politicians and lawyers are rare exceptions. It is much more difficult for Saudis to pursue careers than for men: they receive lower wages and are deprived of privileges like health insurance. To hire a woman, the employer will have to spend money on the arrangement of separate offices, toilets, recreation areas and even entrances.

7. Married for love?

Family relations in Saudi Arabia are one of the hottest topics for discussion and international debate. The fact is that girls here get married very early - often even before puberty. In this regard, they have to drop out of training. In addition, early pregnancies and childbirth undermine health and can even lead to death. The rights to a child over 7 years old belong exclusively to the father.

There is no minimum age for marriage. Formally, forced marriages are prohibited, but a contract between the groom and the girl's father is mandatory.

8. "Sit down, I'll open it myself"

It is also impossible to receive guests. More precisely, you can communicate with friends, but strictly in "your" half of the house, called harim. Here, the dress code can be disregarded. Guests are received in the male half, where ladies are, of course, strictly prohibited. If the wife needs to tell her husband something, she can contact him on the internal phone.

Most homes in Saudi Arabia have two separate entrances for men and women.

9. Boys - to the right, girls - to the left

Sex segregation is one of the fundamental principles of life for women in Saudi Arabia, helping to avoid contact with strangers. It involves the division of society into women's and men's zones - not only at home, but also in public places: on beaches, in transport, in restaurants. This rule is especially strictly observed in catering establishments: there are spaces for family people, for bachelors and for unmarried girls.

Large Western companies such as Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Starbucks, not wanting to lose customers, also refuse common halls, for which they become objects of criticism of liberal-minded citizens. There are also places in the country where gender segregation is not strictly enforced: hospitals, banks and medical facilities.

Is one of the most religious countries in the Middle East. Tourists traveling to this state should remember that those existing there are different from European ones. Therefore, while respecting the laws of Muslim society, visitors must adhere to certain rules. This is especially true for clothing. So let's find out how tourists should dress in Saudi Arabia.

Since the climate in Saudi Arabia is very hot, it is better to wear light summer clothes on the territory. Do not forget about a hat, which is simply necessary in order to protect yourself from the scorching sun rays.

If you want to go outside the hotel and go to the city, you will have to follow the harsh local traditions. As a rule, tourists in Saudi Arabia should dress very modestly. Otherwise, the religious police (mutawwa) will pay attention to you, and this is fraught with trouble up to deportation from the country. In addition, very often tourists in inappropriate clothes face the aggression of local residents. In public places, men should be dressed in trousers and a shirt even on the hottest days, and when visiting, their heads should be covered with a special headdress - "arafatka".

Ladies who come to or on business in this Muslim country must strictly observe its laws in terms of dress. Women are prohibited from wearing too revealing clothes, short skirts and shorts. Clothing that bares hands above the elbow is unacceptable (in fact, this applies not only to women, but also to men).

The presence of piercings and tattoos on the body is not encouraged. There are cases when tourists were not allowed to enter Arabia due to punctures on the face.

In public places, a girl over 12 years old, regardless of her religion, can appear exclusively in abaya - a loose cape dress that is worn over clothes and completely covers her legs and arms. There are no such strict restrictions for tourists, however, if a woman wants to enter the mosque, then her hair must be covered with a scarf. This will help you maintain the rules of decency and modesty, as well as ensure your personal safety.

It should be remembered that women are allowed into Saudi Arabia only when accompanied by a male relative or if the traveler is met by the sponsor of her trip.