Information on Saudi Arabia
A land of contrast and opportunity
Saudi remains the world's last great forbidden Kingdoms and has
for centuries been closed to outsiders with very limited tourism.
Health professionals have been travelling there for many years
however to work and experience the uniqueness that is Saudi - and
perhaps the time is right for you to experience it for
yourself.
What will you find when you get there? For many it will be an
intense learning experience on many fronts: you will be working
with colleagues from all over the world. The diseases and
conditions you come across may be different, your patients are from
quite a different culture and may not speak your language, all of
these add to your experience.
You will have more free time on your hands giving you the
opportunity to pick up some extra gym time, learn a new sport or
hobby, catch up with new friends or do some extramural study -
really the choice is yours.
To really get the most out of your time in Saudi you will need
to be open to new ideas, to new people and to different ways of
doing things. If you are confident, optimistic and keen to see and
experience different things then Saudi will work well for you.
Brief History
The land itself is steeped in history and has been inhabited
since prehistoric times. In the second millennium BC trading links
with the Egyptians and Babylonians were established for trading in
spices and incense, before Roman times the peninsular was the major
cross roads of caravan routes between Yemen and Rome, Egypt and
Petra, Sinai and Persia.
Saudi has a rich archaeological and architectural heritage
dating back tens of thousands of years and many are protected now.
Mada'in Saleh is often deemed the most significant and the
spectacular rock carved dwellings and tombs, dating from the
1st century AD, are truly awe inspiring and well worth a
visit when you are there.
Religion
The official and only religion in Saudi is Islam and this forms
the basis of the legal system also.
The holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are off limits to non
Muslim visitors, but for those of the Muslim faith the pilgrimage
to Makkah is the pinnacle, and all try and do it at least once in
their life time.
The majority of Saudis is Sunni Muslims, and follows the tenets
of Wahhabism. Wahhabism was founded during the 18th
century and is based on the literal translation of the Koran. The
religious leaders have strict rules that manage everyday living in
Saudi. This includes a prohibition on the sale and consumption of
alcohol, a ban on women driving and segregation of the sexes when
in a public area. The religious police "mutawa" enforce these
rules and are often to be seen where ever the public congregate
ensuring that the rules are enforced. Sunnis make up
approximately 80% of the Islamic world and are the majority in
Saudi Arabia however there are also Shi'ites in the eastern
provinces.
Both of these groups have much in common however and both sects
believe implicitly in the Five Pillars of Islam. This
includes:
- Prayer (salah) is conducted five times daily(at dawn, midday,
mid afternoon, sunset and nightfall) It can last up to half an hour
and all shops and restaurants must close. The distinctive call to
prayer is a memorable experience.
- The profession of faith (shahada). In English this translates
as "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is the Prophet of
Allah"
- Fasting (syam) which is performed by healthy adults from dawn
to dusk, during the holy month of Ramadan.
- Almsgiving (Zakat)
- Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
The Prophet Mohammed
The Prophet Mohammed was born in the year 571 CE, and he
experienced his first revelation and so began his role as a prophet
in 610 CE. In 622 CE he had to flee from Mecca to Medina, and it is
from this year that the Islamic Hejira calendar is calculated. The
prophet Mohammed died in 630 CE.
The Hejira Calendar
Saudi Arabia follows the
Islamic, or Hejira calendar, which is a lunar calendar, whereas
the standard calendar used in the West (the Gregorian calendar), is
based on one solar year. The Islamic calendar has 12 months, which
are 29 or 30 days long, so the Islamic calendar year is 11 days
shorter than the Gregorian calendar year which is 365 days (or 366
each leap year). The weekend is Thursday and Friday, with Friday
being the holy day.
Women
The place of women in the Saudi world is one of the concepts
that is most difficult for Westerners to understand. Appreciating
the religious context is important to understand women's position
in Saudi society.
While a Westerner sees that women not able to drive herself or
socialise with men outside of their own family, most Saudi women
take comfort in their role and in the respect they enjoy from their
families - and, increasingly, in the workplace and educational
institutions.
With the introduction of universal education, Saudi women now
have equal access to education. Recognizing their ability to
contribute to the economy and to their own households, women are
now taking a more active role in the workplace as healthcare
providers, academics and teachers, bankers (in women's banks),
journalists, and entrepreneurs in businesses focussed on the female
market. According to Saudi Arabia's employment profile by the Saudi
American Bank (October 2002), between 4-5% of the Saudi workforce
is now made up of Saudi women. Things are changing.
Education
Education has become an important factor in supporting the local
Saudi population into the workforce for the jobs of the future.
Government spending in education is currently double what is spent
on healthcare and from 1984 adult literacy rates were at 33% of the
population however in 1999 it was 76% and continues to
climb.
Economy
The rocketing oil prices of the 1970's propelled Saudi onto a
path of huge economic growth and moved it to one of the wealthiest
countries in the world.
The resultant growth forced Saudi to rely on a global labour
force to fill many of the positions in oil, health and
telecommunications. By the late 1980s however Saudi moved towards a
programme of converting some foreign held jobs into locally held
ones through the process of "Saudiization".
Geography
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of approximately
865,000 sq miles or 2,150,000 sq kilometres. It is bounded on the
north by Iraq and Jordan; on the east by Kuwait, the Arabian Gulf,
Quatar and the United Arab Emirates; on the south by the Sultanate
of Oman and Yemen; and on the west by the Red Sea.
It is divided into six provinces, geographically distinct.
Riyadh is an oases located within the central province of the
Kingdom, along with Burayda and the Al Kharj. This area is the most
densely populated area of Saudi Arabia. It is ringed on three sides
by deserts. Throughout the country temperatures drop significantly
at night. Even daytime temperatures can be rather cool, depending
upon the location and the season. Travellers are, therefore advised
to take some heavy clothing with them in winter as well as the
usual light apparel.
Climate
Saudi Arabia is one of the driest countries in the world, with
rainfall averaging less than five inches per year. Marked seasons,
in the European or American sense, do not exist. Summer is hot with
temperatures in some areas reaching 49°C (120°F). Winter is cooler
with an average temperature of 23°C (74°F) in Jeddah and 14°C
(58°F) in Riyadh.
Language
Arabic is the sacred language of Islam, one of the most widely
spoken international languages in use today and one of the greatest
literary languages in history, with its immense range, power and
beauty. Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia, but
English and other languages are widely spoken and understood in the
country.
Law
As Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, all law is based on the
Holy Quran. It is called Sharia Law and governs both criminal and
civil cases. The Quran itself is considered the constitution of the
country and provides ethical values and guidance. Executive and
legislative authority is exercised by the King and the Council of
Ministers within the framework of Islamic law. The Kingdoms
ministries and all other government agencies are ultimately
responsible to the King.
Dress Codes
In August 1979, a dress code for foreigners living in Saudi
Arabia was published by the Society for the Encouragement of Virtue
and the Elimination of Vice. Briefly, this publication is designed
for the foreign residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is a
guide for proper behaviour. The Society's publication stresses
proper dress for females, although it also touches upon male attire
as well. European clothing is acceptable within the compounds,
however tight fitting clothes, dresses or tops with no sleeves are
not appropriate. Long loose fitting clothes for females are a
compulsory requirement. The majority of European women wear an
Abbaya when outside the compounds. This is a big black cloak, which
covers you from head to toe and conforms to the requirements of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Proper attire is important for men as
well. Tight trousers and shirts and any type of shorts are
discouraged.
Accommodation
Free accommodation is normally provided close to the hospitals
however each hospital is slightly different. Your Geneva Consultant
will be able to give you more specific information dependent on the
hospitals you are interested in.
As the majority of the Nursing/Midwifery/Allied Health contracts
are single status contracts, the accommodation is shared in two to
three bed roomed apartments and come fully furnished and set up
with linen, cutlery etc. Medical and Management positions offer
single or married accommodation.
Getting Around
All hospitals provide a free bus and taxi service from your
compound to your work site to cover all of your shifts. They also
organise bus excursions into the city for shopping or other
organised excursions.
It is also very easy and cheap to use the local taxi services.
Remember, however that women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to
drive a car. They are also not allowed to travel with a man who is
not their husband, father or brother unless they are in a taxi!
Electrical Items
TVs are often provided in your accommodation and cable TV is
available for a monthly charge. Cable channels include Super
Movies, Hollywood Channel, Star World, MTV, CNN, BBC World and
others.
Videos and stereo equipment are available to buy locally, and
are generally slightly cheaper than back home. The electrical
current is mainly 110V but 220V is sometimes available.