1. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Birthplace of Islam

3. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-92) The al-Saud family
Saudi Arabia was created through the alliance of a line of traditional rulers with the men of religion (ulama)
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab ( )
The al-Saud family

4. Abd al-Wahhab’s teachings are called Wahabbism today and seek to purify Islam from any non-Islamic ideas

5. Central Arabia was never conquered or colonized by any Western power
Arabia was unified by successive waves of Wahabbi jihadists
Saudi Arabia became a state in 1933 when King Abdul-Aziz al-Saud declared it an independent state

6. Saudi life is a complex series of negotiation and compromise between:
Regionalism/tribalism/clan identification
Bedouin/ settled peoples
Wahabbi conservatism/ modernization and national development
Saudis and Foreign workers
Mutawwa and salah times
Modern law and tribal tradition of the majlis and shura

7. Separation of home into men’s majlis and family section
Extreme gender separation is the most commonly noted mark of Saudi life
Veiling
Arranged marriages
Separation of home into men’s majlis and family section
Maharam institution
Limited polygamy
Emergence of small women’s sector of the economy

8. Today, Saudi Arabia remains one of the most conservative areas of the Islamic world, with extreme gender separation and a functioning code of shari’a law (religious law) that operates side by side with a secular legal code for transnational commercial law.

9. Women walking

10. Crossing the street

11. Veil 1 KSA

13. You Deserve a Break Today

14. Picnic Scene

15. Under the Veil (a little)

16. Hijab Styles

17. Family Outing

18. Women’s Bank

19. Gutra, Higal, Thobe, Bisht

20. Qa’ba and Grand Mosque Mecca

21. Saudi Cities Jeddah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcdYyMmsjY8
Riyadh
“The Magic Kingdom”

22. Gold Sukh

23. Al-Khobar Towers

24. Abha

25. Asir

26. Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter)