In the near future I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia for work and spending a few days there. I will be in the city of Al Khobar and flying into Dammam. Does anyone have any advice to give me about anything to watch out for there? Any particular dangers to look out for other than the drivers? I won't be driving, my host will be doing the driving. I will be there to do setup on packaging machinery.
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Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
- Thread starter rgitzlaff
- Start date
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucky7mm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the near future I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia for work and spending a few days there. I will be in the city of Al Khobar and flying into Dammam. Does anyone have any advice to give me about anything to watch out for there? Any particular dangers to look out for other than the drivers? I won't be driving, my host will be doing the driving. I will be there to do setup on packaging machinery. </div></div>
Don't do drugs or grope any women and you'll have a great time.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucky7mm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the near future I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia for work and spending a few days there. I will be in the city of Al Khobar and flying into Dammam. Does anyone have any advice to give me about anything to watch out for there? Any particular dangers to look out for other than the drivers? I won't be driving, my host will be doing the driving. I will be there to do setup on packaging machinery. </div></div>
Don't do drugs or grope any women and you'll have a great time.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucky7mm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia for work...</div></div>One of, if not the most strict practitioner of Sharia Law. Hope the pay is at least good which I suspect it is.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1012.html
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucky7mm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia for work...</div></div>One of, if not the most strict practitioner of Sharia Law. Hope the pay is at least good which I suspect it is.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1012.html
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
The pay is not so great, no more than I am making here sitting at my desk in Wisconsin... though my company makes a pretty penny from what they charge having me travel. I've been reading what I can find about the Kingdom. Kinda sucks there is no alcohol allowed, though for a few days I think I can manage.
The pay is not so great, no more than I am making here sitting at my desk in Wisconsin... though my company makes a pretty penny from what they charge having me travel. I've been reading what I can find about the Kingdom. Kinda sucks there is no alcohol allowed, though for a few days I think I can manage.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Saudi's not so bad - just dull mostly. Not the greatest time of year - winter would be better. Ramadan is going on now. Which means everything shuts down during the day for their month of fasting. A spiritual moment where one suffers by not eating and only drinking water during the day, and reflect on God and hardships suffered. That's the theory. In practice they all take the month off, sleep during the day, and then party at night. So much for that. Don't expect anything to get done during Ramadan.
For the most part, I think you'll find your treatment there quite good. The food is excellent. They don't hate American's, but sometimes hate our government. Be careful not to get too deeply into politics - best avoid altogether and just play dumb. As always, be respectful, don't look at the women (much), and don't sneak in any booze. Porn is a no-no, and technically can get you beheaded. There is no religious tolerance - they will confiscate and destroy your bible if they see it coming through the airport. Normally they won't even check your bags though - they never have mine. Homosexuality is also a capital offense there (not saying anything, just how it is).
If you are going for work, you may find yourself very frustrated. For something technical/electrical/mechanical - incompetence is rampant. They will say what you want to hear, but often will not actually understand, or simply will outright lie and not do what they say they will. Not saying they're all liars, but for a midwesterner, watch out for it, because the work ethic can be very different. Focus on getting stuff done in the mornings - only one prayer in the morning, 3 in the afternoon. Nothing gets done in the afternoon. Coupled with Ramadan, your trip could be very unproductive if you are trying to actually work with anyone over there. I'm surprised your company is sending you now. They should wait until after Sept 9th.
For the most part they don't really want an international incident, so if you commit some grievance, most likely you'll just be ejected. Most likely.
The most dangerous thing in Saudi is road travel. Seriously, wear your seatbelt.
Saudi's not so bad - just dull mostly. Not the greatest time of year - winter would be better. Ramadan is going on now. Which means everything shuts down during the day for their month of fasting. A spiritual moment where one suffers by not eating and only drinking water during the day, and reflect on God and hardships suffered. That's the theory. In practice they all take the month off, sleep during the day, and then party at night. So much for that. Don't expect anything to get done during Ramadan.
For the most part, I think you'll find your treatment there quite good. The food is excellent. They don't hate American's, but sometimes hate our government. Be careful not to get too deeply into politics - best avoid altogether and just play dumb. As always, be respectful, don't look at the women (much), and don't sneak in any booze. Porn is a no-no, and technically can get you beheaded. There is no religious tolerance - they will confiscate and destroy your bible if they see it coming through the airport. Normally they won't even check your bags though - they never have mine. Homosexuality is also a capital offense there (not saying anything, just how it is).
If you are going for work, you may find yourself very frustrated. For something technical/electrical/mechanical - incompetence is rampant. They will say what you want to hear, but often will not actually understand, or simply will outright lie and not do what they say they will. Not saying they're all liars, but for a midwesterner, watch out for it, because the work ethic can be very different. Focus on getting stuff done in the mornings - only one prayer in the morning, 3 in the afternoon. Nothing gets done in the afternoon. Coupled with Ramadan, your trip could be very unproductive if you are trying to actually work with anyone over there. I'm surprised your company is sending you now. They should wait until after Sept 9th.
For the most part they don't really want an international incident, so if you commit some grievance, most likely you'll just be ejected. Most likely.
The most dangerous thing in Saudi is road travel. Seriously, wear your seatbelt.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
We have guys go there all the time as they are buying up our hardware...
They don't care for it but have nothing bad to say about it except the heat...
My buddy is in Kuwait, hit 140 the other day..
We have guys go there all the time as they are buying up our hardware...
They don't care for it but have nothing bad to say about it except the heat...
My buddy is in Kuwait, hit 140 the other day..
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Lived in Daharan for 4 months after I got out of the military. I had trouble accepting their complete lack of mechanical, electrical, etc. knowledge. I was supposed to be a trainer but all of the Saudi's in my shop were so inept I ended up just doing the work myself. There was one guy out of about 40 that might have had a chance had he been in a different evironment. I.E. You'll never be more than your father was so why work hard and learn anything because it's not rewarded.
As far a travel goes, I only travelled in the city. Had one incident with a car load of young Saudi's (mid 20's) that drove by. One of them thought it would be funny to make a bomb exploding motion with his hands towards us. That was uncomfortable.
If you want anything done just ask an Indian or a Paki, they do all the real work over there.
Have fun in Saudi, try a shwarma (probably didn't spell that right.) If you're by the coast go to a seafood store. Oh and make sure to go to a gold suk. The gold prices over there a REDICULOUS. Your wife could be very happy for cheap.
Keith
Lived in Daharan for 4 months after I got out of the military. I had trouble accepting their complete lack of mechanical, electrical, etc. knowledge. I was supposed to be a trainer but all of the Saudi's in my shop were so inept I ended up just doing the work myself. There was one guy out of about 40 that might have had a chance had he been in a different evironment. I.E. You'll never be more than your father was so why work hard and learn anything because it's not rewarded.
As far a travel goes, I only travelled in the city. Had one incident with a car load of young Saudi's (mid 20's) that drove by. One of them thought it would be funny to make a bomb exploding motion with his hands towards us. That was uncomfortable.
If you want anything done just ask an Indian or a Paki, they do all the real work over there.
Have fun in Saudi, try a shwarma (probably didn't spell that right.) If you're by the coast go to a seafood store. Oh and make sure to go to a gold suk. The gold prices over there a REDICULOUS. Your wife could be very happy for cheap.
Keith
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!
23 nails in body of tortured maid
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 01:08 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 01:08
RIYADH: Doctors in Sri Lanka have found 23 nails in the body of a tortured housemaid who returned to Colombo from Riyadh, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We have received this complaint from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, who said the maid has been allegedly tortured by her sponsor,” a senior diplomat from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told Arab News. “We are looking for the sponsor. We were able to track down the Saudi recruitment agent in Riyadh and we will summon the sponsor to discuss this issue,” the official said.
Doctors at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district, 140 km from Colombo, said the nails had been hammered into the maid’s body. Dr. Kamal Weeratunge, who was treating the maid, claimed the nails had been heated up before they punctured her skin.
On Sri Lankan television channel Newsfirst Sirasa, the maid showed the marks where the nails had gone through. The maid, identified as 50-year-old Ariyawathie, said that there were too many people to serve in the house where she worked.
“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, they inserted the nail in my body as a punishment,” she said.
“I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body.” She added that she arranged her travel documents to return home on her own expense. “They were really devils with no mercy at all,” she said.
According to records at the Sri Lankan Embassy, the maid came to the Kingdom on March 25. The diplomat said that the sponsor had bypassed the mission and made his own arrangements to send the woman home. “We can only deal with cases that come up before the mission,” he said. However, he added that the mission would take action following the complaint submitted to the embassy from Colombo.
The maid had come to Saudi Arabia after being registered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
SLBFE chairman Kingsley Ranawake said that a formal inquiry would be held with the concerned maid and appropriate action taken.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article112477.ece
HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!
23 nails in body of tortured maid
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 01:08 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 01:08
RIYADH: Doctors in Sri Lanka have found 23 nails in the body of a tortured housemaid who returned to Colombo from Riyadh, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We have received this complaint from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, who said the maid has been allegedly tortured by her sponsor,” a senior diplomat from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told Arab News. “We are looking for the sponsor. We were able to track down the Saudi recruitment agent in Riyadh and we will summon the sponsor to discuss this issue,” the official said.
Doctors at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district, 140 km from Colombo, said the nails had been hammered into the maid’s body. Dr. Kamal Weeratunge, who was treating the maid, claimed the nails had been heated up before they punctured her skin.
On Sri Lankan television channel Newsfirst Sirasa, the maid showed the marks where the nails had gone through. The maid, identified as 50-year-old Ariyawathie, said that there were too many people to serve in the house where she worked.
“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, they inserted the nail in my body as a punishment,” she said.
“I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body.” She added that she arranged her travel documents to return home on her own expense. “They were really devils with no mercy at all,” she said.
According to records at the Sri Lankan Embassy, the maid came to the Kingdom on March 25. The diplomat said that the sponsor had bypassed the mission and made his own arrangements to send the woman home. “We can only deal with cases that come up before the mission,” he said. However, he added that the mission would take action following the complaint submitted to the embassy from Colombo.
The maid had come to Saudi Arabia after being registered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
SLBFE chairman Kingsley Ranawake said that a formal inquiry would be held with the concerned maid and appropriate action taken.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article112477.ece
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KeithR41</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...I was supposed to be a trainer but all of the Saudi's in my shop were so inept I ended up just doing the work myself.</div></div>Tell me you didn't fall for the old 'ineptness' ruse: they were all electrical engineers; it's just that you, as their guest, were supposed to do all the work for them.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KeithR41</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...I was supposed to be a trainer but all of the Saudi's in my shop were so inept I ended up just doing the work myself.</div></div>Tell me you didn't fall for the old 'ineptness' ruse: they were all electrical engineers; it's just that you, as their guest, were supposed to do all the work for them.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Hard to believe I lived there for 3 years when I was in 6-8 grade. (81-84). We lived on compounds with tons of other westerners. Actually some of the best times of my life.
But that was loooonggg ago....
Hard to believe I lived there for 3 years when I was in 6-8 grade. (81-84). We lived on compounds with tons of other westerners. Actually some of the best times of my life.
But that was loooonggg ago....
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Dont shake with your left hand its considered a sign of disrespect as thats the hand they use to wipe themselves with (you wont find toilet paper around to much). Dont show the sole of your foot/show to anyone as thats another sign of disrespect. Try the Shwarmas they are quite yummy. It is hot as hell there, and just like others said above during Ramadan dont expect any help from the nationals. Oh yeah a nice little note... most terrorists are Saudi nationals, have fun!
Dont shake with your left hand its considered a sign of disrespect as thats the hand they use to wipe themselves with (you wont find toilet paper around to much). Dont show the sole of your foot/show to anyone as thats another sign of disrespect. Try the Shwarmas they are quite yummy. It is hot as hell there, and just like others said above during Ramadan dont expect any help from the nationals. Oh yeah a nice little note... most terrorists are Saudi nationals, have fun!
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phil1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!
23 nails in body of tortured maid
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 01:08 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 01:08
RIYADH: Doctors in Sri Lanka have found 23 nails in the body of a tortured housemaid who returned to Colombo from Riyadh, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We have received this complaint from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, who said the maid has been allegedly tortured by her sponsor,” a senior diplomat from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told Arab News. “We are looking for the sponsor. We were able to track down the Saudi recruitment agent in Riyadh and we will summon the sponsor to discuss this issue,” the official said.
Doctors at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district, 140 km from Colombo, said the nails had been hammered into the maid’s body. Dr. Kamal Weeratunge, who was treating the maid, claimed the nails had been heated up before they punctured her skin.
On Sri Lankan television channel Newsfirst Sirasa, the maid showed the marks where the nails had gone through. The maid, identified as 50-year-old Ariyawathie, said that there were too many people to serve in the house where she worked.
“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, they inserted the nail in my body as a punishment,” she said.
“I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body.” She added that she arranged her travel documents to return home on her own expense. “They were really devils with no mercy at all,” she said.
According to records at the Sri Lankan Embassy, the maid came to the Kingdom on March 25. The diplomat said that the sponsor had bypassed the mission and made his own arrangements to send the woman home. “We can only deal with cases that come up before the mission,” he said. However, he added that the mission would take action following the complaint submitted to the embassy from Colombo.
The maid had come to Saudi Arabia after being registered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
SLBFE chairman Kingsley Ranawake said that a formal inquiry would be held with the concerned maid and appropriate action taken.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article112477.ece</div></div>
Wouldn't it be nice to have to never deal with these Muslim countries -sure there's a few nice people there but on mas they are different to us in a major way -in a perfect world we would dominate them and impose a peaceful nature on them -kind of catch 22 that comment eh
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phil1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!
23 nails in body of tortured maid
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 01:08 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 01:08
RIYADH: Doctors in Sri Lanka have found 23 nails in the body of a tortured housemaid who returned to Colombo from Riyadh, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We have received this complaint from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, who said the maid has been allegedly tortured by her sponsor,” a senior diplomat from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told Arab News. “We are looking for the sponsor. We were able to track down the Saudi recruitment agent in Riyadh and we will summon the sponsor to discuss this issue,” the official said.
Doctors at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district, 140 km from Colombo, said the nails had been hammered into the maid’s body. Dr. Kamal Weeratunge, who was treating the maid, claimed the nails had been heated up before they punctured her skin.
On Sri Lankan television channel Newsfirst Sirasa, the maid showed the marks where the nails had gone through. The maid, identified as 50-year-old Ariyawathie, said that there were too many people to serve in the house where she worked.
“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, they inserted the nail in my body as a punishment,” she said.
“I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body.” She added that she arranged her travel documents to return home on her own expense. “They were really devils with no mercy at all,” she said.
According to records at the Sri Lankan Embassy, the maid came to the Kingdom on March 25. The diplomat said that the sponsor had bypassed the mission and made his own arrangements to send the woman home. “We can only deal with cases that come up before the mission,” he said. However, he added that the mission would take action following the complaint submitted to the embassy from Colombo.
The maid had come to Saudi Arabia after being registered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
SLBFE chairman Kingsley Ranawake said that a formal inquiry would be held with the concerned maid and appropriate action taken.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article112477.ece</div></div>
Wouldn't it be nice to have to never deal with these Muslim countries -sure there's a few nice people there but on mas they are different to us in a major way -in a perfect world we would dominate them and impose a peaceful nature on them -kind of catch 22 that comment eh
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ch'e</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phil1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!
23 nails in body of tortured maid
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 01:08 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 01:08
RIYADH: Doctors in Sri Lanka have found 23 nails in the body of a tortured housemaid who returned to Colombo from Riyadh, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We have received this complaint from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, who said the maid has been allegedly tortured by her sponsor,” a senior diplomat from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told Arab News. “We are looking for the sponsor. We were able to track down the Saudi recruitment agent in Riyadh and we will summon the sponsor to discuss this issue,” the official said.
Doctors at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district, 140 km from Colombo, said the nails had been hammered into the maid’s body. Dr. Kamal Weeratunge, who was treating the maid, claimed the nails had been heated up before they punctured her skin.
On Sri Lankan television channel Newsfirst Sirasa, the maid showed the marks where the nails had gone through. The maid, identified as 50-year-old Ariyawathie, said that there were too many people to serve in the house where she worked.
“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, they inserted the nail in my body as a punishment,” she said.
“I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body.” She added that she arranged her travel documents to return home on her own expense. “They were really devils with no mercy at all,” she said.
According to records at the Sri Lankan Embassy, the maid came to the Kingdom on March 25. The diplomat said that the sponsor had bypassed the mission and made his own arrangements to send the woman home. “We can only deal with cases that come up before the mission,” he said. However, he added that the mission would take action following the complaint submitted to the embassy from Colombo.
The maid had come to Saudi Arabia after being registered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
SLBFE chairman Kingsley Ranawake said that a formal inquiry would be held with the concerned maid and appropriate action taken.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article112477.ece</div></div>
Wouldn't it be nice to have to never deal with these Muslim countries -sure there's a few nice people there but on mas they are different to us in a major way -in a perfect world we would dominate them and impose a peaceful nature on them -kind of catch 22 that comment eh
</div></div>
In a perfect world they wouldn't exist. And for those that may think less of me for saying that, I don't give a shit. There the ones who killed thousands of Americans in a single day and started a war for no reason at all. The crusades where an eternity ago and with Europe, Not us.
Watch you're back and good luck.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ch'e</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phil1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!
23 nails in body of tortured maid
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 01:08 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 01:08
RIYADH: Doctors in Sri Lanka have found 23 nails in the body of a tortured housemaid who returned to Colombo from Riyadh, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We have received this complaint from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, who said the maid has been allegedly tortured by her sponsor,” a senior diplomat from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told Arab News. “We are looking for the sponsor. We were able to track down the Saudi recruitment agent in Riyadh and we will summon the sponsor to discuss this issue,” the official said.
Doctors at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district, 140 km from Colombo, said the nails had been hammered into the maid’s body. Dr. Kamal Weeratunge, who was treating the maid, claimed the nails had been heated up before they punctured her skin.
On Sri Lankan television channel Newsfirst Sirasa, the maid showed the marks where the nails had gone through. The maid, identified as 50-year-old Ariyawathie, said that there were too many people to serve in the house where she worked.
“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, they inserted the nail in my body as a punishment,” she said.
“I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body.” She added that she arranged her travel documents to return home on her own expense. “They were really devils with no mercy at all,” she said.
According to records at the Sri Lankan Embassy, the maid came to the Kingdom on March 25. The diplomat said that the sponsor had bypassed the mission and made his own arrangements to send the woman home. “We can only deal with cases that come up before the mission,” he said. However, he added that the mission would take action following the complaint submitted to the embassy from Colombo.
The maid had come to Saudi Arabia after being registered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
SLBFE chairman Kingsley Ranawake said that a formal inquiry would be held with the concerned maid and appropriate action taken.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article112477.ece</div></div>
Wouldn't it be nice to have to never deal with these Muslim countries -sure there's a few nice people there but on mas they are different to us in a major way -in a perfect world we would dominate them and impose a peaceful nature on them -kind of catch 22 that comment eh
</div></div>
In a perfect world they wouldn't exist. And for those that may think less of me for saying that, I don't give a shit. There the ones who killed thousands of Americans in a single day and started a war for no reason at all. The crusades where an eternity ago and with Europe, Not us.
Watch you're back and good luck.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
I always check <span style="color: #000099">HERE: </span>US State Dept. before heading overseas.
I always check <span style="color: #000099">HERE: </span>US State Dept. before heading overseas.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Dont get on the wrong side of the Mutaween !... They will fuck you up big style and get away with it... They have their own courts and own sets of rules and dont really give a fuck what people think or say about them....
For the airport,,, before you pack you luggage, buy an english version of the Quran and a set of prayer beads. leave them on top of your luggage.. When the police at the aiport stop you and search your luggage they will think you are a muslim convert and allow you to pass without too much trouble... Dont do it and more than likely you will be stopped, searched, and detained for a long period of time and probably ripped off for a bribe...
This is about being smart and invisible... The mutaween routinely stop and search foreigners outside compounds .. keep the Quaran with you... Be polite and never aggressive.. They routinely torture people they arrest...
remember : Salam Aloykum.... when they stop you..
They reply either : Aloykum as-salam or assalamu aloykum....
Muslims consider a lot of hand movements as an agrressive act. keep you hands at your side and dont raise your voice...
And one fo the biggest insults you can give you an arabic speaking muslim is : ku-kuda sharmutha...... In arabic it means EAT SHIT WHORE !
Dont get on the wrong side of the Mutaween !... They will fuck you up big style and get away with it... They have their own courts and own sets of rules and dont really give a fuck what people think or say about them....
For the airport,,, before you pack you luggage, buy an english version of the Quran and a set of prayer beads. leave them on top of your luggage.. When the police at the aiport stop you and search your luggage they will think you are a muslim convert and allow you to pass without too much trouble... Dont do it and more than likely you will be stopped, searched, and detained for a long period of time and probably ripped off for a bribe...
This is about being smart and invisible... The mutaween routinely stop and search foreigners outside compounds .. keep the Quaran with you... Be polite and never aggressive.. They routinely torture people they arrest...
remember : Salam Aloykum.... when they stop you..
They reply either : Aloykum as-salam or assalamu aloykum....
Muslims consider a lot of hand movements as an agrressive act. keep you hands at your side and dont raise your voice...
And one fo the biggest insults you can give you an arabic speaking muslim is : ku-kuda sharmutha...... In arabic it means EAT SHIT WHORE !
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eddieo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dont get on the wrong side of the Mutaween !... They will fuck you up big style and get away with it... They have their own courts and own sets of rules and dont really give a fuck what people think or say about them....
For the airport,,, before you pack you luggage, buy an english version of the Quran and a set of prayer beads. leave them on top of your luggage.. When the police at the aiport stop you and search your luggage they will think you are a muslim convert and allow you to pass without too much trouble... Dont do it and more than likely you will be stopped, searched, and detained for a long period of time and probably ripped off for a bribe...
This is about being smart and invisible... The mutaween routinely stop and search foreigners outside compounds .. keep the Quaran with you... Be polite and never aggressive.. They routinely torture people they arrest...
remember : Salam Aloykum.... when they stop you..
They reply either : Aloykum as-salam or assalamu aloykum....
Muslims consider a lot of hand movements as an agrressive act. keep you hands at your side and dont raise your voice...
And one fo the biggest insults you can give you an arabic speaking muslim is : ku-kuda sharmutha...... In arabic it means EAT SHIT WHORE !</div></div>
I think eat shit whore is pretty much a grand scale insult in any language isnt it LOL
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eddieo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dont get on the wrong side of the Mutaween !... They will fuck you up big style and get away with it... They have their own courts and own sets of rules and dont really give a fuck what people think or say about them....
For the airport,,, before you pack you luggage, buy an english version of the Quran and a set of prayer beads. leave them on top of your luggage.. When the police at the aiport stop you and search your luggage they will think you are a muslim convert and allow you to pass without too much trouble... Dont do it and more than likely you will be stopped, searched, and detained for a long period of time and probably ripped off for a bribe...
This is about being smart and invisible... The mutaween routinely stop and search foreigners outside compounds .. keep the Quaran with you... Be polite and never aggressive.. They routinely torture people they arrest...
remember : Salam Aloykum.... when they stop you..
They reply either : Aloykum as-salam or assalamu aloykum....
Muslims consider a lot of hand movements as an agrressive act. keep you hands at your side and dont raise your voice...
And one fo the biggest insults you can give you an arabic speaking muslim is : ku-kuda sharmutha...... In arabic it means EAT SHIT WHORE !</div></div>
I think eat shit whore is pretty much a grand scale insult in any language isnt it LOL
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eddieo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dont get on the wrong side of the Mutaween !... They will fuck you up big style and get away with it... They have their own courts and own sets of rules and dont really give a fuck what people think or say about them....
For the airport,,, before you pack you luggage, buy an english version of the Quran and a set of prayer beads. leave them on top of your luggage.. When the police at the aiport stop you and search your luggage they will think you are a muslim convert and allow you to pass without too much trouble... Dont do it and more than likely you will be stopped, searched, and detained for a long period of time and probably ripped off for a bribe...
This is about being smart and invisible... The mutaween routinely stop and search foreigners outside compounds .. keep the Quaran with you... Be polite and never aggressive.. They routinely torture people they arrest...
remember : Salam Aloykum.... when they stop you..
They reply either : Aloykum as-salam or assalamu aloykum....
Muslims consider a lot of hand movements as an agrressive act. keep you hands at your side and dont raise your voice...
And one fo the biggest insults you can give you an arabic speaking muslim is : ku-kuda sharmutha...... In arabic it means EAT SHIT WHORE ! </div></div>
Not to be a jerk, but I seriously question if this person has ever even been to Saudi. Pretending to be a Muslim, when you are not, is a very dangerous game. If you do so, you, you will be held to Muslim law. Don't even think about it.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eddieo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dont get on the wrong side of the Mutaween !... They will fuck you up big style and get away with it... They have their own courts and own sets of rules and dont really give a fuck what people think or say about them....
For the airport,,, before you pack you luggage, buy an english version of the Quran and a set of prayer beads. leave them on top of your luggage.. When the police at the aiport stop you and search your luggage they will think you are a muslim convert and allow you to pass without too much trouble... Dont do it and more than likely you will be stopped, searched, and detained for a long period of time and probably ripped off for a bribe...
This is about being smart and invisible... The mutaween routinely stop and search foreigners outside compounds .. keep the Quaran with you... Be polite and never aggressive.. They routinely torture people they arrest...
remember : Salam Aloykum.... when they stop you..
They reply either : Aloykum as-salam or assalamu aloykum....
Muslims consider a lot of hand movements as an agrressive act. keep you hands at your side and dont raise your voice...
And one fo the biggest insults you can give you an arabic speaking muslim is : ku-kuda sharmutha...... In arabic it means EAT SHIT WHORE ! </div></div>
Not to be a jerk, but I seriously question if this person has ever even been to Saudi. Pretending to be a Muslim, when you are not, is a very dangerous game. If you do so, you, you will be held to Muslim law. Don't even think about it.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Been to saudi 4 times. pakistan 2 times, Kuwait 1 times. Qatar 2 time. lebanon 2 times. Kosovo 1 time, iraq 1 time. Afganistan 1 time. Turkey 4 times. Oman 3 times. irrael 2 times..(Different passport)... Somalia 1 time... Malaysia 1 times
I think that qualifies me .... happy to show a copy of my old passport...
I have a simply motto and that is if you have an opinion on something then at least you should educate yourself about the subject.... Not to be a jerk here or anything but I find that the vast majority of people that get themselves stopped and fucked up by the various religious police of various muslim countries do so out of ignorance... they dont know how to act, dont know how to speak, dont know or dont give a fuck about the customs or traditions. they think that by waving their passports or shouting " Im a citizen of Uncle sam" that automatically gives them a GET OUT OF JAIL CARD. wELL, SHIT DOESNT WORK LIKE THAT .. the mutaween of Suadi dont give a fuck if you are a yank, ... if you dont give them a certain degree of respect and humility they will fuck you up. there really isnt a lot that Uncle sam can do about it... they will give you the lash, torture you and leave you back to the airport with skid marks on your back....
With all due repect to some of the odler people here and people that HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN OPERATORS.. They know what exactly I am tlaking about.... keith made a comment about refusing to get a copy of the Quaran... Well like it or not but being able to have a conversation about Surah could mean the difference between having to give a 50USD bribe to spending a month in a middle east jail....... I am contstantly astounded that the amount of poeople on this site that display such a sheer sense of pure ignorance, meant in the kindest possible terms... Well on the 4 times I have been to saudi I have been stopped twice... I have been able to greet the suadi customs in arabic, have them greet me back... Had a few words and they let me go... I have seen other nationalities stopped, searched and brought to interrogation rooms for questioning, all because they either didnt know or refused to acknowledge the drill.....
This is about keeping your head down, acknowledging that this is their country you are in. if they want to fuck you up, there really isnt a whole lot you can do about it... Its about being smart and clever... Anybody that thinks otherwise IMHO needs and desperately requires a passport and a frontal lobotomy.
Kindest regards
Been to saudi 4 times. pakistan 2 times, Kuwait 1 times. Qatar 2 time. lebanon 2 times. Kosovo 1 time, iraq 1 time. Afganistan 1 time. Turkey 4 times. Oman 3 times. irrael 2 times..(Different passport)... Somalia 1 time... Malaysia 1 times
I think that qualifies me .... happy to show a copy of my old passport...
I have a simply motto and that is if you have an opinion on something then at least you should educate yourself about the subject.... Not to be a jerk here or anything but I find that the vast majority of people that get themselves stopped and fucked up by the various religious police of various muslim countries do so out of ignorance... they dont know how to act, dont know how to speak, dont know or dont give a fuck about the customs or traditions. they think that by waving their passports or shouting " Im a citizen of Uncle sam" that automatically gives them a GET OUT OF JAIL CARD. wELL, SHIT DOESNT WORK LIKE THAT .. the mutaween of Suadi dont give a fuck if you are a yank, ... if you dont give them a certain degree of respect and humility they will fuck you up. there really isnt a lot that Uncle sam can do about it... they will give you the lash, torture you and leave you back to the airport with skid marks on your back....
With all due repect to some of the odler people here and people that HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN OPERATORS.. They know what exactly I am tlaking about.... keith made a comment about refusing to get a copy of the Quaran... Well like it or not but being able to have a conversation about Surah could mean the difference between having to give a 50USD bribe to spending a month in a middle east jail....... I am contstantly astounded that the amount of poeople on this site that display such a sheer sense of pure ignorance, meant in the kindest possible terms... Well on the 4 times I have been to saudi I have been stopped twice... I have been able to greet the suadi customs in arabic, have them greet me back... Had a few words and they let me go... I have seen other nationalities stopped, searched and brought to interrogation rooms for questioning, all because they either didnt know or refused to acknowledge the drill.....
This is about keeping your head down, acknowledging that this is their country you are in. if they want to fuck you up, there really isnt a whole lot you can do about it... Its about being smart and clever... Anybody that thinks otherwise IMHO needs and desperately requires a passport and a frontal lobotomy.
Kindest regards
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
Being able to use the basic Arabic social pleasantries wouldn't hurt. Remember the 3-second rule. You're not supposed to look at any woman in a burqa who isn't family and they figure 3 seconds is enough time to figure out you shouldn't be looking and avert your gaze. They can't be alone with a man who isn't family either, which is why their office buildings have escalators instead of (or in addition to) elevators. Don't make eye contact with, speak to or open the door for a woman in a burqa.
See if you can get an invite to a beheading (but don't be the guest of honor). They like to push westerners closer to the front so they'll get a better view of Islamic justice.
Being able to use the basic Arabic social pleasantries wouldn't hurt. Remember the 3-second rule. You're not supposed to look at any woman in a burqa who isn't family and they figure 3 seconds is enough time to figure out you shouldn't be looking and avert your gaze. They can't be alone with a man who isn't family either, which is why their office buildings have escalators instead of (or in addition to) elevators. Don't make eye contact with, speak to or open the door for a woman in a burqa.
See if you can get an invite to a beheading (but don't be the guest of honor). They like to push westerners closer to the front so they'll get a better view of Islamic justice.
Re: Saudi Arabia - civilian travel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fred_C_Dobbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Being able to use the basic Arabic social pleasantries wouldn't hurt. Remember the 3-second rule. You're not supposed to look at any woman in a burqa who isn't family and they figure 3 seconds is enough time to figure out you shouldn't be looking and avert your gaze. They can't be alone with a man who isn't family either, which is why their office buildings have escalators instead of (or in addition to) elevators. Don't make eye contact with, speak to or open the door for a woman in a burqa.
See if you can get an invite to a beheading (but don't be the guest of honor). They like to push westerners closer to the front so they'll get a better view of Islamic justice. </div></div>
Seen a beheading in jeddah once... The unfortunate guest of honor made a mistake of sexually assaulting a neice I believce it was of the top cops in the locality.. pretty fucking brutal and very quick... Dudes head was off in a flash.. Body still standing when the head hit the floor... Some of the executioners prefer you kneeling or even lying down on your stomach...... Needlesss to say when i got back to the hotel I didnt have the rare steak for dinner. More the pity as I was looking forward to a little rare meat.... Ah well !!!!!!!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fred_C_Dobbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Being able to use the basic Arabic social pleasantries wouldn't hurt. Remember the 3-second rule. You're not supposed to look at any woman in a burqa who isn't family and they figure 3 seconds is enough time to figure out you shouldn't be looking and avert your gaze. They can't be alone with a man who isn't family either, which is why their office buildings have escalators instead of (or in addition to) elevators. Don't make eye contact with, speak to or open the door for a woman in a burqa.
See if you can get an invite to a beheading (but don't be the guest of honor). They like to push westerners closer to the front so they'll get a better view of Islamic justice. </div></div>
Seen a beheading in jeddah once... The unfortunate guest of honor made a mistake of sexually assaulting a neice I believce it was of the top cops in the locality.. pretty fucking brutal and very quick... Dudes head was off in a flash.. Body still standing when the head hit the floor... Some of the executioners prefer you kneeling or even lying down on your stomach...... Needlesss to say when i got back to the hotel I didnt have the rare steak for dinner. More the pity as I was looking forward to a little rare meat.... Ah well !!!!!!!
