LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF SAUDI ARABIA

                        LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia is a very rich country. After the discovery of petroleum in Saudi Arabia, the lifestyle of the people has changed. Petroleum is a great necessity all over the world. This country exports more oil than any other country in the world. Money earned from exporting petroleum is used to build modern cities, such as Riyadh and Jeddah and to provide modern facilities and to improve the standard of living of the people. As Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country, the people dress differently than people in the western countries. Many women wear a veil when they go outside. They also wear a long robe, called abaya (black robe) with full head and face covering.

Most men and boys also wear the traditional long piece of clothing called a thobe. It is made of cotton. In winter, they also wear a cloak to keep themselves warm. They also wear a hat called gufra. It keeps the sun out of their faces.

Most people live in the cities. They work in oil industry, banks, shops etc. People in villages still lead a traditional life. They live in houses made of sun-dried mud. They tend their herds of camels, goats and sheep. There are also nomadic people in Saudi Arabia. These nomads are called Bedouins. They move from one place to another with their herd of camels, sheep and goats. They search for water and green pastures and live in large tents made of animal skin. Bedouins always move in groups making long rows of camels, called caravans.

They make clothes from camel’s hair and tents and rugs from camel’s skin. They sell animals such as lamb, sheep, goat, camels and clothes, carpets, wool, food grains and other things.

The life of Bedouins is very hard. Now their way of living is also changing. They have begun to live at one place and move around in jeeps and cars.