Research Guides: International Coffeehouses: Saudi Arabia

Facts in Brief

Saudi Arabia flag

Capital: Riyadh

Official language: Arabic

Official name: Al-Mamlaka Al-Arabiyya Al-Saudiyya (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Population: 32,400,000 (2019 estimate)

Flag and coat of arms: Saudi Arabia's flag, adopted in 1973, has a Muslim religious inscription and horizontal white sword on a green background. The coat of arms features a palm tree and two crossed swords. The symbols appear in green, the traditional Muslim color.

Climate: Hot. Slightly cooler from November to April. Rainy along coasts in summer. Nights can be cold in winter. Extremely dry in the middle of the country.

Citation:

Doumato, E. (2017). Saudi Arabia. In World Book Advanced. Retrieved from http://www.worldbookonline.com.proxy.lib.utk.edu:90/advanced/article?id=ar492580

Snapshots of Saudi Arabia from Encyclopedia Britannica

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The Oil Industry of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the leading producer of both natural gas and oil and exports more oil than any other nation. Because of this, Saudi Arabia is one of the leading economic powers in the Middle East. The development of the oil industry has caused many advances in the Saudi way of life, especially in the cities. The country has used much of its oil income to build schools, transportation systems, and communication networks. The government also has taken steps to improve housing and to extend electric service and other modern conveniences to Saudi Arabia's remote rural areas. The oil industry is owned by the state and largely operated as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company.

Another important organization within the oil industry in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The countries that are apart of this organization are shown here.

Saudi Arabia by Mordechai Abir
Call Number: E-Book
This much-revised edition of Professor Abir's Saudi Arabia in the Oil Era now includes consideration of both Gulf Wars. Abir examines the social and political forces that have shaped Saudi Arabia, including the impact of Islam and of Westernization, drawing heavily on Saudi sources. There is also essential analysis of regional security dilemmas and of the country's prospects in the post-Gulf War era.
Oil Policy of Government of Saudi Arabia 1971 by Adam Matthew Digital
Call Number: E-Book
Saudi Arabia on the Edge by Thomas W. Lippman
Call Number: E-Book
Of all the countries in the world that are vital to the strategic and economic interests of the United States, Saudi Arabia is the least understood by the American people. Saudi Arabia's unique place in Islam makes it indispensable to a constructive relationship between the non-Muslim West and the Muslim world. For all its wealth, the country faces daunting challenges that it lacks the tools to meet: a restless and young population, a new generation of educated women demanding opportunities in a closed society, political stagnation under an octogenarian leadership, religious extremism and intellectual backwardness, social division, chronic unemployment, shortages of food and water, and troublesome neighbors. Today's Saudi people, far better informed than all previous generations, are looking for new political institutions that will enable them to be heard, but these aspirations conflict with the kingdom's strict traditions and with the House of Saud's determination to retain all true power. Meanwhile, the country wishes to remain under the protection of American security but still clings to a system that is antithetical to American values. Basing his work on extensive interviews and field research conducted in the kingdom from 2008 through 2011 under the auspices of the Council on Foreign Relations, Thomas W. Lippman dissects this central Saudi paradox for American readers, including diplomats, policymakers, scholars, and students of foreign policy.
Islam and Political Reform in Saudi Arabia by Mansoor Jassem Alshamsi
Call Number: DS244.63 .A47 2011
This book examines the link between Islamic thought/jurisprudence on the one hand and political action on the other. It shows how reformism is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and how Sunni scholars have become activists for change in Saudi Arabia.

Religion in Saudi Arabia

All people who hold Saudi citizenship are Muslim and 90% belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. Another branch, the Shi’ah, live in the Eastern Province. Within Sunni, Wahhābism is the most common Islamic religious interpretation. Mutawwiin, a religious police force, uphold rules of behavior set by Wahhabism to sustain control and order within social life.

Symbols of Islam by Malek Chebel; Laziz Hamani (Photographer)
Call Number: BP161.2 .C4913 2000
Over 13 centuries, Islam has become a powerful religion whose symbols, whether linked to its doctrine (prayer, the profession of faith, alms giving), or its architecture (the Kaaba, the mosque, the mihrab), reveal a wealth of meaning for those wishing to explore their history and cultural significance. This book provides a visual synthesis of the Islamic world. Its clear text and beautiful full-page color photographs offer a new and fresh approach to the fastest growing religion in the world. 60 b/w photographs
Wahhabism and the Rise of the New Salafists by Namira Nahouza; Brian Brock (Series edited by); Susan F. Parsons (Series edited by)
Call Number: BP195.W2 N34 2018
Wahhabism is often described as one of the most conservative branches of Islam and its fundamentalist approach seen as fuelling jihadist extremism. But what is the theological basis of Wahhabism? How do Wahhabi beliefs and doctrine differ from branches of Sunni Islam? While previous scholarship has examined Wahhabism as a political phenomenon, this book turns attention to the complex religious issues that are central to its understanding. Tracing its roots in the 18th century up until the present day, Namira Nahouza shows why the Wahhabi movement has opposed traditional Islamic scholarship on the interpretation of the Qur'an and hadith. Of key importance, Nahouza shows, are the differing beliefs about the oneness of God and God's names and attributes, issues on which both Wahhabi and other Salafi groups are united. Based on extensive research into classical and contemporary Arabic religious sources, Nahouza presents the contours of Sunni theological debate and reveals how the Wahhabi movement became the predecessor to the Salafism we see today. In highlighting the far-reaching consequences of these theological divisions - both for Muslim communities and the world at large -the book fills a significant gap in existing research and is essential reading for scholars researching Islamic Theology, Islamic History, Security Studies and Islamic Radicalism.
The Sunni-Shi'a Divide by Robert Brenton Betts
Call Number: E-Book
Until the attacks of September 11, 2001, few Americans knew anything about Islam, let alone about the distinctions between Sunni and Shi'a, the Sufi and Wahhabi, the origins of the Holy Qur'an and Shari'a law, and the respect that all Muslims, even secular ones, harbor for the prophet Muhammad, his family, and Islamic traditions. In The Sunni-Shi'a Divide Robert Betts traces the tortuous history of Islam's sectarian divisions, emphasizing the most important one, the Shi'a departure from Sunni "orthodoxy." Although the majority of Muslims remain faithful to the Sunni sect of Islam, approximately 15 percent subscribe to the Shi'a creed. As America's involvement in the Middle East drags on, Betts reiterates that policymakers, scholars, and laymen alike must understand the many faces of Islam, the internal forces in the United States that have brought us into these military conflicts, and the role of Israel in the region's escalating tensions. How the increasing hostility between the two main Islamic factions plays out on the world stage--as Sunni Turkey, Shi'a Iran, and their allies vie for dominance--is of major consequence for everyone, especially financially strapped Europe and the United States.
Religion and Politics in Saudi Arabia by Mohammed Ayoob (Editor); Hasan Kösebalaban (Editor)
Call Number: BP63.S33 R45 2009
What is Wahhabism? The authors offers thought-provoking, cutting-edge research that helps to unravel the mystery that has long surrounded the subject. The book sheds light on the origins and nature of Wahhabism and on its long, complicated relationship with the Saudi state.

Currency: 100 Saudi Riyals

Al Kabsa: A Popular Dish

"This was the first Arabic dish I ever made and it turned out extremely delicious, a new favorite! Serve Al Kabsa with a fresh mixed cucumber, carrot, lettuce, and tomato salad -- preferably with a little lime vinaigrette. Some fresh pita bread on the side would be nice also. Saudis like their Kabsa with a hot sauce called 'Shattah'. Enjoy!"

Ingredients

Kabsa Spice Mix:
1/2 teaspoon saffron
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried whole lime powder
1/4 cup butter
1 onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1/4 cup tomato puree

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 carrots, peeled and grated
2 whole cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch ground coriander
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 1/4 cups hot water
1 cube chicken bouillon
2 1/4 cups unrinsed basmati rice
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

Directions

Mix together the saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice, white pepper, and lime powder in a small bowl, and set the spice mix aside.
Melt the butter in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and brown them over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Mix in the tomato puree.
Stir in the canned tomatoes with their juice, the grated carrots, whole cloves, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, and the Kabsa spice mix. Cook for about 3 minutes; pour in the water, and add the chicken bouillon cube.
Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cover the pot. Simmer until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes.
Gently stir in the rice. Cover the pot and simmer until rice is tender and almost dry, about 25 minutes; add the raisins and a little more hot water, if necessary. Cover and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until the rice grains are separate.
Transfer the rice to a large serving platter and arrange the chicken pieces on top. Sprinkle the toasted slivered almonds over the dish.

Citations:

Recipe By:EmiratiWife2010

Music

Abdul Majeed Abdullah

Abdul Majeed Abdullah is one of the most popular singers of Saudi Arabia. His career has been extensive, with over 17 studio albums as of 2008. In 2019, he received a star on the Dubai Walk of Fame.

Rashad Al Fares

Bashir Abdel 'Aal

From his Discogs bio:

Bashir Abdel 'Aal was born in Damascus, Syria, into a family of Musicians. His father was a virtuoso of the quanoon (Arabic zither) in Egypt and his brothers are all accomplished musicians: Aboud, Mounir and Fouad are virtuoso violinists and Nabil plays guitar and bass.
At the age of ten Bashir began playing music - first on a bottle, trying to imitate the sounds of the nay (Arabic reed flute) and then he went on to learn the nay itself.
After moving to Beirut, Lebanon, Bashir quickly became known through-out the Middle East for his virtuoso flute playing both in orchestras as well as accompanying some of the most famous Middle Eastern artists such as Farid Al Atrash, Fouad Mohammed, Mohammed Abdul Wahab, Abdul Halim Hafiz and others.
In 1977 he moved to England, settling in London, and has since become renowned as one of the finest exponents of the nay. He has played on countless film and TV scores and even for rock artist Jimmy Page and Robert Plant on their "No Quarter - Unledded" album (Bashir played on the famous 'Kashmir session'.)
Recently he has been touring with the group 'Nara' with Abdullah Chhadeh and musicians from many nations working together on musical projects."

Books on Saudi Arabian Music

Images of Enchantment by Sherifa Zuhur
Call Number: NX573 .I43 1998
This original and multidimensional book brings a refreshing new approach to the study of the arts of the Middle East. By dealing in one volume with dance, music, painting, and cinema, as experienced and practiced not only within the Middle East but also abroad, Images of Enchantment breaks down the artificial distinctions--of form, geography, 'high' and 'low' art, performer and artist--that are so often used to delineate the subjects and processes of Middle Eastern artistic culture.The eighteen essays in this book cover themes as diverse as Bedouin dance, the music of Arab Americans, cinema in Egypt and Iran, Hollywood representations of the Middle East, and contemporary Sudanese painting. The contributions come from scholars and critics and from the artists themselves. Together, they present a wide-ranging and holistic view of the arts in their social, political, anthropological, and gender contexts.Contributors: Walter Armbrust, Farida Ben Lyazid, Kay Hardy Campbell, Virginia Danielson, Marjorie Franken, Sondra Hale, Carolee Kent, Hamid Naficy, Salwa Mikdadi Nashashibi, Anne K. Rasmussen, Selim Sednaoui, Simon Shaheen, Rebecca Stone, Chaïbia Talal, Karin Van Nieuwkerk, William Young, Sherifa Zuhur.
Music and Traditions of the Arabian Peninsula by Lisa Urkevich
Call Number: ML348 .U75 2015
Music and Traditions of the Arabian Peninsula provides a pioneering overview of folk and traditional urban music, along with dance and rituals, of Saudi Arabia and the Upper Gulf States of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. The nineteen chapters introduce variegated regions and subcultures and their rich and dynamic musical arts, many of which heretofore have been unknown beyond local communities. The book contains insightful descriptions of genres, instruments, poetry, and performance practices of the desert heartland (Najd), the Arabian/Persian Gulf shores, the great western cities including Makkah and Medinah, the southwestern mountains, and the hot Red Sea coast. Musical customs of distinctive groups such as Bedouin, seafarers, and regional women are explored. The book is packaged with an audio CD and almost 200 images including a full color photo essay, numerous music transcriptions, a glossary with over 400 specialized terms, and original Arabic script alongside key words to assist with further research. This book provides a much-needed introduction and organizational structure for the diverse and complex musical arts of the region.

Soundstorm Music Festival

Saudi Arabia has a growing Electronic Dance Music scene. In 2019 the MDL Beast Soundstorm Festival was held in Riyadh from December 19-21 with over 400,000 attendees. Soundstorm will be happening again this year from December 16-19, with over 80 different artists performing on six stages. Read more about the 2019 festival from Business Insider here or about the upcoming 2021 festival from MDLBEAST here.

Image source: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1058632/MDL_Beast_Festival_3.jpg

Image source: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1058622/MDL_Beast_Festival_13.jpg?p=publish

International Coffeehouses: Saudi Arabia

Facts in Brief

Map of Saudi Arabia

Snapshots of Saudi Arabia from Encyclopedia Britannica

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Kingdom Centre

The King Fahd Causeway connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

Ṭuwayq Mountains

Mecca

Al-Khubar

The Red Sea coastline of Jiddah, Saudi Arabia.

Terminal building at Dhahran International Airport, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Bedouin woman with Arabian camels (dromedaries) near Madāʾin Ṣāliḥ, Saudi Arabia.

Ministry of Finance, Riyadh

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online