Jeddah - Post Report Question and Answers
Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
I found it relatively easy to make friends with the Saudi men who taught in my school, although the friendships were rather superficial (complaining about work, talking about weekend plans, talking about/watching soccer). Don't speak about money around them, as you almost certainly make more than them. I found anti-Queer prejudice is rampant. Casual anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment are also rampant (we were required to pretend like Israel does not exist and that the entire area is Palestine, even in history/social studies classes), and if one were Jewish, I wouldn't tell people that. No one is likely to dig in and try to find your secret religion, but it could be uncomfortable both socially and potentially legally. Atheism is illegal and highly-stigmatized. If you're an atheist, just tell people you're a Christian if they ask (locals do ask, even though they know the answer) and say you're not particularly observant. - Oct 2022
Yes, Saudis want noting more than to host and entertain American friends. They go out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable and no ethnic issues have been reported. - Aug 2022
It is easy to make friends with other expats (western, Arab, Asian, or African). Less easy to make friends with Saudis for a variety of reasons. - Nov 2020
I met maybe three Saudis the entire time we were there. They don't tend to mix with expats. That said: it's a pretty international community, and my boys (who are both POC), were very happy and felt very comfortable. They both still miss Jeddah and want to go back. - Oct 2019
It is not as easy as you would think to encounter an actual Saudi in Saudi Arabia. However, once you get to know them they can be quite warm and hospitable. Jeddah generally is more relaxed and open-minded than the rest of the country, and there is a large section of Saudis who went to college or spent their formative years in the West (indeed, the returnees are how we wound up with Krispy Kreme and Tim Hortons). You will get so much more out of the tour and understand so much more about the country if you find a way to make Saudi friends, but it just not easy to do. Jeddah is a port city and has had 1,000 years of hajj pilgrims coming in, some of whom stayed, so there's a multiethnic feel to the city. However, there is also some underlying prejudice by the Saudis against some of these nationalities, particularly the ones who occupy service professions. - Mar 2019
Yes, but here's the key: you have to make a conscious and solid effort. It's easy to stay on compounds and only hang out with consulate people. If you aren't active in seeking out outside groups, it won't happen. The local scene is a lot of fun, but you have to meet the right person for them to introduce you to it. Once consulate people are in it, they're hesitant to bring in others for fear of it just turning into a massive consulate crowd and defeating the purpose of outside groups. - Jan 2019
