By Talal Tashfeen Qayyum | Contribution to Saudi Life

I'M a foreigner - an Ajnabi as the Saudis would call me. To them, I can never be a citizen of this great country. But, to me, Saudi Arabia is my land. I am from Pakistan, but when I think of ‘home’, I think Saudi Arabia. I was born here, I grew up here, I spent all my life here. I left to Malaysia to further my education a year and a half ago, and having come back for holidays, I realized that my affection for the country has grown even more. People there often ask me about why I adore Saudi Arabia so much, and thus I pen down the reasons:

The Spirituality

The spirituality of Saudi Arabia is amazing. I would call it the world’s most religious country, and rightly so. It feels amazing to hear the sounds of Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar emerge from every direction as the Adhan (call to prayer) is called from the numerous mosques, each glorifying Almighty Allah. Saudi Arabia is probably one of the few countries in the world where people actually stop to pray on the roadside! One can’t help but be closer to Allah here. I feel truly blessed to live in the land of Makkah and Madinah. I have seen people cry because they want to visit Makkah, but they can’t. Allah is indeed bountiful to us who have had the opportunity again and again to go there. Alhamdulillahi rabbil aa’lameen!

The Food

Any description could not do justice to the mouthwatering food here. The juicy shawarmas on the grill are so inviting! The juban and zaatar and kabsa, no other place I’ve been to can come close to the remarkable taste we get in Saudi Arabia. Many copycats have sprung up all over the world, but the broasted chicken here remains unique. Even the Pakistani food here is as good as that found in Pakistan. How exotic these foods sound compared to the bleak food of the outside world!

The Atmosphere

Everything from the left-handed-right-side-of-the-road driving to the Saudis saying InshaAllah (and leaving it literally to Allah) is lovely! It’s home! Yes, it’s hot here, but many have grown to love the 50 degrees Celcius here compared to the mild heat of other foreign lands. It only makes us feel more grateful for the winter season anyway.

What I love the most is how women are treated and respected here. No matter what people of other countries want to say or project about Saudi Arabia, this is the only country where women are truly cherished. Where else would you be able to find malls for only women or families? Women and families (you’re not a family unless you have a woman with you) are given priority in long lines whether they be at airport immigrations or restaurants. No one wants them to have to wait or suffer or be harassed! This is probably the only country where the majority of husbands go personally with their wives for grocery shopping and help around the house. Yes, you may argue it is because women are not allowed to drive, and to that I myself am the foremost supporter of their right to drive. This way men can actually rest after a long day at work instead of coming home and becoming drivers instead. However, I do admit that there are flaws even in this respect for women.

What needs to change?

Since I love Saudi Arabia so much, it is my duty to not be blinded by my love and to help in whatever way I can to improve this great country. Right now, I can only do it by suggesting and highlighting what I feel should be taken care of urgently:

We need a transport system here! Taxis are expensive and not possible for daily travel. Not everyone can afford drivers and not everyone can buy a car and not everyone’s parents are available to drive them around. Saudi Arabia has no financial issues, and first and foremost, a Monorail system needs to be developed here. This will not only bring in tourism to the country, it will make everyone’s lives easier, help reduce the cars on the road and considerably reduce the pollution.

Another thing which needs working on is Arabic language courses. You can find lists upon lists of English language centers all over Saudi Arabia on the internet. But, finding one for Arabic is a very challenging task. It’s like no one wants the non-Arabs to learn Arabic. Even in most non-Arab schools, Arabic is either not taught or if taught, not regulated properly. This results in people born and brought up in Saudi Arabia and yet having no knowledge whatsoever about Arabic. Not even Tajweed classes are readily available. Even if they are, the advertisements and information is all in Arabic.

May Allah bless Saudi Arabia!