7 great things about living in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a very underrated place plagued with a lot of misconceptions. While some may hate it because of its relatively strict rules, there's a lot of good in it too.

Please keep in mind that nothing about this post is being sugarcoated. This is just based on my personal experience of the place because well, I actually lived in the kingdom for 19 years and I saw both the good and the bad. If you're not going to keep an open mind, please leave this post alone. Your opinion is NOT a fact.

Note: This is one of the bigger compounds. Every compound varies in terms of facilities and prices. The compound is the only place where the Mutawa' cannot follow you and tell you to cover because of the amount of foreigners that live there. You can wear whatever you want and nobody will tell you anything, not only because they can't, but because they will probably already be your friends.

First held in 1985, Al-Jenadriyah is a cultural and heritage festival held near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia each year. The cultural festival lasts for about two weeks. It includes activities such as camel and horse racing, folk poetry, a popular market to shop from, arts and popular games to participate in, folk costumes and a book fair.

Al-Faisaliah has become a landmark of Saudi Arabia over the past couple of years. The ballpoint pen shaped building is the fourth tallest building in Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom Center. Inside the "ballpoint pen" is a very luxurious restaurant. This ball is referred to as "The Globe Restaurant".

View from "The Globe Restaurant"

Kingdom Center is the third tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia. Besides its' shopping malls, the kingdom tower contains the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh and apartments. It has more than 45 luxurious shopping malls and boutiques from world famous brands.

Out of respect and awareness of the diversity of students, most of the schools in Riyadh have two buildings. One for the English (International) section and one Arabic Section. Both follow a different curriculum and system.

Manners, including table manners, are extremely important in every Saudi family. But one thing that always stands out is how they say "Bismillah" before and "Al hamdulilah" after every meal. Washing your hands before every meal is a must so you don't spread your germs to your food.

Contrary to popular belief, Saudis are NOT a bunch barbaric and close-minded people. If anything, the majority of them are more open-minded than most of the people you know. Most of them have traveled to places the rest of us can only dream of ever going to. They have seen people from different cultures and backgrounds. Most of them are some of the friendliest and most accepting people you will ever meet in your life and once they make friends with you, it's a friendship for life.