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An administrative center for the oil industry in Saudi Arabia, Dhahran forms a part of the Dammam Metropolitan Area. Oil reserves are found in abundance here and the city headquarters Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world. There is a diaspora of various ethnicities, along with the major population of Saudis.
The education is good and fulfilling, with students learning different subjects prescribed by the Ministry of Education. There is more focus on English and Computer these days. The kids get a good educational learning and background for the future. There are both apartments and single family dwellings in the city. While the traditional Muslim families live in the single family dwellings, the expatriates are more comfortable in the lush apartments. The neighborhood is populated densely because Dhahran provides excellent employment opportunities. So, people flock here from different countries and start living here permanently.
The ethnicity is primarily Muslim in nature, but also consists of people from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, the USA, Canada and New Zealand. The rich ethnicity has an average age of 25-26; the reason can be high birth rate and lower life expectancy(More than half of the GCC population under age 25,2014).There is a tendency of tightly-knitted families in Dhahran, with relatives and friends making it a large family for most. The occupation is mostly oil exporting and investment. The neighborhood has some strict rules and regulations, especially for women, but nonetheless it provides all the amenities and requirements for a fulfilling life. There are restricted timings for people to move in and out. The rent is reasonable and comes in a range of options- from SAR 1000 to SAR 18000 per month.
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With these ideas and estimates in mind, two interviews were taken. The Burwells, an American family, living in Saudi Arabia on the Aramco residency for years now, have learned to live an American lifestyle in their compound but outside of their little residency, the women have to wear a black abaya. There are armed securities at the main gate at Aramco and schools inside the gates. The grocery stores at the residency are small and limited in supply but the stores outside the gate are open only in the mornings and again remain closed till 4:00pm. This is one of the local cultures they have gotten used to. The community center is well developed and the little American community is well versed with each other and lives like one, big family.
The second interview is that of a Muslim lady by the name Ruqaiya. She thinks the Sharia laws are too restrictive at times. She says that even in the Dhahran Mall, she is forced to cover her head.But she hastily added that in spite of all the restrictions women go through, they are happy with the quality of life. With the introduction of new laws that ban domestic violence in the country, women are certainly coming out into their own. But she thinks that a woman’s life is still not her own; it is always under the guardianship of a male member. And she says she wants to drive! It is rather sad that Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving. But Ruqaiya is happy; she has a huge family and she is studying at a good college. She has joined a cooking class and is currently specializing in kebabs.
Then the real figures for the various factors were researched and made into a tabular structure.
Income level: SAR 276000
Education: High school level
Housing: Mostly apartments
Ethnicity: Mostly Saudis; a few Whites
Average age: 26 years
Family types: Joint families
Occupations: Oil export
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Housing median rent: SAR 7000
Well, certainly there is now a difference of perception. The difference is not so much at the demographics or occupation level. Those values had been estimated correctly. But the shocking and discerning factor was the quality of life at Dhahran, especially for the women.
The rich, oil-exporting city of Dhahran provides tax-free salaries, plush housing, sponsored education as well as 30 days paid vacation. There is good food and there are good malls. Movie theatres and alcohol are banned still, but Dhahran makes up for it with its exotic locales and tourism industry.(Mandi Lynn, 2014)
When the assignment was given and I began work on it, the realization didn’t strike me that the women living in the city have a different life, no matter how much riches they are abounded with. They are treated as legal minors. They always have to be escorted everywhere with men, they have to always wear burqas and they don’t have any say in most matters of national importance. It is sad that while in some places women are so free and liberated, while at others they are still bound by rigid laws and traditions. However, the women in Dhahran have learnt to make do with their fate and are happy, to the extent they can be happy. This spirit is in itself applause worthy.
Thus, the assignment was fruitful and I learnt a lot, especially with the interviews. The differences, I wasn’t aware of earlier, were now before me and the exercise proved to be good to perceive and know more about Dhahran.
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Works Cited:
- “More than half of the GCC population under age 25”.arabnews.com.n.p.,n.d.Web.30th October. 2014
- Mandi Lynn. “Top 5 reasons why living in Saudi Arabia is great!”.expatsblog.com.Web.30th October.2014
