What is it like for a non-muslim teen girl in saudi arabia?

You are fool FULLA on what you said.

In Jeddah and Eastern province life is different compare to Riyadh, and wearing hijab is not optional, it is highly recommended but there are place that is not so strict.

There are some Catholic priest inside Aramco compound and FULLA do not know about it.

Malls visited by Saudi people are a boring place not hot hot hot HOT.

Most Saudi men do not know how to approach ladies, due to their unnatural attitude, they are being choke by their laws.

What can you wear?

You have to wear Abaya, as for the head scarf it depends to where you go, Malls, hospitals, beaches no one would ask you to cover your head, even if they did, it is just nosy people but not ( the religious police) as for markets then you might be asked by the religious police to cover your face.

(usually the religious police have policemen with them)

What can you do?

Whatever you like as long as you don't do anything against the laws.

What are the restrictions?

Alcohol, drugs and pork are prohibited and illegal, women are not allowed to drive and have to wear Abaya's , Any other faith than Islam is strictly prohibited. No wearing of crosses or any other religious symbol will be tolerated, women are not allowed to swim in public beaches.

Do they have christian churches?

No

How's the lifestyle compared to america?

unless you live in one of Aramco Compounds then it is very different.

the weather is HOT !

Prayer times are very sacred, all markets, restaurants .. etc closes.

there is No racial discrimination

in most places men and women are completely separated ( e.g. schools, some malls are just for women, gyms) as for the restaurants there are 2 sections ( singles and families) a woman has to eat at the families section even if she goes alone.

any sexual harassment of women is not tolerated.

it depends to which region or city are you going. in the western region especially Mecca, girls & women should wear Hijab otherwise the would be violating the traditions of the place attract othe ppl's attention coz itz very strange to walk without it. or might be taken to police. In Jedda and Eastern region it's okay to unveil face cover and there are so many american and british or foreigners in that region. there and

also the middle riyadh is a very big city and the life style makes you feel you are not foreigner. yet still need to wear black thawb or black whatevers clothes clthes you wear. no churches in KSA at all.

@ Ahmed.. dont put down Fulla.. she has some truth in what she said..;

I am a khobar lady (eastern province) and I dont wear a face veil.. my teen neices do NOT even wear a scarf.. If you look in the malls.. al-Rashid, Dhahran malls here, you will see loads of women that dont wear scarves.. Some even are brave and wear normal western clothing without the black cloak (abaya).. albeit they do wear longer tunic blouses or long skirts to the floor.. but they still dress normal.

I was an Aramcoan.. NO there are NOT any churches in Aramco and anywhere in SaudiArabia..

but in some private compounds.. Aramco included, they allow the christians to get together and hold private services.. But its not official.. There is NO assigned paster inside Aramco.. just someone who possibly knows a bit and holds services.. Whoever is available.. From what ive witnessed. the Philipino community has larger congregations that the americans or brits do.. but if you really want to go, im sure they will gladly invite you. But you have to be invited inside Aramco compound, you cannot just freely drive in.. someone has to allow you in..

as for teens.. it can be boring if you are not resourceful and ambitious.. you can be open minded and make friends easily, then you can get invited to social events.. you can go to the malls and shop..

yes the young men here seem to oogle at girls a lot, due to repressed emotions that the culture demands, but there are security guards at all malls that will handle that if you report harrassment, it isnt really bad..

its hot here right now.. seriously hot.. like 110F hot and it will get hotter in August our killer hot and humid month..

Also during August this year falls the Islamic month of Ramadan which everyone here is fasting during the day, and not much is open until evening hours..

anyways.. you can make your time enjoyable or boring, its up to you.. welcome!

1. You will have to wear an 'abaya (hijab "optional")

2. There are NO churches or any other forms of worship besides mosques

3. If you like shopping you will have a blast in the malls.

4. It is hot hot HOT.

5. You will likely get a lot of attention from guys, not in a flattering way.

All these things vary slightly depending where you are going.

@ Mintee thanks.

@ Ahmed: 7aram 3alayk. I think your comment is a little harsh considering that I explicitly stated "All these things vary slightly depending where you are going" I don't know where she is going so I could really only make a generalized blanket statement.

I also put hijab "optional" in quotations for a reason. As in some places (i.e. Jeddah) I see girls who don't wear it and might be ok but I know in others it's not acceptable. I didn't want to get into a long drawn out discussion of law vs. application of law, practices, 'urf...whatever.

I am well aware of the cultures in Jeddah vs. Riyadh and I'm sorry but it is HOT right now. If you don't find it HOT then perhaps you are some extreme thermophile or something. It also depends where she is coming from. In some place temperatures max in the mid-to-high 20's in the summer so Saudi would be hot for them. If not for the heat then what is the justificaiton for having so many places air conditioned all the time!?

The asker of the question said what is it like for non-Muslim teens girls...I'm sorry but most teen girls enjoy shopping.

SOME men in Saudi often behave atrociously. Especially I have seen this in the case towards non-Muslim girls. Saudi guys often take advantage of the fact that they are maybe not as conservative (for lack of better word) then Muslim girls or Saudi girls (I know this is not always the case). And anways who are you to comment on the experiences of a woman in Saudi, you are a GUY. Maybe you keep to yourself but I see how some of them ogle girls, throw their numbers at her. Even some just randomly call numbers looking for girls - it happened to my brother in law. (quite a funny story actually).

I never said there were no priests, I never said that expats and foreign workers were not allowed to gather to practice their own faith. I said there were no CHURCHES.

Read carefully my friend.

@ Display Name...NO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION?? This is hardly the case. Some Saudis are even "racist" against other Saudis based on city they are from. Sadly...white people get treated best for the most part (not that they shouldn't be treated well - rather race shouldn't be an issue). Lowest....Bangladeshi, Paki, Philipino imported works. Even agains nonGCC Arabs...not so great.

What can you wear? ANY THING THEY SAY What can you do? PRAY What are the restrictions?DONT NO WHAT THEY R): BUT THERE'S LOTS OF THEM Do they have christian churches? NOOOOOOO How's the lifestyle compared to america? HELL

Life of Singles in Whole GCC is like living a nightmare and KSA has the worst scenario. I will advise you not to come here or if you want to come then dont live here for a long period.