Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is trying to grow their tourism industry. This it their big future attraction. What is it?
Do you want to go here?
Is this a good use of an oil rig?
The rig will have:
submarine rides
berths for yachts
3 hotels with over 800 rooms
11 restaurants - one with undersea dining
the theme of the park is OIL
Aims to open in 2025
extreme sports
helipads
roller coaster rides
bungee jumping
skydiving
waterslides
They also plan to build this:
Qiddiya will have 5 zones:
Theme parks and hotels
Sports and cultural zone
Motor Sport Zone
Eco Zone (nature/wildlife adventures)
Golf / Residential Zone
Q: What’s your image of Saudi Arabia?
On 2 October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based journalist and critic of Saudi Arabia's government, walked into the Saudi consulate in Turkey, where he was murdered. He was then cut into small pieces and secretly removed from the building in bags.
US intelligence announced that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) approved the killing. MBS claimed they were rogue agents.
Saudi Arabia has been at war with Yemen since 2015. Since then 85000 children have been killed and another 400,000 are at risk of starving.
Japan has maintained a close economic relationship with Saudi Arabia for many years.
Saudi Arabia has started to pay influencers to promote the country. They are…
chauffeured around in helicopters
scuba diving in the Red Sea
paid thousands of dollars
can stay in luxury hotels
taken to beautiful sightseeing spots
Do you think this is a good idea?
If you were offered this package to promote the country, would you?
In 2019 Saudi Arabia’s new laws allowed…
women to book hotel rooms without a male guardian
women to drive
unmarried couples to say in a hotel room
Do you think the country is progressing?
What do you think the DRESS CODE is in the country?
Men:
sleeveless shirts
shorts
skinny jeans
necklace, bracelets
Women
knees and shoulder
tight clothes
bright make up
religious jewelry
It is illegal to:
show public affection even to your wife
drink alcohol
bring in a drone
display sympathy towards Qatar
practise a religion other than Islam - you should hide any religious jewelry under your clothes
make comments against religion, the royal family, Saudi Arabia or its government
be gay
take photos of people without their permission
dance at concerts
Saudi Arabia’s investment fund (which MBS is in charge of) recently bought Newcastle United, a football team in England.
Why did they do this?
Sportswashing = to use a sporting team/event to improve your image
Can you think of any examples of sportswashing?
Russia, Qatar - World Cup
China - Olympics, Winter Olympics
Abu Dhabi - Manchester City, New York City FC, Melbourne City FC
Qatar - PSG
Dubai - horse racing, golf tournaments
Roman Abramovich - Chelsea FC
How do you think Newcastle United supporters feel?
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/12/the-instagram-influencers-hired-to-rehabilitate-saudi-arabias-image
https://www.insider.com/saudi-arabia-laws-tourists-pitfalls-2019-10#no-dabbing-1
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/06/saudi-arabia-to-allow-unmarried-foreign-couples-in-hotel-rooms
https://www.saudiarabiavisa.co.uk/dress-code-foreigners.html