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:

  1. Theme parks and hotels

  2. Sports and cultural zone

  3. Motor Sport Zone

  4. Eco Zone (nature/wildlife adventures)

  5. 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

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