Hello to Arabia

One of the earliest books I read about the Middle East was David Holden's "Farewell to Arabia" (published in 1966. Holden, a Sunday Times correspondent was murdered in Cairo in December 1967.
The book title was perhaps a little provocative, but carefully chosen to suggest that the "old" Arabia was disappearing. That was the perceived romantic Arabia of Valentino movies; mystic, unknown and exotic. Ten years of "revolution" prior to the publishing of the book had seen the Suez Crisis, the Yemen revolt, Kuwait's independence, the problems in Aden and a host of other significant events.
The 40 years since the book was published have indeed seen the emergence of a "new" Arabia, although this passage of time has created as much diversity as it has created cohesion; where the emergence of ultra-liberal and progressive societies have been countered by ultra conservative and repressive societies. And where public opinion and perception has slanted more to the negative than the positive.
One of the more "tucked away" countries in the Middle East despite its geographical size (2,15km² - 14th largest in the world), relatively small population (27,6m - 45th) and perhaps a surprisingly low per capita GDP of USD21,200, is Saudi Arabia.
I have lived and worked in Saudi Arabia on three different occasions in my life, in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh, in that order. Three very different cities in outlook and rationale, and from my first posting in Saudi in 1970 to the last, which I left in 1987, I saw many changes - but overall progress was slow. Today I still visit the Kingdom, so I am hardly a stranger to the continuing development, and I understand the many complex situations existing in Saudi that make changes to the social structure difficult to implement.
Nevertheless the progress does continue and, like the lifting of a veil, Saudi Arabia is modernising. It has taken a long time already, and it needs more. Yet remember Napoleon Bonaparte, who reportedly said "When China awakes, the world will tremble." So, he was maybe 200 years out, and I do not believe the awakening of Saudi Arabia will have the same dramatic impact that we have now seen from China. Nevertheless, given the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia, its eventual emergence will enable the writing of a new book - "Hello to Arabia", perhaps?

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[Sukyi]

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