Saudi Arabia: From Oil Nation to Modern Travel Destination
Resumen
r/Lebanon shares a reflection on Saudi Arabia’s shift from a destination for work and fortune to a modern, globally connected tourism destination. The article traces Lebanese and other Arab migration to the Kingdom, alongside the region’s historic changes through wars, conflict, and economic opportunity.
"Between modernity tradition Arabian land of dreams incense" Leila Bissat wrote 🇸🇦 transformation from conservative oil nation to modern technologically advanced globally integrated, regional power nation. Why didnt 🇱🇧/🇸🇾 have our own national Lebanese...
Between modernity and tradition, the Arabian land of dreams and incense
TRAVEL
SAUDI ARABIA
Lebaneseauthor
02/07/2025|Leila Bissat
Who would have thought of embarking on a tourist trip to Arabia? A few years ago, the Kingdom was the first destination to find work, start a career, make a fortune. An unlimited number of Lebanese fleeing the 1975 civil war settled there, some permanently and others for some time, just for Lebanon to regain peace and security.
The oil windfly also attracted nationals of other Arab countries, who saw unlimited opportunities, especially in the 70s/80s/90s and even more. Palestinians, Iraqis, Syrians, Egyptians all participated in the construction of this immense desert peninsula bringing their know-how and expertise to the time when the Levant was the beating heart where all the East-West currents were founded.
Wars, conflicts, coups d'état, revolutions, a historical break-up changed the game of part of the Arab world, and a whole think tank emigrated to other horizons, especially where oil, a new source of energy, carried the promise of financial and social security.
Arabia, a land that made Sir Lawrence dream for a long time but worried Lady Gerbrude Bell, announced a different era. Even at that time, the British, greedy for colonialist control, did not think of governing these expanses of sand that they believed to be empty.
Their attention turned to Iraq, a rich country irrigated by two great rivers, the cradle of the oldest and most sophisticated civilization, the source of the first writings, and the longest odysseys and fables. Iraq was coveted for its oil, its three million date plans, its culture and its ethnic diversity.
Arabia escaped the British colonizers.
The AlSaoud family took power and unified the tribes that inhabited this large territory. A kingdom was born and the doors of the desert opened for everyone, so as not to close anymore!
My husband, like many of our Lebanese compatriots, worked there for many years, perpetuating a trade established ...
Post Author: /u/EreshkigalKish2
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