Would you go to Saudi on holiday to visit six flags theme park ?

[AceKitten]

It looks like it’s going to be so good, opens end of this year

but I’m but wary of going Saudi
been abu dabi and Dubai not problems

You want to hope you don’t break a single rule there inadvertently, the terror of ending up locked in their prisons really would put most people off. The justice system is mothing like the western model.

I have traveled across the Middle East regularly, and I woukd not consider going there, especially not with my DDs. No chance at all. None.

They are making small steps of progress, women can drive for example. Most women are treated as cattle though. I would think it’s going to take much more time before basic human rights are adhered to /or anywhere near the required standard for most western travellers.

No. I’d be worried I, or my children would inadvertently cause offence or do something illegal and have little or no recourse to fair treatment by their authorities.

Saudi are currently on a massive international PR mission to try to make their country palatable to the world. Most recently having comedy and film festivals which did attract some high profile people. Frankly I’d be loath to be part of their attempt to pretend that they’re are lovely country that doesn’t have massive human rights abuses

I’ve just googled it. It looks epic. I’d go. Sorry.

Nope. Never setting foot there

No

It sounds like you have no idea what goes on in the Middle East. The fact that you don’t have a problem with Dubai because you felt safe says it all.

I think you need to watch the news and dig out your moral compass.

You could swing by the waterpark in North Korea on the way home, you would enjoy that if you’re okay with Saudi.

No. I'd be petrified

My money is on you living in a gated community full of Westerners and a few rich Arab businessmen.

Someone recommended San Antonio Six flags - in Texas where the death penalty still applies and 70% of the prisoners are black despite it being the smaller demographic.
The US -such a bastion of fairness and equality 😂

Arghh! Missed a page of the thread but I was right. Knew it was going to be a gated compound. Had a (male ) friend who worked there briefly. He would go and stay in a compound. He wouldn't even take his wife and daughters with him, so would fly back and forth but chucked it in for many reasons after about a year.

So you need to start watching the news then.

No, I would never go to Saudi. I watched the White House press conference last week with the two liars buddying up to each other. He knew what was going to happen to Kashoggi, bollocks was it news to him.

I lived in Riyadh as a child (father’s job). I wouldn’t choose to return, though some things have improved slightly (eg I think women can drive there now). But the human rights abuses would be more than enough to dissuade me from wanting to go there. Same with the UAE. I don’t know how people can love Dubai so much when it’s glossy infrastructure is constructed and maintained by what is essentially the slave labour of workers from impoverished countries.

If you don’t know who this person is or what they have been responsible for you should definitely do some research. No woman in their right mind would think of visiting Saudi Arabia for a holiday.

The answer is NOT to shame and shun, that's actually counter productive to progress and allows oppression to continue in private. The problem with the "I would never go there because...!" is that that is NOT the answer. The answer is actually for everyone from more Western societies to go and help the country to see different ways and to grow by exposure to "other" ways. (I don't mean to go and be disrespectful to push them and risk imprisonment but by going and showing how things can be different to those in the country that as a rule have little to no exposure to the outside world).

This happened in the UAE, especially Dubai, I lived and worked there for many years in the early 2000's. The progress since then is astonishing. Because tourists started coming and the country started to open up, it had to if it wanted to become successful. The progress in womens / general human rights have made much quicker progress than was made in so called Westernised countries, like in our very own British history. No, it's not perfect and people will quote specific examples of where it has gone wrong and yes, you might feel they should know better "in this day and age", but religious culture is slow to reform, but reforming it is... Education is always going to be more successful than admonishment. The same can and will happen in Saudi, if "we" help.

Take any country in the entire world and you will see governments ("regimes!"), getting it wrong. But yet you would happily visit them.

My husband's Aunt visits because her husband is working out there. However, she is living on a purpose built village, with shopping malls, restaurants, grocery stores, sporting activities etc all on site. She doesn't need to leave it. Personally, I'd be wary of visiting, unless staying in a compound (essentially it's what she's staying in) and never venturing any further! The country has dreadful human rights, especially towards women and it could be very easy to get yourself into trouble over something minor. Make sure you research a lot if you do decide to visit.

Thanks for all the info and links I’m going to read them today
thanks for advising me

Do you think i never left the compound?

Events like the comedy festival confuse things even more. A person in the street wouldn't be allowed to repeat what was said at the festival but seemingly it's okay to perform it on stage at an event.
At least I know which comedians to swerve. It was hardly surprising to see Jimmy Carr on the line up. Reportedly the event was hidden on the tour schedule on his website, so it seems he's more than happy to take their money but not so keen for people to know about it.

I wouldn’t go to Saudi for any reason.

I agree. There was an interesting discussion on this on the Rest is Entertainment, particularly around certain comedians (I think it was mainly Americans other than Jimmy Carr) who discuss free speech in their stand up but are happy to take money from a country where free speech is limited

No.
I also wouldn't go to Dubai. These countries are fine until they're not, and then your life is over (literally in some cases).

I've been twice in the '80s and '90s to visit my dad when he was working there. No way I'd go on a holiday no way. It's no place for women xxx

Yes...