Who is the Saudi Diva?

The one and only Saudi Diva

I’ve always been a free-thinking rebel and a free spirited soul.

I always did my own thing and paved my own path, no matter where I was.

I was born in Saudi Arabia, spent most of my life in Al Khobar, but have lived in different countries while taking courses and getting degrees (one of which is journalism). All of those were attempts to try and leave my confining and limiting Saudi lifestyle and home environment.

I belong to a religiously moderate minority of Saudi society. We form a very specific and exclusive community of the society. We went to private school, we had the privilege to travel, we didn’t necessarily practice like the other Muslims and we were somewhat Westernized. In high school, my friends and I would alternate between English and Arabic in one sentence when speaking with each other!

Living in Al Khobar meant that we were exposed to the rest of the world. We had American fast food chains and coffee shops, watched American TV shows and movies, listened to all global music genres, made weekly trips to neighbouring Bahrain and were able to even watch movies in the Aramco compound cinema. We occasionally mixed with Western expats, but it was other Arab expats that filled the majority of our days and social support systems.

With all that Western exposure and openness to the world with its diverse cultures, an identity crisis had unfolded. Despite being a pure Saudi woman, born to Saudi parents, I don’t feel completely Saudi. A good part of me certainly is, but there’s another side of me that surely isn’t. I like to think of myself as a fusion of East meets West, in one character, one body and one soul. While some parts of me resonate with Arab culture like the honest, genuine and warm approach to life and others, a lot of my other qualities have their roots in Western culture and lifestyle. These include the liberal mindset and outlook, the self-love and ability to adapt to almost any kind of situation or setting.

Growing up, I was the top student of my class, the misfit as a teenager and the rebel at home. My parents were over-protective, controlling and always cared more about what other people would think than about what’s in our best interest. They were both pioneers and business-minded individuals, best described as self-indulgent workaholics.

Despite the fact that I’m on an endless healing journey because of the lack of emotional support and love from both my parents, what they did has allowed me to do what I do now and shaped me into a highly disciplined, business-minded DIVA.

My mother came from a generation of pioneering women who had to constantly fight and struggle for what they wanted to achieve. She had to prove that a woman can leave a positive mark in a highly male-dominated society, she had an outspoken, courageous voice and strong views on everything.

Her journey as a Saudi woman in a blooming city and a successful writer greatly influenced the person that I am today. Her controlling ways throughout my twenties were standing in the way of me becoming the woman who I needed to be. Independence was my love and freedom my number one life value.

Being the youngest of three girls, I witnessed the effects of my controlling mother’s ways on my sisters and I decided that I wasn’t going to accept it. I had already done so until I was 29.

That’s when I decided that I had to collect all my courage (and my most valuable belongings) and take a huge leap of faith into the unknown. I quit my corporate IT support job, applied to a creative course in London as a first step to change careers and spent a whole year at home reflecting, thinking about my interests, my values, my life purpose and reading the Quran and Eckhart Tolle books. Those spiritual readings are what gave me the power I needed to leave everything behind and never look back. I knew deep down that this had to be my last attempt to make things work, that I had to let go of all attachments and people’s views and just leave for good.

It was the summer of 2009 and I was London bound. Best decision of my entire life.

Freedom was and still is my number one value in life. And there was a great lack of it while I lived in Saudi. The pressure came from everywhere. The rules of the country, the dress code, my over-protective and controlling parents, my extended family, the tribal society, even the private driver had the power to limit my freedom and my daily life choices.

Call me a late-bloomer, a Zumba addict, an eternal optimist, a nomad, a free-thinking rebel, a spiritual soul, an obsessive writer, a true journalist, a fighter, a free spirit, an extroverted introvert, a self-confessed diva, a spoiled brat, a luxury lifestyle lover, a day-dreamer, a wanderlust fanatic, a Westernised Saudi, an intense creature, a reflective character, a pioneer, a tomboy at times, a self-indulgent woman and one tough cookie 🙂

My biggest pet peeves include unsupportive friends and negative people, anyone who is floating in life without a clear direction or purpose, relaxed souls who aren’t seeking anything in life, let alone the ultimate truth and those living in their own bubble yet have the audacity to criticise what you do and even preach you about what you should be doing instead!

I was never part of a collective mentality and never will be. I’m a true leader and free-thinker. This is what brings me to this space: redefining the Arabic woman and crushing any stereotypes attached to the personality. I embrace my individuality as an Arabic woman with an original outlook on life and culture.

Join me on my endless journey of self-discovery and self-development as I redefine what it means to be a Saudi woman. Get inspired from the unique stories of other women who like me, broke age-old cultural boundaries and defied social norms and expectations to follow their heart and their life purpose. Step out if your comfort zone and discover your passions, interests and what motivates and empowers you. See yourself in the inspirational and heart-warming stories of other women and learn from their resilience and strength. Dedicate your time and life for what matters the most: you!

 

Love,

Saudi Diva