Inside Saudi Arabia: Life between Tyranny, Slavery and Modernity | ENDEVR Documentary

Summary

The documentary delves into Saudi Arabia, a country at the crossroads of modernity and tradition, overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). While the country has seen significant reforms, such as women being allowed to drive and the opening up of entertainment sectors, it still faces significant human rights challenges. The Vision 2030 initiative aims to reduce dependency on oil and enhance the country's soft power through mega-projects. However, the government's measures of surveillance and censorship persist, even amid efforts to modernize and attract tourism. The film juxtaposes the traditional with the contemporary, showcasing Saudi society's dynamic and complex nature.

Highlights

• Bikers in Saudi Arabia portray a new rebellious spirit despite conservative norms. 🏍️
• Vision 2030 is transforming Saudi's urban landscape with ambitious projects. 🏗️
• Traditional customs, like camel beauty contests, coexist with modernization. 🐪
• Human rights issues, such as restrictions on free speech, continue under MBS. ⚖️
• Saudi Arabia is opening up to tourism, with luxury developments in Alula. 🏝️

Key Takeaways

• Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid reforms alongside strict traditional constraints. 🚀
• Women are gaining more rights, like driving, but still face societal hurdles. 🚗
• Entertainment and tourism are at the forefront of Saudi's Vision 2030. 🎶
• Censorship and surveillance persist, limiting freedom of expression. 🔍
• Mega projects aim to diversify the economy, but not without controversy. 🌆

Overview

Saudi Arabia is at a pivotal point, balancing between the old and the new. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often called MBS, is at the helm of numerous transformative reforms as part of his Vision 2030. This initiative not only aims to diversify the economy beyond oil but also seeks to align Saudi's image with a more modern, progressive face. The documentary captures the complexity of this transition, exploring how cultural taboos are being lifted, especially concerning women's rights.

Among the reforms, women are gaining more independence with rights to drive and participate in traditionally male-dominated activities such as biking. These changes are a part of a broader shift toward inclusivity in public spaces. However, despite these advancements, the documentary reveals that Saudi society still holds on tightly to certain traditional values and social structures, such as the male guardianship system.

On the ambitious end, MBS's government is investing in mega-projects like the NEOM city and luxury resorts. These plans are part of an effort to boost tourism and position Saudi Arabia as a cultural and economic hub. Yet, these developments also come with controversies, especially regarding human rights abuses and forced evictions of local communities. This documentary offers a nuanced glimpse into the complexities and contradictions that characterize Saudi Arabia's rapid evolution.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 03:30: Introduction to Biker Culture in Saudi Arabia The chapter introduces the emergence of biker culture in Saudi Arabia, a country traditionally seen as closed off. With scenes reminiscent of the American West, bikers gather every Friday sporting big motorcycles, leather jackets, and bandanas, adopting a rebellious American aesthetic that seemed unimaginable in the region until recently.
• 03:30 - 09:30: Changing Gender Dynamics in Saudi Arabia The transcript highlights the changing gender dynamics in Saudi Arabia by showcasing a 35-year-old female leader of a music group who also serves as a road captain, a role traditionally held by men. This reflects a shift towards greater female participation in leadership and outdoor activities within the country. The chapter suggests enjoyment and support for this evolving cultural landscape.
• 09:30 - 18:00: Economic and Urban Transformation in Riyadh The chapter opens with an unexpected image of a management expert who also rides motorcycles, breaking the stereotype of a classic gang leader. This individual has been riding for three years, showcasing a passion and enthusiasm for motorcycles, especially a 2020 model with a 107 engine, described as strong. The chapter hints at a narrative of personal ambition and growth, symbolized by the idea of one day leading a group on motorbikes. This sets the stage for discussing broader themes of transformation, likely tying into the economic and urban changes in Riyadh.
• 18:00 - 27:00: Ambitious Projects and Neom Development This chapter titled 'Ambitious Projects and Neom Development' explores societal changes in Saudi Arabia, particularly focusing on gender roles and equality. It presents the story of Omar, a 43-year-old real estate entrepreneur who supports gender equality and appreciates the leadership of women in the society. The narrative highlights the evolving cultural landscape in Saudi Arabia, where women are now able to participate in activities like riding bikes, symbolizing a broader acceptance and integration of women in various societal roles.
• 27:00 - 40:00: Advancements in Women's Rights The chapter "Advancements in Women's Rights" highlights recent progress in women's rights, using the example of a newly formed community of bikers in Saudi Arabia, which includes female company directors, engineers, and lawyers. This community represents the modern face of the country as they partake in activities like visiting a local fair 200 km from Riyadh.
• 40:00 - 48:00: Sports and Leisure Activities for Women Nure, the protagonist, adjusts to the cultural norms of the capital, swapping her helmet for a veil, which signifies a shift in her environment and expectations.
• 48:00 - 60:00: Censorship and Human Rights Concerns A group of friends is having fun riding bikes, enjoying themselves when an unexpected issue occurs. Despite the joyful atmosphere, the presence of a camera becomes a problem. The person in charge of the area approaches to address the situation, indicating that the camera is not welcome. This incident raises concerns about censorship and how it might impact the group's rights, possibly hinting at wider human rights implications regarding freedom of expression and surveillance.
• 60:00 - 75:00: Entertainment and Cultural Reforms The chapter discusses an incident involving a motorcycle team instructing to stop filming, introducing an element of mystery and unknown authority. This portrays a negative influence distinctively causing disruptions without clear identity or motives. The context seems aligned with cultural and entertainment reforms, possibly hinting at resistance or obstructions faced by authorities or media in Saudi Arabia while making reforms.
• 75:00 - 90:00: Tourism and Alula's Potential The chapter discusses the challenges faced by journalists working in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the high surveillance from the Ministry of Information. It provides an overview of Saudi Arabia's demographics, noting its population of 35 million and its economic reliance on oil exports. Additionally, the chapter touches upon the cultural aspect, mentioning the country's connection to Wahhabism, a strict interpretation of Islam.
• 90:00 - 96:00: Eco-Friendly Luxury in Alula The chapter titled "Eco-Friendly Luxury in Alula" begins by discussing the deep-rooted tradition and cultural aspects within Saudi Arabia, highlighting the influence of religion and the persistence of Bedouin traditions. It touches upon events like beauty contests for camels, which hold significant cultural importance. The narrative then shifts to the transformative changes the kingdom has undergone since 2018, possibly alluding to reforms and modernization efforts.

Inside Saudi Arabia: Life between Tyranny, Slavery and Modernity | ENDEVR Documentary Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] Bikers revving their engines in the desert. It resembles the American West. Yet, we are in one of the most closed off countries in the world, where this scene would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, Saudi [Music] Arabia. These bikers meet every Friday for a road trip. big motorcycles, leather jackets, and bandanas on their heads. A rebellious American look. And
• 00:30 - 01:00 yet, they are all Saudis. Good morning. is the leader of the [Music] group. Road captain at 35 years old, she will lead the team on the trip. Oh, I wish you all enjoy the ride
• 01:00 - 01:30 today. Thank you. Not the classic image you'd expect from a gang leader. This management expert has been riding motorbikes for three years. Actually, it's 2020. Yes, the engine is 107 and it's a strong uh one. I love it. It traveled with me many many places. In the first video, imagine one day you will lead a main group riding on a motorcycle. I know,
• 01:30 - 02:00 but things happened. Omar, 43, is a real estate entrepreneur. He may live in an ultra-conservative country, but is happy to be led by a woman. It's a new world. It's new. It's unusual to have women riding bikes in Saudi Arabia. But thankfully, the rules have changed. Women are now, as they should be, an equal part of society. And we're more than happy to have N as a road captain leading a
• 02:00 - 02:30 group. It's it shows great progress. not just within our own organization but within the country as a whole. For several years, Saudi Arabia has been showing a new face of a modern country just like this community of bikers that includes company directors, engineers, and lawyers. They created the first Harley-Davidson club in Saudi Arabia. Today, they decide to visit a local fair more than 200 km from Riyad,
• 02:30 - 03:00 the capital. The atmosphere here is quite different. Nure must swap her helmet for a veil. Change your clothes. Change the look. Why not leave? I'm going to see the camels with they may dress in a western style, but they come from a country with tribal customs.
• 03:00 - 03:30 Some fun for the group of friends. So far, the bikers seem to be having a good time. But suddenly, a problem arises. Apparently, our camera is not welcome. The person in charge takes us [Music] aside.
• 03:30 - 04:00 Without explanation, the motorcycle team told us to stop filming. It seems, and I don't know who they are, where they came from. There's a negative influence out trying to hamper your ends. It's not something that's ideal for you guys when you're doing a job and then suddenly you get handcuffed. Is this an attempt to intimidate the authorities? We don't know. But one thing is certain. In Saudi
• 04:00 - 04:30 Arabia, it's impossible to work freely as a journalist. Throughout our stay, we will be supervised and monitored by members of the Ministry of Information, filming under high surveillance. Saudi Arabia, a kingdom of 35 million people. As the world's largest exporter of oil, the country gets most of its wealth from its hydrocarbon reserves. It's also the cradle of Wahhabism, a rigorous version
• 04:30 - 05:00 of Islam, where religious dignitaries promote a misogynistic discourse. In this ultra-conservative kingdom, Bedawin traditions remain unchanged, such as this beauty contest for camels. Some owners are ready to do anything to win. But since 2018, Saudi Arabia has
• 05:00 - 05:30 been experiencing a revolution. Co-education in public places, opening of cinemas, women drivers. Since concerts have been allowed, Muhammad, a Saudi DJ, has been performing in the country's biggest cities. We illegally dance. A spectacular change driven by young and ambitious Muhammad bin Salman, crowned prince since 2017 and colloially known as MBS. To prepare his country for
• 05:30 - 06:00 the post oil era, he has launched a major reform plan named vision 2030. [Music] A program that cost over 3,000 billion dollars with Titanic real estate projects such as this oil platform transformed into an amusement park. His aim to diversify the country's economy and modernize Saudi society.
• 06:00 - 06:30 [Applause] a reformist prince. That's the image that MBS wants to sell to the world. But he is a two-faced prince who suppresses all disscent. He has allowed the repression of political opponents and arrest of human rights activists. It is also one of the most censored countries on the internet. Saudis cannot express
• 06:30 - 07:00 themselves freely. Exceptionally, we were allowed to film in Saudi Arabia. Between reforms and repression, we dive into the Saudi Kingdom, one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world.
• 07:00 - 07:30 A capital with exceptional growth where skyscrapers are amongst some of the tallest in the world. The city already has about 50 of them. In a few decades, the frantic pace of construction has turned Riad into an ultramodern megalopouloolis with brand new shopping centers, luxury boutiques, and trendy cafes. It's a spectacular change that makes its inhabitants proud. 30 years ago this area, this whole area
• 07:30 - 08:00 was just completely empty. There was nothing here. It was complete desert. Abdul Salam is one of the architects of this transformation. The 56-year-old architect has designed some of the most iconic buildings in the Saudi capital. Client asked us to uh build a tower that is as high as the Eiffel Tower. And uh because the regulation did not allow, we designed a building that has the height regulation requirements
• 08:00 - 08:30 which is up to where you see the necklace and all from the 30th floor up is all empty. You cannot have residence in there. So we created this shape so that it can reach the height of the Eiffel Tower. For the past four years, this Saudi Arabian has been working on a shocking project. This morning, in the offices of Omrana, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country, Abdul Salam gathered his best team of Saudi
• 08:30 - 09:00 architects. Are they going to be the same shape all the time? Are they going to have patterns? Maybe. Maybe the patterns. Is it going to be used for lighting as well? Yes. Ah, lighting in that nice can have like cameras. This team of architects won the city's largest contract. No, this is a Kingston man park. This is the biggest urban park in the world. It's 16 and 12 square uh kilometers and it is five times bigger than the central
• 09:00 - 09:30 park and it is a hu the biggest project in Riad right now. an urban forest created from scratch to make Riad one of the most livable capitals in the world. It might seem impossible. How will we turn a flat desert airport into a lush, thriving forest? First of all, we'll transform the landscape to provide shelter from the sun and the wind,
• 09:30 - 10:00 forming new microclimates and habitats where plants will flourish. More than 1 million trees will be planted. An incredible $23 billion project financed by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, the financial arm of the regime. A real challenge in a city where it rains on average 3 days a month. But Abdul Salam's team thinks they have found a solution. water will be a challenge but because we have a lot of sea page in water and we
• 10:00 - 10:30 have a lot of possibilities to produce water out of the huge amount of people that are in Riad we believe that water can be retored and then reported into the uh park. So we believe that uh our target as per the vision in 2030 that this project and the other projects of green will reduce the temperature from 5 to 10°. 5° is realistic. 10° is optimistic. And what is your expectation? 6°.
• 10:30 - 11:00 We'll wait and see. We'll wait and see. A 100 years ago, Riad looked like this. A Bedawin village in the heart of the desert. From the 1970s onwards, petro dollars were poured into the Saudi capital. In 60 years, the population of Riyad increased from 150,000 to 7.5 million. Today, the city aims to become
• 11:00 - 11:30 the economic center of the Middle [Music] East. This is the KFD, King Abdullah financial district is the financial the heart of Riyad. It's like La Def in Paris. It's about 1.6 6 to 2 million square meters of investments. It has about 61 towers. By 2030, Riad hopes to attract up to 500 multinationals to compete with Dubai and
• 11:30 - 12:00 Abu Dhabi. The entire financial district has been designed to be a symbol of the new face of Saudi Arabia, right down to the design of this large mosque, shaped like a sand rose without any columns inside. It is a contemporary design. We wanted to design it in the same spirit with the dome and with the classic architecture.
• 12:00 - 12:30 We needed to do something that is uh contextual uh and that is within the context of the whole uh district and we thought that this style will really bring in something new and we believe it does. A breath of fresh air by Muhammad bin Salman. The business district is part of the reforms launched in 2016 by the crown prince with the ambition to transform the country's economy. Well, the goal of vision 2030 is to reduce the
• 12:30 - 13:00 dependence on oil, improve our ineconomy in different uh ways. Uh improve the quality of life of our citizens and the residents of Saudi Arabia. It's very ambitious, but we believe in it and we trust we can do it. [Music] Within the framework of the vision 2030 project, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is multiplying the number of mega
• 13:00 - 13:30 projects at astronomical costs. One particularly costly venture, the kingdom will invest 8 billion into the Red Sea project, a luxury resort on the Red Sea. But the craziest project of all goes by the name Neom, the city of the future.
• 13:30 - 14:00 We see the world. A megalopous at the cutting edge of technology built in the middle of the desert along a straight line 170 km long. No roads, no cars, and no carbon emissions. The total cost $500 billion almost equivalent to the GDP of Belgium. [Music]
• 14:00 - 14:30 And to carry out this megalomaniacal project, MBS wants the 20,000 inhabitants of the region to vacate in exchange for financial compensation. But some Bedawin tribes refuse, like these villagers who are protesting against this forced eviction. One of the residents tries to raise public awareness by posting videos on the internet.
• 14:30 - 15:00 [Music] [Music]
• 15:00 - 15:30 A few hours later, the man was killed in his home by the police. According to the police, the villager was armed and opened fire first. This information cannot be verified. For Muhammad bin Salman, nothing will stand in the way of his vision of the new Saudi [Music] [Applause] Arabia, a reform agenda that also
• 15:30 - 16:00 includes women's rights. To boost the economy, MBS has lifted certain bans on Saudi women, such as the right to drive. [Music] North of Riad, a strange practice takes place every day. Drivers cross each other's paths, sometimes at risk of colliding. This driving school has a special feature. It's for women only. Saudi women aged 18 to 60 from all
• 16:00 - 16:30 social classes. [Music] classrooms and simulators. Even this rolling car, Saudi women are allowed to drive today thanks to the courage of certain female activists who would film themselves
• 16:30 - 17:00 driving. This practice was prohibited in the country for women. home. They are. Lujain al-Hafl became the most famous of them with this video that would be seen all over the world. [Music]
• 17:00 - 17:30 Lujain was arrested with other activists only a few days before the ban was lifted. For her activism for women's emancipation, she spent 3 years behind bars before being released. Saudi women were finally allowed to drive in June of 2018. In the car park, the driving school has pulled out all the stops. 800 cars are available this morning. Llama, 37, is about to take her first driving
• 17:30 - 18:00 lesson. The inspector on the right will first take her around in the car for a little lesson in mechanics.
• 18:00 - 18:30 Okay. Although this mother has driven in the desert under her husband's supervision, she has never experienced the stress of traffic. Okay.
• 18:30 - 19:00 In a country where there is little public transport, a car is almost the only way to get around. So, a driving license will change Llama's [Music] life.
• 19:00 - 19:30 forefe historic measure is a hidden economic objective to encourage women to find a job. Almost 200,000 Saudi women have already obtained their driving licenses.
• 19:30 - 20:00 In addition to being able to drive, Lama can now open a bank account, apply for a passport, and travel alone. Shocking that until recently, Saudi women were not allowed these freedoms without the consent of a male guardian. usually their husband or
• 20:00 - 20:30 [Music] father. Northeast of Riad, a middle-class residential area. Llama lives in this house with her [Music] family. Like every evening, this mother and her four children, aged from 4 to 13, wait patiently for the head of the family. It's 6:00 p.m. and Riad comes home from
• 20:30 - 21:00 work. He is employed in a bank as a client manager. As soon as he arrives, Llama takes care of her husband. Okay. Okay. Okay. I take I give my wife my and she take about this one. After this one they brought the food. We eat
• 21:00 - 21:30 together. We stay together. This is the real life. Due to our camera, Llama will keep her knee on at home for the duration of the interview. Okay. Lama and her husband are a traditional Saudi family. They each have a precise role in the relationship.
• 21:30 - 22:00 Saudi woman in the home. She is the queen of the home in Saudi family. The man take care about everything outside and the woman she's taking care about inside.
• 22:00 - 22:30 While Rayad has allowed his wife to get a driving license, he is not ready to challenge the patriarchal system and nothing changed because this is the life for family. Okay, she's driving now. She will go to her work, school, studying, going with friends, with her girlfriends. But still, still she she is Saudi woman. She's with his husband at
• 22:30 - 23:00 the moment. Llama is not looking for a job. She prefers to concentrate on her role as a housewife. Tonight, she is organizing a little party for her son, Yousef, aged seven, to congratulate him on his good school results. For the occasion, the whole family gathers outside, but not just anywhere. in a traditional tent made from stone and set up at the entrance of the house.
• 23:00 - 23:30 The couple may be equipped with the latest gadgets, but there is no question of forgetting their Bedawin origins. Like many Saudis, Lama and her husband were at first a little bewildered by the crown prince's reforms.
• 23:30 - 24:00 Despite the measures in favor of women, most Saudi women like Llama are not
• 24:00 - 24:30 ready to break free from the guardianship system. a system of guardianship that is far from being completely abolished. To have custody of children or get married, Saudi women still need the agreement of a guardian. [Music]
• 24:30 - 25:00 At the opposite end of the country, other women are working to break free from the male gaze, particularly through sport, something that has long been forbidden to them. Jedha, on the banks of the Red Sea, the most cosmopolitan city in the kingdom, it has a holiday atmosphere all year round. The inhabitants favorite pastime is riding a tricycle.
• 25:00 - 25:30 Riding a bike sounds like a normal thing to do, but for Saudi women, it's a novelty. Nasarin, 45, opened the cycling club in 2018. Every week, she welcomes new members who come to learn to ride a bike. [Music]
• 25:30 - 26:00 For years, cycling was exclusively a men's sport, a practice that is not illegal, but considered to be immodest for women.
• 26:00 - 26:30 Cyclist. Cyclist. [Music] [Applause] At nightfall, Jedha's residents swarm to the seafront. This is the time of day
• 26:30 - 27:00 when Saudis like to go out with family and friends. After training, Nasarine and two of her friends take advantage of their newfound freedom to go out unaccompanied by a man. They meet in their favorite cafe, one of the latest trendy places in town. As soon as they are settled, the three friends take out their mobile
• 27:00 - 27:30 phones. They take advantage of this relaxed moment to go on social media. [Music] [Applause] Saudis spend an average of more than four hours a day on the internet.
• 27:30 - 28:00 an appearance of freedom behind which lies a completely different reality. In Saudi Arabia, the internet remains a highly controlled space under permanent surveillance. [Music]
• 28:00 - 28:30 [Music] Yes. Can you feel more [Music]
• 28:30 - 29:00 fearing that her friend will say the wrong thing, Nasarin deliberately changes the subject. In Saudi Arabia, a simple tweet or saying the wrong thing can land you in jail. This is what happened to Abdul Rahman al- Sathan. Arrested in 2018, the aid worker
• 29:00 - 29:30 was sentenced to 20 years in prison for criticizing the government on Twitter. A relentless repression that also targets dissident abroad. Jamal Kosigible was an exiled Saudi journalist known for his criticism of the crown prince. He it is becoming a oneman rule. He has a control of everything. He is creating an environment of uh of of of intimidation and and fear. So are being
• 29:30 - 30:00 silenced. On the 2nd of October 2018, he went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for administrative purposes. Inside the journalist was strangled and his body dismembered by a commando group of Saudi agents. Initially, Saudi Arabia denied the journalist's disappearance before finally acknowledging his murder a few weeks later. It is a heinous crime that cannot be justified. Today, Saudi Arabia is
• 30:00 - 30:30 carrying out all legal uh uh uh things to finalize the investigations, to work with the cooperate with the Turkish government, and to present the perpetrators to the court. The Saudi authorities spoke of an operation gone wrong. The American intelligence services accused the crown prince of having validated the
• 30:30 - 31:00 assassination. Even the clerics no longer have a say. Until now, power was shared between the royal family and the ulama, guardians of Wahhabism, the rigorous Islam that has governed the country since its foundation. [Music] But from now on, the crown prince intends to govern alone. As this imam from a mosque in downtown Riad will
• 31:00 - 31:30 confirm, he was the only one who agreed to meet us on one condition, not to be interviewed by a woman. [Music]
• 31:30 - 32:00 While Saudi society is governed by rigorous Islam, it is also rooted in Bedawin tradition. [Music] In the heart of the desert, thousands of camels take part in the most prestigious event in the country, the King Abdul Laziz [Music]
• 32:00 - 32:30 Festival, a sort of agricultural fair, but the Saudi version. The undeniable star here is the Arabian camel. People come from all over the country to see the beautiful animals or do business in this livestock market. [Music]
• 32:30 - 33:00 55,000 real, €14,000 for this three-year-old camel. In this fair, camels are sold at a high price. The virtues of the animals milk are highly praised for a guaranteed rejuvenation cure. It's perfect for the skin and the cold. You can uh see the skin. It's perfect. But the main event of the festival is the election of Miss Chamel, a prestigious beauty contest that rewards the most beautiful camels in the
• 33:00 - 33:30 Middle East. The prizes include luxury sedans and several prizes to be shared totaling 58 million. Nearly 30,000 animals will be paraded before a jury. to
• 33:30 - 34:00 feed. Around 2,000 breeders from all over the Gulf countries came to the event. Not a single woman in sight. The herders have set up camp a few kilometers away. No more tents on the horizon, but huge ultramodern caravans. A powerful Saudi owner agreed
• 34:00 - 34:30 to receive us. Hammad made his fortune in real estate and the oil industry. Yeah.
• 34:30 - 35:00 At 50, this businessman has traded in his camel for a Mercedes SUV, a little jewel at over €160,000. Despite his wealth, this Bedawin is not about to abandon his traditional way of life.
• 35:00 - 35:30 Hello. This year, Hammad hopes to walk away with a prize. To give himself the best chance of winning, he treats his camels with the utmost care. A blanket to protect their hump and shiny hair from the sun. Fresh feed to keep them in shape. This is the camel that the Bedawin is placing all his hopes on.
• 35:30 - 36:00 [Music] [Music] Hamad is not ready to sell the camel
• 36:00 - 36:30 because he knows that if he wins it will become even more valuable. This is the seventh time he has participated in the competition. [Music] In this high-profit industry, some people will do anything to win, even break the rules. Before being paraded
• 36:30 - 37:00 before the judges, the camels are examined by veterinarians. [Music] To qualify for the title of beauty queen, the animals must be in perfect health. The medical team even gives them a facial ultrasound as some owners resort to unthinkable methods. [Music]
• 37:00 - 37:30 a deception taken very seriously. So much so that the medical team set up a tented laboratory with the latest instruments, including X-ray machines and infrared
• 37:30 - 38:00 thermometers. The vet thinks he has detected an attempt to cheat. [Music] This year, 43 camels were disqualified from the competition for
• 38:00 - 38:30 cheating. The day of the competition has arrived. There are several breeds on parade. Each color having its own beauty criteria. Long neck, round hump, or silky hair. Nothing is left out. appearance of the animals, but also their gate under the gaze of their rich
• 38:30 - 39:00 owners and the encouragement of the public. The results will not be known until the end of the day. Today, a Saudi Arabian owner won the competition. He won a sum of 500,000. This is enough to shower the members of his tribe with glory who will celebrate their victory all night
• 39:00 - 39:30 [Applause] long. To prepare his country for the post oil era, Muhammad bin Salman is banking on a rather unexpected industry, entertainment. Cultural life has long been non-existent in Saudi Arabia. However, nowadays, weekends in Riad look like this. On stage, the Michael Jackson lookalike and dancers from the United States.
• 39:30 - 40:00 [Music] An Americanstyle show that doesn't seem to shock the public, not even the singer somewhat daring performance. A scene unthinkable in the country until a few years ago when music and socializing were forbidden in public places. [Music] [Applause] I love Michael Jackson.
• 40:00 - 40:30 This concert is part of the Riad Season Festival, the capital's new must-see winter attraction, a gigantic fair covering 90 hectars, nine times the surface of the Fua Dutron. [Music] Thrill rides, giant ice slides. The Saudis are experiencing the fair for the first [Music]
• 40:30 - 41:00 time. About 50 attractions, 200 restaurants, and 70 cafes. The festival welcomes more than 20,000 visitors per day. [Music] Musab 40 came with his wife and two [Music] children. Just last two years we started
• 41:00 - 41:30 uh to visit like this activities in Saudi Arabia especially in real changes that make this Saudi family very grateful to the royal family. It's a a revolution that's here and we are willing inshallah to uh get the benefits with under Malik Salman, King Salman and his son Muhammad Salman
• 41:30 - 42:00 that's he's leading the new Saudi inshallah to better and better and to compete with Dubai the fair's organizers even created this dome home with a toboggan run [Music] and a children's playground with artificial snow. This mother who does not wear a veil is on holiday in the
• 42:00 - 42:30 capital with her children. Before we we cannot go, we cannot see. We have to travel. Now we we don't need to to travel to anywhere. Despite the authoritarian excesses of the crown prince, she too has high praise for the royal family. Every time um King Salman and Muhammad bin Salman do everything for us. So we we know that it will be very perfect.
• 42:30 - 43:00 No democratic reform, but more leisure activities for Saudis. In order to get into the good graces of the population, Muhammad bin Salman reopened cinemas in 2018 after a 35-year ban. Today, the kingdom has more than 400 cinemas. Adon is Australian. He has just been hired from Dubai to run this cinema. We've got the replica of the London phone booth as part of the entrance. So, from your entry point, you
• 43:00 - 43:30 go through the phone booth. Since their opening, the theaters have been packed and the biggest hits are, of course, American blockbusters. Coming up, we've got some of our uh December releases. The main ones to look at, No Way Back, uh Survive the Game of Bruce Willis, who's very popular in the region. In Saudi Arabia, they show the same films as the rest of the world. Well, not quite. Marvel Studios latest blockbuster, The Eternals, has been censored due to a kissing scene between
• 43:30 - 44:00 two men. There's censorship for everything that gets released. Um, and that's up to the the regulatory body what they decide needs to be cut for the local audiences. So, do you know what kind of scene can be cut? Uh, typically it's anything related to nudity um or or or sex scenes or anything such as that. Despite the censorship, the
• 44:00 - 44:30 entertainment industry has a bright future ahead of it. The Crown Prince plans to invest $64 billion in the coming [Music] years. But in the entertainment sector, bands persist. While dancing is now allowed at open air concerts in Saudi Arabia, nightclubs are also still banned. This ambiguity leads some Saudis to
• 44:30 - 45:00 disregard the ban like Muhammad, an artist from Jedha, one of the few DJs in the [Music] country. Today, he is preparing his playlist for his performance in a theater. At 33, he is one of the emerging stars of the Saudi electro scene. [Music] It became like one of the most famous
• 45:00 - 45:30 tracks in Saudi Arabia. Then I say, "Okay, I made something new. I make Saudi electronic music." Muhan started to perform as a DJ during his business school studies at parties with friends. But at the time, these were clandestine parties. It was illegal. Like we had our religious police. way like it was illegal to go create a party, you know, in public. It's it's against the culture and the rules. So, I was just doing
• 45:30 - 46:00 DJing underground and what we do just we go we we do parties at private houses. That's how it's been happening until things are like become became uh you know official legal. [Music] Tonight, Muhammad will perform a concert never before seen in the country. The DJ will meet us a few hours later in this theater. So, we test main person.
• 46:00 - 46:30 The music space is Jedha's only venue for independent artists. Can you go like uh low volume because I have so much headroom. I I'll make it zero. Huh? I'll make it zero. Before the audience arrives, Muhammad prepares his set. It's a big moment for him and many Saudis. Today is very special for electronic music people because it is the first time we will have a dancing event. Uh so I'm very excited and u I just hope you
• 46:30 - 47:00 know for the people that comes for the first time and experience this kind of music for the first time you know they enjoy it and like we leave them with a good experience and good impression so they want to do it again. We can legally dance. Well not completely. Abdullah the manager of the venue is a bit nervous. He knows that organizing a dance party in an auditorium is still illegal. So, he takes the risk that the police might turn up at any moment. Because this is an indoor place, it might look like a
• 47:00 - 47:30 club and um it's still not allowed to have clubs in Saudi. So, that's why if it was an outdoor area, an outdoor concert, we be fine because it's a winter time kind of thing. But, this will look like a club and we're not sure. Maybe it will be fine, maybe it will not be fine. So, we're just being on the safe side. [Music] Abdullah is right to be afraid. In the past, concert halls have been closed down by the authorities for holding dance parties. At the bar, they offer some snacks, but no alcohol as it is strictly
• 47:30 - 48:00 forbidden across the whole country. The guests are mostly Saudis, and they have been handpicked to avoid any issues. At first, everyone moves quietly in their seats. Muhamad turns up the sound to liven up the atmosphere. Guys, don't be afraid to dance. [Music] Encouragement that has an effect. The
• 48:00 - 48:30 dance floor fills up even if the guests don't dance too close to each other. Muhammad is over the moon. On the dance floor, the traditional dress code was left behind. For these young people who have grown up in an ultra strict country, this evening is a real bubble. Like for this Saudi woman from Jedha. [Music] It's honestly an amazing experience. I've lived here my whole life and it's crazy to see something like this here.
• 48:30 - 49:00 Um, it's a great step forward and it's slowly going to get even better and I'm just excited for the future of this country, you know, and the energy is insane. the people. You know, it's great to have this here. It's 1:00 a.m. They have to pack up. Thank you for coming. We will do this again for sure. All right. How was it? Yeah. How was it? Was excellent. I said all what I have to
• 49:00 - 49:30 say. Since our filming, other dance parties have been organized in this theater without any intervention from the authorities. By encouraging more liberal morals, Muhammad bin Salman hopes to attract foreign tourists. Until now, Mecca has been the country's leading tourist destination. About 2 million worshippers visit the
• 49:30 - 50:00 holiest place in Islam every year. The kingdom is now banking on its cultural heritage to open up to travelers from all over the world. Welcome to a journey you've never imagined. To popularize it, he has invested millions of dollars into promotional clips. Welcome to Arabia, Saudi. [Music]
• 50:00 - 50:30 In the northwest of the kingdom, in the middle of the desert, the country conceals an unknown archaeological treasure. The province of Alula, one of the most hidden sites on the planet, a spectacular cliff setting, majestic tombs carved out of sandstone. The site of Alula is home to Nabatian remains dating from the 1st century [Music]
• 50:30 - 51:00 BC. Nicknamed the little sister of Petra in Jordan. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. Okay, welcome everyone in front of the unique palace locally named. It's the only tomb in the south. Also, the architectural it's unique. It has four column uh instead of two just like the rest of the tombs. And uh it seems that
• 51:00 - 51:30 he doesn't like neighbors. He's one tube and one [Music] stone. These French women are among the first foreign tourists to visit Alula. The country has only issued tourist visas since 2019. Revolution. [Music] [Laughter]
• 51:30 - 52:00 Yad is a bedawin from the region. He
• 52:00 - 52:30 took advantage of Saudi Arabia's opening to tourism to become a local guide. When I grow up as a child in front of this facade, I usually said we have an amazing things. Why don't people come and see it? And oh, you always at? Yeah.
• 52:30 - 53:00 So now when I see the visitors asking and all of that, I said, well, I said once upon a time when they will come and now I'm seeing that. So it's really amazing to see that and to be part of it. Especially Yeah. Especially to be part of it. Yes. I can imagine. Yeah. [Music] By 2030, the country hopes to attract 100 million visitors.
• 53:00 - 53:30 [Music] Alola is the tourist showcase of the Saudi kingdom which is striving to be a luxury destination. The country has invested over $15 billion in the region enough to finance the wildest of facilities like this mirror which is actually a theater or the unique hotel project by
• 53:30 - 54:00 French architect Jean Nouvel. 40 rooms, villas, and swimming pools, all carved into the cliffs. High-end accommodation that rivals an ingenuity to offer a unique experience in the heart of the desert. Hello. How are you? How's your stay so far? Good. Good. Good. Have a wonderful day. Charles, a Lebanese expatriate, is the manager of this five-star hotel. The beauty of this resort it's it's been
• 54:00 - 54:30 constructed and built to be echofriendly with minimum impact to the nature. So we have a lot of local components and the canopies are from the camel hair. So they are uh we have been very cautious on protecting the nature. an eco-responsible hotel with no CO2 emissions. To get around inside, guests are transported in electric golf cars.
• 54:30 - 55:00 The resort consists of 96 villas built in the middle of sandstone cliffs. The price of a room costs between 700 and 1,000 per night. The hotel is already attracting guests from all over the world, like this couple from London. Amazing. Where do you do the um the wellness? Where did that happen? So, this is one of our brand standards and brand ethos. We are a wellness brand, Habitas Worldwide, and we offer these activities for free for
• 55:00 - 55:30 our guests for them to start the day really on a positive notes and positive vibes. I've never been anywhere like this. It's one of the few places that it doesn't remind me of anywhere else. So, yeah, it's pretty very unique. a lounge bar and a fine dining restaurant. But what makes this place unique is the infinity pool. This luxury hotel has all the assets to attract the most affluent foreigners. Well, almost
• 55:30 - 56:00 all of them. Here people can swim men and women or h I'll have I'll have to skip this question. But we have one of the largest bars in the city here and we offer elixir and mocktails. Do you serve alcohol? Not uh alcohol is not served in Saudi Arabia at the moment. You think it's going to be maybe soon? There are talks, but that nothing has been made official yet. Even if it is still far from the festive
• 56:00 - 56:30 atmosphere of Dubai, the hotel is fully booked every weekend. By 2030, the tourism sector is expected to create 1 million jobs in Saudi Arabia.