Hospitality and the “faz'a”: the human face of Saudi Arabia that Europe is beginning to discover

However, what many discover on the ground goes beyond any prior expectations: a society that places human beings at its center and makes hospitality and solidarity everyday practices, not mere cultural slogans.

In Saudi culture, hospitality is not conceived as a one-off gesture or a circumstantial service, but as a deeply rooted ethical value. Visitors are not strangers, but guests who deserve respect and care, even outside the home. 

It is therefore not surprising that travelers are spontaneously invited to have coffee or share a meal by people they have just met, whether on the street, in a market, or on the road. This is not an economic or social issue, but a human vision that understands the act of welcoming as a moral responsibility.

Alongside this hospitality, there is another concept that is less well known outside the Arab world, but very present in everyday Saudi life: the “faz'a”. This is a form of immediate solidarity, which involves coming to the aid of others without asking about their origin, culture, or religion. If a car breaks down, several drivers will stop to help. If someone seems disoriented in an unfamiliar city, it is not uncommon for a citizen to personally accompany them to their destination. This is not superficial courtesy, but practical and direct solidarity.

I was able to observe this reality firsthand during a trip last December, when I accompanied several European friends—from Spain—on a ten-day tour of Saudi Arabia. We had initially planned a budget of around €2,000, but I suggested cutting it in half with a statement that surprised the group: “Here, people don't leave you alone.” What seemed like an optimistic intuition turned out to be a revealing experience.

Throughout the trip, many of our meals and moments of conviviality arose from spontaneous invitations from people we met along the way. We were welcomed into homes, shared coffee in traditional majlis, and got a close-up look at everyday life in Saudi Arabia. It wasn't curiosity about foreigners, but a genuine desire to share and welcome. As the days went by, my companions realized that this was not an exception, but a common expression of the social fabric.

For European visitors, this experience provides an opportunity to challenge widely held stereotypes about the region. Beyond the political and economic headlines, Saudi Arabia reveals a society in which human connections continue to play a central role, and where progress is measured not only in terms of infrastructure and megaprojects, but also in terms of social cohesion and mutual trust.

Traveling to Saudi Arabia today is not just a tourist experience, but a cultural and human experience that gives visitors a sense of community, unconditional hospitality, and sincere solidarity. It is, in short, an invitation to discover a country that has made respect for others one of the silent pillars of its social identity.

Mr. Hasan Alnajrani. Saudi journalist and academic