A SAUDI RAMADAN FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 004064

STATE FOR NEA/PD, NEA/ARP, AND NEA/P; EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
FOR PA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI SA
SUBJECT: A SAUDI RAMADAN FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

REFERENCE: (A) 98 RIYADH 04122; (B) JEDDAH 01368


1. SUMMARY. RAMADAN IN SAUDI ARABIA THIS YEAR HAS TAKEN ON
A CHARACTER QUITE DIFFERENT FROM RAMADANS PAST. SAUDI
RAMADAN IS TRADITIONALLY CHARACTERIZED BY DAYTIME INACTIVITY
AND NIGHTTIME ENERGY, WITH SAUDIS PASSING SOMNAMBULANT DAYS
AT WORK FOLLOWING NIGHT-LONG FLINGS OF EATING, SHOPPING AND
VISITING RELATIVES. DAILY WORKING HOURS IN GOVERNMENT
OFFICES ARE OFFICIALLY REDUCED TO FROM 8 HOURS TO 5; AND,
WHILE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO WORK, IT
HAS BEEN LARGELY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY ARE EXCUSED FROM
ACTUALLY WORKING. EACH YEAR, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES
THE REDUCTION IN WORKING HOURS FOR RAMADAN, IT IS CUSTOMARY
FOR IT TO LIKEWISE ANNOUNCE THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS BY THE END
OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH. THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, IN WHAT
APPEARS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO GRADUALLY CHANGE SAUDIS'
BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO RAMADAN, UNIVERSITIES REMAINED OPEN
THROUGH THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE MONTH (AND HELD EXAMS),
AND THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED SCHOOLS TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGH THE
FIRST THREE WEEKS OF RAMADAN (AND DIRECTED THAT MID-YEAR
EXAMS BE ADMINISTERED DURING THIS PERIOD). THIS CHANGE HAS
BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF PUBLIC ACTIVITY BY
GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND OFFICIALS, SENDING A SIGNAL THAT THE
KINGDOM REMAINS "OPEN FOR BUSINESS," DESPITE ITS BEING
RAMADAN. THIS HAS HAD A MARKED EFFECT ON THE BEHAVIOR, AND
MOOD, OF SAUDIS. JUST ONE YEAR AFTER CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH
ANNOUNCED THAT "THE BOOM TIMES ARE OVER" (REFTEL (A)),THE
LEADERSHIP APPEARS TO BE USING RAMADAN TO REINFORCE ITS "WAKE
UP CALL" TO THE SAUDI POPULACE. END SUMMARY.

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TESTED TEMPERS
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2. THE OBSERVATION REPORTED BY AMCONGEN JEDDAH (REFTEL (B),
PARA. 8) -- THAT THE CONTINUATION OF SCHOOLING, AND THE
ADMINISTRATION OF MID-TERM EXAMS, THROUGH THE THIRD WEEK OF
RAMADAN HAS FRAYED TEMPERS AND DISRUPTED TRADITIONAL RAMADAN
FAMILY LIFE -- HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF CONSIDERABLE COMMENT IN
THE SAUDI MEDIA. THIS UNPRECEDENTED PHENOMENON HAS MEANT
THAT THE CUSTOMARY HIGH-LEVEL OF NIGHTTIME ACTIVITY DURING
THE MONTH HAS BEEN LARGELY REDUCED, AND REPLACED BY MORE
NORMAL DAYTIME ACTIVITY. EVEN CASUAL OBSERVATIONS AROUND
RIYADH REVEAL THAT THE USUAL DENSE NIGHTTIME TRAFFIC HAS
TAPERED OFF, FAR FEWER RECKLESS STUDENTS ARE CRUISING THE
STREETS AIMLESSLY, AND EVEN THE LEVEL OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
SEEMS TO HAVE DROPPED. BECAUSE OF EXAMS, FAMILIES ARE
COMPELLED TO STAY HOME, AND HAVE MUCH LESS TIME FOR SHOPPING,
TO THE POINT -- APPARENTLY -- OF IMPACTING THE SAUDI RAMADAN
TRADITION OF REPLACING THE FURNITURE IN THEIR HOUSES: THE
USUAL RIYADH STREET SCENE OF TRUCKS FULL OF CARPETS AND
FURNITURE HAS BEEN LARGELY UNOBSERVED THIS YEAR.

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A CONSPICUOUS LACK OF CONSUMPTION
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3. THE IMPACT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION FOR SCHOOLS TO
REMAIN OPEN HAS DRAWN MEDIA ATTENTION TO THE CHANGED CONSUMER
BEHAVIOR THAT HAS RESULTED. "AL-HAYAT," FOR EXAMPLE, ON
DECEMBER 25 PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE UNDER THE HEADLINE "RETREAT
OF RETAIL SALES IN THE KINGDOM FOR THE FIRST HALF OF
RAMADAN." THE ARTICLE NOTES THAT, DESPITE AGGRESSIVE
PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS -- INCLUDING DISCOUNTING BY MORE THAN
40 PERCENT, ALONG WITH FREE GIFTS AND OTHER INCENTIVES --
CONSUMER SPENDING IS FAR BELOW TRADITIONAL RAMADAN LEVELS;
THE ARTICLE TIES THIS DECLINE TO THE FACT THAT MID-YEAR EXAMS
ARE BEING HELD DURING RAMADAN. THE "AL-HAYAT" ARTICLE ALSO
NOTES THAT SAUDI MERCHANTS HAD BEEN EXPECTING THE NORMAL 250-
TO 300-PERCENT INCREASE IN RETAIL SALES DURING RAMADAN, BUT
THAT CURRENT ESTIMATIONS ARE FOR AN INCREASE OF NO MORE THAN
40- TO 60-PERCENT.

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A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
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4. IN ALL RESPECTS THE CHANGES WHICH HAVE BEEN INDUCED IN
SAUDI BEHAVIOR THROUGH THE RAMADAN SCHOOL CALENDAR HAVE BEEN
FOR THE BETTER. THE ABSENCE OF YOUNG SAUDI MALES CRUISING
THE STREETS AND SHOPPING MALLS AT ALL HOURS, THE REDUCTION IN
RECKLESS AND WASTEFUL SPENDING TYPICAL OF THE SEASON, AND THE
RETENTION OF MORE REGULAR WORK HQITS ARE ALL POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE KINGDOM: FOR THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC AND
FAMILY LIFE, AND -- IN A COUNTRY WHICH ASPIRES TO ACCEDE TO
THE WTO, AND TO "SAUDI-IZE" ITS ECONOMY -- FOR THE LONG-TERM
HEALTH OF THE ECONOMY AS WELL.


5. THE MESSAGE OF "BUSINESS AS USUAL" -- WHILE PERHAPS MOST
EMPHATICALLY COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE SCHOOL CALENDAR -- HAS
BEEN CONVEYED THROUGH A VARIETY OF OTHER MEANS AS WELL.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND MEDIA COMMENTATORS HAVE EMPHASIZED IN
THEIR SERMONS AND COMMENTARIES THAT THE FASTING REQUIRED OF
MUSLIMS DURING RAMADAN DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY SHOULD SHIRK
THEIR WORK AND OTHER DUTIES; RATHER, A DEVOUT MUSLIM MUST
CONTINUE HIS NORMAL COURSE OF LIFE -- AND WORK -- DURING THE
MONTH OF RAMADAN.

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LEADING BY EXAMPLE
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6. A COROLLARY TO THE OBSERVATIONS REGARDING BEHAVIORAL
CHANGE INDUCED BY THE SCHOOL CALENDAR IS THE NOTICEABLE
INCREASE IN THE LEVEL AND VISIBILITY OF PUBLIC ACTIVITY BY
SAUDI LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. WHILE, AS IS ITS
USUAL RAMADAN CUSTOM, THE CABINET HAS MOVED ITS WEEKLY
SESSIONS DURING RAMADAN TO NIGHTTIME, ALL INDICATIONS ARE
THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS EXERTING AN EFFORT TO CONDUCT
"BUSINESS AS USUAL" DURING THE MONTH. THE MOST CONSPICUOUS
EXAMPLE OF ACTIVE AND "HIGH-VISIBILITY" GOVERNMENT DURING
RAMADAN WAS LAST WEEK'S ROLLOUT OF THE KINGDOM'S ANNUAL
BUDGET, ACCOMPANIED BY CONSIDERABLE MEDIA ACCESS TO
HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS. MEANWHILE, KING FAHD, CROWN PRINCE
ABDULLAH, DEFENSE MINISTER PRINCE SULTAN, AND RIYADH GOVERNOR
PRINCE SALMAN HAVE ALL MADE SEVERAL WELL-PUBLICIZED
APPEARANCES DURING THIS MONTH -- INAUGURATING NEW PROJECTS,
INSPECTING GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, HOSTING VISITING FOREIGN
LEADERS, AND ATTENDING PUBLIC EVENTS.


7. ON DECEMBER 27 ALONE, THE "HOME" PAGE OF THE "RIYADH
DAILY" CARRIED COVERAGE OF THE MOROCCAN KING, THE BAHRAINI
EMIR, AND THE SULTAN OF BRUNEI MEETING WITH SAUDI OFFICIALS
(ALL IN MECCA TO PERFORM "UMRA," OR THE MINOR PILGRIMAGE).
THE SAME PAGE REPORTED ON GRAND MUFTI AL-SHEIKH RECEIVING THE
HEAD OF THE "DA'WA" (ISLAMIC CALL) CENTER IN LATIN AMERICA,
THE SAUDI HAJJ COMMITTEE HOLDING A PLANNING MEETING, THE HEAD
OF THE "SHOURA COUNCIL" RECEIVING A DELEGATION OF GCC
CULTURAL OFFICIALS, AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE ARAB
BUREAU OF EDUCATION FOR THE GULF STATES MEETING IN JEDDAH.
SUCH A REPORTED LEVEL OF OFFICIAL ACTIVITY IS HIGH EVEN BY
SAUDI NON-RAMADAN STANDARDS.

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THE BACKLASH
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8. WHILE SOME SOCIETAL ELEMENTS HAVE REACTED WITH
ACCEPTANCE, EVEN APPRECIATION OF THE "NEW" SAUDI APPROACH TO
RAMADAN, RESISTANCE TO AND DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS CHANGE
IS EVIDENT IN MANY QUARTERS. NOT UNEXPECTEDLY, TEACHERS ARE
AMONG THOSE WHO ARE MOST VOCAL, A FACT REFLECTED IN THE
ANECDOTE CONVEYED IN PARA. 8 OF REFTEL (B). "AL-RIYADH"
CHIMED IN ON THIS ISSUE ON DECEMBER 23 BY PUBLISHING AN
"INVESTIGATIVE REPORT" ENTITLED "TEACHERS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION
OVER WORKING DURING RAMADAN, AND SHOW UNEASINESS FOR
TEACHING." THE ARTICLE CITES A NUMBER OF TEACHERS
CRITICIZING THE NEW ARRANGEMENT:

-- A DEPUTY PRINCIPAL AT AN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, COMMENTING
EMOTIONALLY: "THIS YEAR EXAMS COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
MONTH OF RAMADAN, WHICH IN MY OPINION PREVENTS TEACHERS AND
STUDENTS FROM OBSERVING THEIR RELIGIOUS DUTIES DURING THIS
MONTH IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY. ... (STUDIES) DISTRACT A STUDENT
FROM PERFORMING HIS RELIGIOUS DUTIES, FROM RECITATION OF THE
QUR'AN, AND FROM CHARITABLE WORK DIRECTED TO THE ALMIGHTY
DURING THIS HOLY MONTH, WHEN WE ARE REQUIRED TO DOUBLE OUR
WORSHIP OF GOD. ... (AND) THE SAME APPLIES TO THE TEACHER.
... YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW A TEACHER CAN ... PERFORM HIS
RELIGIOUS DUTIES DURING THIS HOLY MONTH";

-- A SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER EXPRESSING SIMILAR VIEWS, AND
ARGUING FOR "OBSERVING THE DUTIES OF THIS MONTH WITHOUT ANY
ANNOYING OBLIGATIONS";

-- AN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL TEACHER STATING: "MOST OF THE
TEACHERS ARE FRUSTRATED BY CONDUCTING EXAMS DURING THE MONTH
OF RAMADAN," ADDING "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS
TEACHERS FACE DURING THIS MONTH IS LACK OF CONCENTRATION
AMONG STUDENTS. THEY ARE STILL YOUNG AND FASTING AFFECTS
THEM GREATLY..."

-- AND, FINALLY, A TEACHER WHO SUGGESTS THAT "90 PERCENT OF
THE TEACHERS DO NOT TEACH PROPERLY DURING RAMADAN. IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE FOR A TEACHER TO TEACH AN ENTIRE DAY WHILE HE IS
FASTING." THIS TEACHER CONCLUDES HIS COMMENTS BY EXPRESSING
HIS "HOPE FOR A RECONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE,"
AND A RETURN TO THE STATUS QUO ANTE.

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YOU TOOK THE WORDS ...
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9. SIMILAR SENTIMENTS ARE EXPRESSED IN AN ITEM IN THE
DECEMBER 27 "ARAB NEWS," UNDER THE HEADLINE "PARENTS HAVE
HARD TIME COPING WITH EXAMS DURING RAMADAN." THE ARTICLE
OPENS WITH THE OBSERVATION: "WITH SCHOOL EXAMS STRETCHING
WELL INTO THE HOLY MONTH THIS YEAR, IT SEEMS THAT FOR MANY
PEOPLE RAMADAN LACKS ITS USUAL SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE.
CHILDREN ARE BUSY STUDYING, THEIR PARENTS ARE HELPING THEM
DAY AND NIGHT, AND TEACHERS ARE CORRECTING PAPERS. MANY
READILY ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE NOT YET FELT THE SPIRITUAL
CALMNESS THEY NORMALLY FEEL DURING THIS MONTH."


10. THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO GIVE VENT TO THE COMPLAINTS AND
FRUSTRATIONS OF SEVERAL STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS, BEFORE
CONCLUDING WITH THE COMMENT: "UNTIL EXAMS FINISH AT THE END
OF THIS WEEK THE PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM MUST ACCUSTOM
THEMSELVES TO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND CONCENTRATE ON MAKING
THE LAST TEN DAYS OF THE MONTH A PURELY SPIRITUAL EXERCISE."
THE CROWN PRINCE HIMSELF COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER.


FOWLER