Saudi Australians

There are thousands of Saudis living in Australia; they can be found in all major urban centres including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane[citation needed] and make up a substantial representation in the Arab Australian community.

It has been said that this cultural development has improved Saudi Arabia’s international standing[2] and transformed foreign relations with Australia from strictly economically based to one grounded in mutual respect.

[6] This relationship is strengthened through their shared membership within the G20, chaired by Saudi Arabian King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, along with their mutual economic and trade dependence.

Women are not permitted to travel around Saudi Arabia (or leave the Kingdom) without the supervision of a male guardian; being a husband, relative or sponsor.

This results in concentration of particular ethnic groups in specific geographically urbanised areas, such as the Middle Eastern population in Auburn, Sydney.

[14] The courses of which the program funds are dependent upon what the professional sector, namely governmental organisations and ministries, require in order to boost their industry.

It has also strengthened the diplomatic relationship between Australia and Saudi Arabia, after the signing of the Memorandum of Co-operation in Higher Education in 2010.

It is shown that students with high proficiency in the language of their host country succeed academically at a much higher rate than those who do not.

[3] The cultural adjustment of Saudi students is also made difficult by the differing social norms surrounding gender relations.

In Saudi Arabia, the cultural norm is a strictly defined segregation between the males and females, specifically in schools, universities and the professional workplace.

As a result, it has been observed that in professional environments, Saudi Arabian students are generally more reserved around those of the opposite sex.

[17] The nature of the relationship between the sexes in Saudi Arabia also contributes to the ratio of temporary stays versus those who apply for long-term visas.

[20] The cultural pressure to get married at a younger age in Saudi Arabia results in many students returning straight home after completing their studies in Australia in order to get engaged.

Despite this, according to the SBS Cultural Atlas, “Many Saudis enjoy their lifestyle in Australia, commenting that they gain a greater sense of self-confidence and independence.”[8] The Middle East has become a peninsula characterised by conflict in the past[which?]

These statistics however, refer to the Middle East as a whole and the numbers are largely accounted for by Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

[23] Restrictions are placed on women’s ability to travel without a male guardian, making it difficult for them to seek refuge in other nations.