Saudi prince: Nightlife

Reference ID:	09JEDDAH443
Created:	2009/11/18 16:04
Released:	2010/12/07 21:09
Last saved:	2010/12/19 18:02 +0800
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Origin:	Consulate Jeddah

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99

VZCZCXRO1684
RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR RUEHROV
DE RUEHJI #0443/01 3221658
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 181658Z NOV 09
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1602
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8582
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 0157
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

********************************************************************************

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000443 

SIPDIS 

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD 
EO 12958 DECL: 10/31/2014 
TAGS SA, SCUL, SOCI, ZR, KISL 
SUBJECT: UNDERGROUND PARTY SCENE IN JEDDAH: SAUDI YOUTH 
FROLIC UNDER “PRINCELY PROTECTION”

REF: A. JEDDAH 0292  B. JEDDAH 0079

JEDDAH 00000443 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

¶1. (C) Summary: Behind the facade of Wahabi conservatism in the streets, the underground nightlife
for Jeddah’s elite youth is thriving and throbbing. The full range of worldly temptations and vices
are available -- alcohol, drugs, sex -- but strictly behind closed doors. This freedom to indulge
carnal pursuits is possible merely because the religious police keep their distance when parties
include the presence or patronage of a Saudi royal and his circle of loyal attendants, such as a
Halloween event attended by ConGenOffs on. [DETAIL REMOVED] Over the past few years, the increased
conservatism of Saudi Arabia’s external society has pushed the nightlife and party scene in Jeddah
even further underground. End summary.

Elite party like the rest of the world,
--------------------------------------- 

just underground
----------------- 

¶2. (C) Along with over 150 young Saudis (men and women mostly in their 20’s and early 30’s),
ConGenOffs accepted invitations to an underground Halloween party at PrinceXXXXXXXXXXXX residence in
Jeddah on XXXXXXXXXXXX. Inside the gates, past the XXXXXXXXXXXX security guards and after the abaya
coat-check, the scene resembled a nightclub anywhere outside the Kingdom: plentiful alcohol, young
couples dancing, a DJ at the turntables, and everyone in costume. Funding for the party came from a
corporate sponsor, XXXXXXa U.S.-based energy-drink company as well as from the princely host
himself.

Royalty, attended by “khawi,” keep religious police at bay
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 

¶3. (C) Religious police/CPVPV (Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) were
nowhere to be seen and while admission was controlled through a strictly-enforced guest list, the
partygoers were otherwise not shy about publicizing the affair. According to a young Saudi from a
prominent Jeddah merchant family, the Saudis try to throw parties at princes’ houses or with princes
in attendance, which serves as sufficient deterrent to interference by the CPVPV. There are over
10,000 princes in the Kingdom, albeit at various levels and gradations -- “Royal Highnesses” (“Saheb
Al Sumou Al Maliki”) signified by direct descent from King Abdulaziz, and mere “Highnesses” (“Saheb
Al Sumou”) from less direct branches of the Al Saud ruling family. Our host that evening,xxxxxx
(protect), traces his roots to Thunayan, a brother of Mohammad, Amir of Diriyyah and Nejd (1725-65),
King Abdullah’s direct ancestor, six generations back.  Although PrinceXXXXXXXXXXXX is XXXXXXXXXXXX
not in line for the throne, he still enjoys the perks of a mansion, luxury car, lifetime stipend,
and security entourage. (Note: Most of the prince XXXXXXXXXXXX’s security forces were young
XXXXXXXXXXXX men. It is common practice for Saudi princes to grow up with hired bodyguards from
Nigeria or other African nations who are of similar age and who remain with the prince well into
adulthood. They are called “khawi,” derived from the Arabic word “akh,” meaning “brother.” The
lifetime spent together creates an intense bond of loyalty. End note.)

Availability of black market alcohol, prostitutes, and drugs
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 

¶4. (C) Alcohol, though strictly prohibited by Saudi law and custom, was plentiful at the party’s
well-stocked bar, well-patronized by Halloween revellers. The hired Filipino bartenders served a
cocktail punch using “sadiqi,” a locally-made “moonshine.” While top-shelf liquor bottles were on
display throughout the bar area, the original contents were reportedly already consumed and replaced
by sadiqi. On the black market, a bottle of Smirnoff can cost 1,500 riyals when available, compared
to 100 riyals for the locally-made vodka. It was also learned through word-of-mouth that a number of
the guests were in fact “working girls,” not uncommon for such parties.
JEDDAH 00000443 002.2 OF 002
Additionally, though not witnessed directly at this event, cocaine and hashish use is common in
these social circles and has been seen on other occasions.

¶5. (C) Comment: Saudi youth get to enjoy relative social freedom and indulge fleshly pursuits, but
only behind closed doors -- and only the rich. Parties of this nature and scale are believed to be a
relatively recent phenomenon in Jeddah. One contact, a young Saudi male, explained that up to a few
years ago, the only weekend activity was “dating” inside the homes of the affluent in small groups.
It is not uncommon in Jeddah for the more lavish private residences to include elaborate basement
bars, discos, entertainment centers and clubs. As one high society Saudi remarked, “The increased
conservatism of our society over these past years has only moved social interaction to the inside of
people’s homes.” End comment. 

QUINN

fingerprint 06A03694403AC644AECBFE009976C679