Weddings at Late Night and other Jiddah, Saudi Arabia Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Wedding Receptions&Private Parties

It's funny when tourists think that Saudi has no nightlife while in fact Saudis are very nighty people.
Weddings are a major night activity where usually starts at 11:30 pm and finishes at 4:00 am.
At 11:30, the family of the bride and groom arrives at the reception hall. Then they start to receive guests at 12:00 pm. Usually the singeress arrives the same time with her team and instruments. Her colleagues are called 'Taggaga', and the main instrument is the traditional 'Duff' or 'Taar'.
Guests from 12:00 pm-2:30 am would be waiting for the bride and groom to show up together. While waiting women dance all the night on the stage until the couple appears to public. The buffet usually served at 3:30 am.
So it's a dance night and a fashion show;^)

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Theme: Live Music
Dress Code: Since it's a wedding night, women dress up their souree dresses.
Since weddings are segregated activity, women can dress anything revealing and expressive. When the groom comes to the hall, they wear on their black abaya to cover hair and dresses (cultural and Islamic costum)
Address: any reception hall for weddings
Directions: For example,
Hilton Hotel
Lailatee receptiona hall
Wisten hall (Duniatee)
the Empress reception hall
and more...

Nightlife Spot: Shopping

al Tasawwoq fi Jeddah or shopping in Jeddah is the way out for every woman, man and child:D If you don't go out shopping, forget about yourself, trapped at home. Because there are no night clubs or theatres to go to, we -Saudi people- could no longer stand doing nothing.
Listen how shopping is the night life in Jeddah:
- you can get a date and meet regularly on a safe public space
- you meet with friends for either following girls or playing around guys,lol
- you make new friends just by talking to people in store, you'll never see lonely shoppers;^)
- you will get a higher chance to have a fancy ride by an interested guy or to show off your baby girl
- If you are a single guy, you will have a chance to walk in a mall if you find a girl help you...as single men are not allowed in malls. If you are a girl, you have a company now,lol.
- many love stories start from a shopping mall, a number given out, phone call made, meet again, then fall-in-love
- at least, if you're with friends, you'll just be watching people and making up jokes, not to inflict harm on others but to let go your boredom!
- you will be getting sms, pix, videos via bluetooth instantly,lol....I'm serious

However, this is a very saudi-like thingy. I don't know how it's being changed as I left school a long time ago! Last thing I knew that if girls resist to talk back to guys, guys would ask their little brothers or sisters as messengers to exchange numbers!

If you are a visitor, you might mess things up and people might misunderstand you. You'd be reserved even when flirting, if u know what I mean;^)

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Theme: People Watching
Dress Code: Women: abaya must be on, underneath can be anything casual
Men: casual
Address: malls & shopping centers

Nightlife Spot: Durrat al Arous

Durrat al Arous is a big resort or a town in itself 45-minute drive north to central Jeddah. because it's outside the city, women can drive, and walk freely without scarves or abaya, swim in some designated beaches with men, and most important there are usually musical events going on

almost every other week, there is a saudi DJ or a band performing live music, especially over Eid holidays and other occasions. They usually set up their group (or stage informally) in the Marsa area - the harbour. lots of people gather, both men and women. these events are usually organised by a bunch friends -young people- who end up inviting the whole jeddah to a night out to al Durra. sometimes charges/entrance fee applies, it depends on the group organiser.

i haven't been to one myself where young people were performing but have passed by some street or amateur actors performing over a summer holiday, when my family was spending their holiday there.

if you want to know more, either go to Durra on wednesdays or thursdays, or try and find contact organisers

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Theme: Live Music
Dress Code: casual, just bring yourself and a company if you wish
Address: Madina Road, Obhur
Directions: on Madina Road, before Dhaban entrance, turn right, go straight to the end until you find the entrance