Why do Middle Easterners Hate Americans? – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Preamble: Four years before my memorable 10-hours in Amman, Jordan (link), and five years before that 1-day in Abu Dhabi (link), I spent 2 weeks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- in fact my very first trip, ever, to the Middle East was 2 weeks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) -- which was less than 9 years after 9/11 and 1 year into the Obama Administration.

As I introduced in my earlier Blogs, this series of Blog posts recount, in detail and as an American, very real yet different experiences I lived through in various Middle Eastern countries that speak directly to what many claim to be either a very provocative myth or fact: Why do Middle Easterners Hate Americans? From watercooler claims to media reports, hyperbole or fake news, I will substantiate what I say by offering photo evidence or documentation, and may the chips fall where they may…

So what happened? Why was there no talk about business? I finally figured it out, and it was later confirmed by the consultant on our flight back to the States…

Context: It was early 2010 and the world was embroiled in an economic crisis -- that included bank and insurance company failures, tremendous job loss, and a massive global recession that required huge government interventions -- except for in certain oil-rich Middle Eastern countries. So, when we tried to move forward with an acquisition of an oil and gas company, access to capital for any part of a $150M structured financing was virtually impossible. A friend-of-a-friend said that he knew a Sheikh in KSA and suggested that he could arrange a meeting to see if he would be interested to participate. But don’t the Saudis hate us? After some convincing, we decided to move forward. Can’t hurt. We had no other options. We engaged the friend-of-a-friend as a consultant, and he made the call. The Sheikh was willing to meet. He gave us the name of the Sheikh so we could do our investigations and checks here, while the consultant told us the Sheikh initiated the same on his side about us.

Unlike anywhere else in the world I’ve traveled to at the time, the process involved just to get to KSA was arduous. Having had some experience traveling to known hotspots, I know only too well the extent of government checks and investigations I’m sure were conducted before the travel visa was approved. For KSA to issue the travel visa, I had a service help me send my passport to the KSA Embassy, along with the required visa application (link), and a letter delineating the Saudi(s) who I was to meet, where in KSA I will be traveling for the meetings, and the reason for the same (link). Once I received my passport back it include the travel visa (link), and I was approved to travel to KSA with the consultant.

Lastly, not every Sheikh is a blue-blood, and not every blue-blood Prince is a Sheikh.

2 February 2010: The consultant, an Arab American, and I arrived in Jeddah at 05:30 and the airport was busy. Notwithstanding the obvious, I didn’t expect what I saw. Again, I’m a big man: 6’5” and 250 lbs on a good day, and I’m all American -- meaning I don’t blend -- but today wasn’t a good day. Should I be worried? Aren’t Americans hated here? It wasn’t a good day for me because I was actually about 40 lbs heavier than I fancied myself to be, and I wasn’t expecting to see that everyone I saw, all Saudis I assumed, were fit. Thin. Not emaciated skinny or oppressively thin, but fit. People in oppressive regimes wouldn’t look like this. The faces I saw had a glow, but people noticed me. Again, I don’t blend. Yes, I’m an American, and at that time, an overweight American, so my initial thought was that perhaps I’m the poster boy of an overindulgent American -- as probably propagandized by this oppressive regime. We then had a driver take us to our hotel. As we drove through the streets of Jeddah, a beautiful city actually, I noticed many familiar sites: a Pizza Hut restaurant, Rolex and Polo stores, Mercedes Benz dealership, a Sheridan Hotel, and many other Western businesses. OK. Interesting. We arrived at our hotel, the InterContinental (link), and checked in. So far, so good.

After a shower and some food, which was excellent, we didn’t wait long to be met at our hotel by two sons of the Sheikh who warmly greeted and embraced the consultant, as if family. After, both shook my hand and welcomed me to Jeddah, with sincerity, and in perfect English. The consultant and I then spent the day being chauffeured around Jeddah by two proud Saudis showing us, me actually -- as the consultant was already familiar with Jeddah -- the beautiful sites of Jeddah, and there were many. It was wonderful, and I felt like I was an honored guest. Aren’t Americans hated here? We stopped at a café, that could’ve been in Monte Carlo or Paris, and enjoyed great conversation, always in perfect English, about everything and nothing. Laughing and telling stories, but we didn’t talk about business. Not once. Nor much about politics. This was about longtime friends reconnecting, or so I thought. The next day, and the day after that, was the same. Great tours thru Jeddah, with frequent stops for great food, coffee or tea, some shopping, some hookah, and fun. Still no business talk. And we had yet to meet with Sheikh. It was as if there was no sense of time. No hurry. No worries. Just enjoy Jeddah and good company. The oldest son was a new father, and spoke fondly about his wife, family, and newborn son. The oldest son then invited the consultant and me to a party, a formal celebration for the newborn son, at their home. The family compound. The Sheikh’s home.

There were several homes. We met with Sheikh 3 or 4 times during the next few days and he was soft-spoken, yet most gracious, warm and welcoming. Not at all standoffish. He exuded wisdom and was kind and compassionate to all who doted on him including his staff and helpers. He adored his family and people -- that was clear. There was still no talk of business. Not yet. But when?

The consultant told me that there was a meeting arranged for us in Riyadh and that we would take a quick flight there the next day. I asked the consultant who we were to meet and he told me. It was important. I was a bit perplexed. So far it’s been a great vacation, but it’s also been a week and we have yet to discuss why we were there. He told me to be patient and trust him. OK.

9 February 2010: We were met at the Riyadh airport and driven to the home of our host. It was secure, and the host greeted us on his driveway. It was a spectacular home. Inside the host introduced us to a colleague and another arrived at the home about an hour later. So there were five of us in all. The meeting lasted about 3 hours. Again, the host was most gracious, kind, and funny. Approachable. Why am I told that Americans are hated here? The conversation was jovial, entertaining. Great stories and much laughter. No business. What is happening? The consultant also must haven known the host as they offered stories about family or whatever in the past. Again, all in perfect English except for the colleague who was already at the home. He didn’t speak often. He was observing and laughing along at times as the laughter became too contagious not to. We enjoyed well-prepared hors d’oeuvres, and then we were driven to our hotel for an early flight back to Jeddah. No business.

10 February 2010: After returning to Jeddah, we enjoyed more of the same good weather, food, fun, and great conversation with the Sheikh and his family. Still no talk about business. Not much about politics either. The consultant took a day and visited Makkah, and I took that day to walk around Jeddah by myself. I was never afraid. Never felt threatened. Everyone treated me with kindness and was courteous. Then, unexpectantly, there was a knock at my hotel door. No advance call from the desk. Housekeeping? Another knock. I opened the door and there before me were two short tailors who spoke very little English and said that Sheikh had sent them to make me a Thawb, and that I was to choose fabrics and features after they measured me. We laughed as they brought a step ladder as Sheikh, I’m sure, mentioned to them that I was tall. After they measured and I chose a fabric and confirmed the details of how I wanted the collar, cuffs, etc., they left to get to work. The next day, they both returned and pinned a few adjustments that they wanted to make, and left again. A few hours later, they returned and presented me with a fantastic Thawb. A gift from Sheikh. I loved it, and still do (link). 

16 February 2010: So what happened? Why was there no talk about business? I finally figured it out, and it was later confirmed by the consultant on our flight back to the States: The Saudis aren’t interested in deals. A great deal can be quickly ruined by persons of questionable character, and a good deal can exceed greatly by persons of extraordinary character. So, the Saudis choose to focus on what really matters.

So Why do Middle Easterners Hate Americans? They don’t. Just the contrary, and this American is so very grateful for our friends in the Middle East, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Some will insist this, too, is anecdotal. OK. Perhaps. Look for my next Blog post about being called back to the Kingdom a short two weeks later by way of Bahrain…

Postscript: Some may wonder why I redacted some documents, did not mention, by name, the Sheikh, his sons, the consultant, the persons in Riyadh and share some of the many photos that I cherish, and always will, about the same. I prayed, and then prayed more, and finally decided that there’s still much hate in the Middle East promoted by zealots seeking an agenda promoted by man. Not God. We are all God’s children, and God is love. And I choose to love my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.