A Third Culture Kid in Saudi Arabia

The term “ Third Culture Kid ” refers to the individuals who are born/raised in a country other than their parent’s country.

Being a Third Culture Kid is itself confusing. While there are many benefits to being a TCK like being very adaptive and open-minded. You are not so lucky is if you are a TCK in Saudi Arabia.

While countries in the west of having a system of jus soli that grants citizenship by birth. Things are not the same in the middle east.

Countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia and UAE do not grant citizenship even if your mother is a citizen. They strictly follow the Jus sanguinis law which makes you eligible for citizenship only if your father is a citizen.

Saudi Arabia is home to 10.5 Millon expatriates, most of whom are from India and Pakistan. Children born and raised here usually have little to no connection to there parents’ homeland.

My personal story is, I have an Indian passport and I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. I only visited India once a year to meet my grandparents. In India, people refer to me as NRI which is non-residential Indians they basically mean someone who is not amongst them. In Saudia, I am referred to as Kharji or Ajnabi which means foreigner or Alein.

As a Third Culture Kid in Saudi Arabia my self, I believe it’s very different and emotionally difficult to be a TCK in Saudi Arabia compared to the west. Coz at the end, if you lose your job in Saudi Arabia, there’s little chance you will be able to stay in the country you call home.

In the end, I would like to share a poem I wrote that describes my feeling

I was born in Saudi Arabia and I am not a Saudi they say

I lived in Saudi Arabia and I am not a Saudi they say

the shores of the red sea the sound of azaan 5 times those long drive to Madina reminds me of home and I am not a Saudi they say

the cost side highway to Abah the beautiful mountains in Yanbu the ferry to Al Fursan reminds me of home and I am not a Saudi they say

the fool Tameez after Jumma and BBQ on Bahar the hada-shar riyal broast albaik O wa-hed hamziyaaat reminds me of home and I am not a Saudi they say

people ask me where are you from I close my eyes and see the beautiful green flag the monuments on corniche I smell the shawarma but still can’t say I am from Saudi Arabia

No combination of 26 letters can justify my feeling but I still hope that one day I will call Saudi Arabia HOME