Starbucks, Dunkin', SUVs. For Saudis, US brands and culture an ‘inseparable part' of life
During his nine years living in the US state of Tennessee, Fahd, a Saudi national, found comfort and consistency at Dunkin' Donuts, where he placed the same order every day.
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Now back in Riyadh, Fahd is doing something similar, highlighting the Saudi Arabian love affair with all things American that many find surprising.
'When I came here, thank God, the same cafe and same order were here too,' says the 31-year-old mechanical engineer, who does not want to give his family name.
'I started living the same lifestyle here as I did in America.'
People sit at a Dunkin' coffee shop in Riyadh. Photo: AFP
Saudi Arabia, often known for its religious austerity, is home to Islam's holiest sites, and welcomes millions of Muslim pilgrims every year.
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