Missions & Global Prayer

The Hijazi Arabs roam the harsh deserts of the vicinity of Saudi Arabia with their camels, sheep, and goats. Their livestock is the primary source of livelihood. Sitting around open fires outside their goat hair and camel hair tents, they often recite poems, sing songs accompanied by a lute, flute, or drum, and tell stories about their history. The women are particularly skilled in this art. Although the Hijazi have few possessions, their coffee pot is very important. It represents what makes life pleasurable: hospitality and friendship. They generally consider manual labor degrading. However, more and more Hijazi are accepting wage-paying jobs in urban regions to improve their lives with better housing, medical, and educational opportunities.