This is the 4th video in my 6-Part video series in Saudi Arabia. Subscribe to learn about my trip here and things I've learned.

What you see is not Americanisation. What you see is globalisation in action. For some reason, you tend to see the American brands, but not the other brands that come from other countries… probably because you don’t know them. At least in the GCC, it’s an open market for all…. But am happy that you notice the local brands, which you should have tried…. Btw, Americana is a Kuwaiti brand of frozen foods, go figure ;p

A lot of those brands haven't even made it to Canada...

Lived in Saudi Arabia for many years... And yes we grew up going to these restaurants in Riyadh. And the American products and restaurants were already available for decades, it is not new.

I was born and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I went abroad for college in 2015 and when I got back this year after graduating (6 years later), a lot has definitely changed. I was surprised how these changes were implemented quick in the country. Great video, Uptin!

Great video but theres also nothing wrong with NOT selling alcohol or pork. Different cultures have there own ways…

Not even in Canada we have that much selection!!!

Instead of Americanization we can call it consumerization, that's synonymous with Americanization I think in my opinion. Consumerization is all about adapting to the consumer needs in other words playing to the gallery. This is what is happening, it's just like google search engine, just show what people like more, customisation is the key

I don't think it's americanized, because almost every countries basically have American fastfood chains like KFC, McD, BK, PH, Domino's, Baskin Robbins, Wendy's, etc

That's all the same in GCC. All these brands can be found in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Also, many of the workers in these establishments are Filipinos and they control the music which explains the American music.

i have spent part of my childhood in the UAE , and honestly watching the entire video of you roaming around the mall brings back memories.

It's always been like this. But now all these forign brands are loosing the market for Saudi brands. For example a location here in Riyadh for Applebee's closed and century burger, a Saudi brand opened in its place. Pizza hut is now bankrupt because of maestro pizza (a Saudi brand) Saudi brands have far higher quality and innovative menu items

Very interesting video. Planning to go to Saudi soon 👏🏼

Saudi Arab has always loved Americanisation! I grew up there, Baskin Robbins, Applebee's, tgif and etc were there back then too. Do check out their channels, they show so much of the American stuff.

I’ve been wondering for a very long time when Saudi Arabia would start opening up. Thanks for sharing!

For information, Saudi Arabia was one of the reasons for the economic renaissance of America, because it was buying oil at discounted prices globally at the beginning of the discovery of oil, and this is the reason for an economic revival for America. America was one of the reasons for the Saudi renaissance by discovering oil and building a number of petrochemical plants, and the strength of human resources by embracing thousands of students on scholarships to study in American universities. There are brands of Saudi restaurants that rise to compete with the best American restaurants whenever they find financial support.

This is how Saudi has been for decades

Its not only Saudi. Kuwait and Qatar are exactly same. Especially kuwait. Basically they see American culture how we see Japanese culture. Hollywood movies mainly play a big role in exporting American culture. When you are living in america you think the country doesn't have a culture . Interestingly new york city is roughly same distance to Saudi as it to Japan.

It's not really that complicated, the same process happened in my home country. As we opened up to the world the first place where you could get fast food, see movies and go shopping was at the American Military base at Keflavik. On weekends people would go there to shop, eat and party. When teh country started developing it's own shopping malls, own movie theatres, own restraunts, own discoteques etc. the one we made were all on teh american model and often using american franchises, especially the ones already established by the US military (easier supply chain). The same will have happened for Saudi, only here it's not just the US military providing the seed, but also Saudi Aramco, which brings in tens of thousands of foreigners to work who want the comforts of home.

As a Saudi i can tell you this guy is trying so hard to add that drama factor to the video, he went to one place the mall and filmed only American brands. If there is a place that got affected by the American culture it would be east of Saudi specifically Khobar city because The company Saudi Aramco back in the 80s and 70s had a lot of American employees and they passed on their culture to the people of that city. I’m sorry but I got too annoyed he’s basically saying that we lost our culture or about to lose it in the upcoming years which is a lie.

The youtoube algorithm is weird. I'm sure the same video could make 1000 times as many views with just a littlebit of luck

Cant wait to visit saudi arabia

Hi Ali, I have subscribed to your site. Reviewing this video, It brings back memories. I worked in Jeddah for a year on the GSE Tunnel, engineering. I really love the Saudi's they are wonderful people. Small world. Nice video. David

a true video, do note saudi arabia has always been like this for years and years.

He Saudi Arabia is Americanized Meanwhile Saudi: oh you stole hand sanitizer, don't worry you wouldn't need it anymore 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

woow I have never seen burger king carls jr mcd ny fries next to each other even in the US, they dont even have Carls jr in the east cost

11:35 its not that attendant was missing, the Ministry of culture keyosk wasnt operable, its usually on to sponsor events (Fine Art / Performance Art) on weekends or holidays and usually the evening time.

I'll be in Jeddah end of this month, thanks for this video!

Love the saudi-based content. it would be great if you could make a video essay like this - on expatriates in KSA - the kind of impact they leave in the Kingdom :)

I hate when I go another state and everything is the same.Now if the world became same there will no reason to travel. The world becomes boring.

The best travel vlog 💝

Good to see you doing your own Y channel now.

Hey uptin are you gonna attend the jeddah F1 grand prix?

i'm a saudi and each region has many types of traditional foods that foreigners know nothing about americanisation harmed us more with its unhealthy food and high obesity rate

This is True in Jeddah and Riyadh, but during my umrah trip in Mecca and Madina few years ago, it did not look like this, there are no movie cinemas in Hajj/umrah quarter of the both cities, all restaurants are separated between Men and Women. And all shops were indeed closed during praying time at least 15-30 minutes. The most international chain I saw in Saudi back in my umrah trip was international Hotel chain you name it, Hilton, Fairmont, Movenpick,Hyatt, Intercontinental, they have it all... I also saw one and the only Starbucks in Madina near Nabawi Mosque. Never saw McDonald's at Hajj Quarter in both holy cities. For the brands inside the supermarket, it is either Turkish, Egyptian, or indeed American.

I love your channel. It helps me to understand middle east much better. Could you tell me where you are oridinally from? Okay where your ancestors come from.

I burst out laughing : “ When I’m here the attendant is missing.” 😝😂😂😅

i love how there is no alchol and the bars have like milkshakes and expressos instead same with pork thats fire asf i wish they had that in US

dude this is the world in 2021 you can see a lot of famous reastaurants in every where you go in the universe, whatever where it is from and not just reastaurants actully every thing, cafes ,clothes brands etc... and this is a good thing 👌thx

This is awesome!

Wow as an American I'm shocked how much of our products are there.

The reason is that alot of US brands invested in Saudi during the 20th century and Saudi to this day has the largest percentage of EXPATS compared to other large countries.

Uptin videos always go well with my morning coffee! :)

10:11 nah, that's not the reason sir, the reason is that food delivery became soooo easy, so even children start ordering by themselves these days

Let me help you find the answer: ultra-capitalism (aka oligarchy) which both countries share. This American culture of popularised everything and overconsumption is at the centre of capitalistic societies. The more capitalist the more American.

I wish we could hear more of your friends perspective

This been on since forever man

i found you when i was searching for why iphone is expensive.. (brasil) then this video also great.. am your new subscriber. keep it on 👨

6:50 thats not neal story, my sis used to go to mall with her friends every weekend ( still they does) its from very before also i used to go to mall alone

Thanks for sharing! I feel much better travel to Jeddah now! How is it looking like as a female living there?

So that’s nice my friend keep going on,

hey man, good job.

I dont get it when they say ‘modernise’.Is modernisation restricted to concerts, a change of attire or cinemas? If you want to modernise, start with educational institutes, encourage the exchange of ideas, ease of business. But instead the entire focus is placed on indulgence of the youth, while schools remain closed. Indulgence is not wrong, but a lot of it without any sense of responsibility for the youth is dangerous. Conducting business has been made extremely difficult and expensive. Outsourcing employees and materials is a hassle. The market is extremely hostile for small business owners.Saudi has good points, it is peaceful and laidback, but racism is also prevalent. The treatment of people of any Asian ethnicity is completely different from other Arabs or Caucasians. Improvement doesn’t come from building skyscrapers and concerts, it comes from internal improvements, ethics and a focus on education.

do they have bacon or ribs?

It’s been like that for long time , it has nothing to do with what’s happening in the past few years

Fun fact! American food in Saudi is 100 times better than America, especially McDonald's 😂

No equivalent domestic stores? I would rather have an authentic Saudi meal or store where profits returns back to the Saudi economy rather than profits going outside and to foreign countries.

I can't believe that guy was listening to Bhad Bhabie.

Wow, that’s crazy, i had no idea, can we even travel there ??id be interested to visit, great info video btw

you will understand it more if people read the book "The Mcdonaldization of Society" published in 1990's

So you came all the way from US to Saudi to eat at apple bees and compare it to US branches!? 😂 Go eat some nice rice dishes Mandi or something

Dude! Saudi Arabia has a Sharp Pizza but we no longer do?! I’m so jealous! As an 80s kid, I have lots of good memories of the Sharp Pizzas we had in the malls back when we even had malls. 🤣🤣💕

Even my country don't have that many fast food restaurants

Excelente. Gracias por subtitular en español este video, y el referente a la economía turca, así pude entender el contenido.

Where in the mall can I buy crude oil? I wanna resell it on amazon.

Yes, about F1... kinda curious about their ceremony. Normally they would spray champagne during the award ceremony, but what about in Saudi? hmm

I hope the attendant doesn't "disappear" for good.

Idk fam.. i could go to the lulu hypermarket or indian and say that saudi is indianized.. saudi was a hub for globalisation even before vision 2030 was proposed but of course cant blame your presuppositions either when we have narrative crafting press establishment in the mainstream (..i mean some do) but yeah you did actually showed the domestic owned ones so.. u cool

California got the palm trees from the Middle East 😂 not everything is American

How odd around the 6:16 mark in the freezer Iceland chips, Iceland is a frozen food supermarket in the UK

All I could hear your cohost say yeah. Lol

أمركة السعودية ؟ اعتقد ان العنوان غير مناسب فالأصح أن نقول انفتاح السعودية لجميع المستثمرين بلا قيود لكسب الخبرات وتبادل المنافع خصوصا أن السعودية حاليا تعيش عصر ذهبي واقتصاد منتعش وأرض خصبة لكل المستثمرين المحليين أو الأجانب، أمريكا أثرت على العالم أجمع بثقافتها الغربية وهذا ناتج من قيادتها للعالم بسبب قوة الإقتصاد وحسن الإدارة لذلك من الطبيعي أن ترى الناس منفتحين لكل ما هو أمريكي وهذا طبيعي جدا في النهاية اتمنى لك رحلة ممتعة.

Arabian gulf countries always had Americans brand in there market long years back but the produc is in suadi. Beside we have to many other brands as well

Would any Saudi Arabian residents of Riyadh recommend the city to me? I am from the UK. Thank you!

Amazing job Abtin Is Saudi Arabia is an American colony ?

You came to Saudi to try Applebee’s!!Instead of going to a more local Saudi restaurants you decided to go to Applebee’s ??? Saudi‘s not Americanized just because it has Macdonald or kfc and having cereal in the supermarkets 😭😂😂 if that’s so more than half of the world is then, doesn’t make since

I’m glad they have been moving with the times. The UAE did it a little over 20 years ago, now it’s time for Saudi Arabia to put themselves on the global map.

Not only that, even famous American programs such as Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Bell, American series are accepted, but there are still a lot of local products that exist, but they are not accepted by the general public

Doesn't look like those clothing stores are gonna survive?

The UAE designed it’s cities in such an old fashioned car centric way, developments like this would fail in the US and other western countries because malls are seen as trashy and suburban and people prefer shopping on bustling streets in neighborhoods

You have to remember Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman have no production of their own. You also have to remember that the America literally owned and controlled the oil industry until the nationalization.

Also Brands from all over the world, including local brands, which is good for everyone!

It seems the human nature of leisure loving has out beaten the murmuring of the clergy.

Its amazing how incredibly dominating American culture is.

Saudi Arabia is open to all cultures. We have products from many countries not only from US

I was born in ksa , KFC etc are there from 35 years ago ..

Your friend looks like Mohsin Abbas Haider.

Saudi buying American weapons. Bruh they spend 20 billion $ lol. That's the most "americanization" thing ever lol.

Fast food chains do not represent development, it will have a negative effect on peoples health, obesity is sky rocketing in Saudi Arabia, There are several articles about that, Not a good move, they should focus on more organic food market. Looks like Crown Prince is more focused on Americanisation than globalisation. To implement a new ways of economic stability they should not focus/rely on just one country, it will affect Saudi Arabia badly in future.

The one who served you was a Fillpino...Keep Up!

When the oil money can't provide the protection anymore...

At 6:50, that lady with her hair free is surprising to see in KSA

To be honest you can see most American product in almost every countries in the world . The american brands has wider reach than most people ever realised. Even before the saudi started being more open & slightly more liberal , most american products and brands has been there much longer

you never been to cancun mexico if you think you've never been to a more americanised foreign country.

I skipped thru all your videos about Saudi Arabia, I didn’t see any vid on the cultural or tourism sites , what were you doing there man ? You missed a lot ! I think Drew Binsky did an amazing job in his videos about Saudi.

Red sea mall is 13 years old, no body going there now.

Hope they can also get western ideologies that what matters most.

so Saudi arabia today is basically "AMERICA-Halal edition" LOL

Are you the same Indian who was in Beriut earlier ?

Glad to see increased liberalisation in economy and ideas in Saudi. Hoping to see abolition of enforced dress code for women and it is left to them to choose veiled or not.