The Slums of Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia Uncovered | FRONTLINE

The Saudi Arabia the world usually sees is a country of wealth and luxury shopping malls -- but as much as a quarter of the population is estimated to live in poverty. It’s a reality that’s rarely seen, but FRONTLINE obtained undercover footage of the country’s slums filmed by a secret network of activists.

Watch FRONTLINE's "Saudi Arabia Uncovered" March 29 on PBS and online at 10/9c:

FRONTLINE is made possible by PBS and CPB. Major support is provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Park Foundation, the John and Helen Glessner Family Trust, the Ford Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation and Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation.

[AyaanAhmed]

These people in slums have a right to be shown kindness, please don't hate them, all they wanted was a better life. They're human like all of us

[YT-Trenton]

Yeah, it's sad but I live in Los Angeles and it's worse. At least these people in the slums have actual homes. In LA, especially Skid Row, people live in tents or sleep and shit in the streets. Saudi Arabia does not have a drug problem like we have here either.

[brokenSnake]

Just for comparison. Australia has a population of 28 million and around 3.2 million of them live below the poverty line - this number is growing exponentially every year.

[Paipe]

I was born here and now I was in romania for years now i wish I can meet my freinds and aunties again😢

[SherKhanYT]

Lol this place is nakasa market which is located in makkah and the area shown in this video is fish and meat market thats why the are looks dirty.

[asceticblur]

I thought the video was disturbing. The comments are bloody terrifying.

[Mohammed-bdql]

As an insider in Saudi Arabia, I can confirm this is true, and true because the gov doesn't allow non-Saudis to work or have decent lives, they treat them as leftovers from labor workers and are thrown into these dumpster districts, even though they were born and raised in Saudi and have no passports.

[bvycvbr]

اقسم بالله انا اسكن في مكة مافي شخص سعودي بالمقطع كلهم من الأجانب والحي نفسه كلهم ساكينين اجانب . والمرآة اللي طلعت بالطفل ليس سعودية

[mikla]

These are not Saudis, but they are from Yemen, Burma, Bangladesh and other countries

[naif]

0:42 These people are not Saudi nationals but foreigners, most likely from Yemen and South Asia. I don't know where you got the idea of 25% of the population is in poverty, because the Saudi government doesn't issue information on this, so your report is a mere lie.

[imsoongrai]

Just because there not Saudi Arabian doesnt make them any less a part of the country

[thequestion]

As Afro-American who was born and raised in US as well as working and living in KSA for 3 years, American slums are not remotely under any circumstance comparable to KSA, but instead of sniffing into other developing country's living standard, perhaps the first step into reality would be that we sort out our own friggin deeply ingrained injustices stemming from a faulty system in our own country first.

[suren]

Thats the real face of Saudi Arabia
Not that bullshit in media you see everyday

[drdoody]

Addendum:
Saudi Arabia has a poverty like all other countries. US even has a poverty line that is alarming to First Nations standards. We do have poverty to resolve, but we do have a huge illegal immigration issue too. Let us be sincere & honest in presenting the case. Thank you!

[gamigam]

Helped me helped my family we are poor and I want to change our life, funded my transport project in my country please😢

[danzan]

Meanwhile the crowned prince bought a 500 million dollar yacht called serene, and spent millions of dollars in vacation resorts in the Maldives.

[mohammadsshaharom]

any country have poverty.. why must hate saudi..?

[Mhadyourfriend]

The people that were begging in the streets in this vid aren’t poor or in need, 99% of them work together like a big gang using people empathy and emotions to collect millions of dollars, the government caught them but there are so many, they fight between each other on the streets, buying or selling specific areas so no one else can beg in that areas but them, I’m not saying that there are no poor people, they exists but it’s very rare and they usually don’t beg in that way, I just wanted to clarify that.

[greenfieldsagropro]

Absolutely, your compassion and understanding are important. People living in slums face various challenges, and showing kindness and empathy is crucial. They, like everyone else, aspire for a better life. Treating them with respect and compassion goes a long way in creating a more inclusive and compassionate society. 🤝❤🌍

[Xnan]

They're not the Saudis, but the hands of worker holding other nationalities...