Job Discussion Forums

[reneebcc]

Say couples bring their children into the kingdom. Are they aloud to bring their "toys" such as teddy bears, barbie dolls etc? Or would items like these get confiscated if brought through customs?

[johnslat]

Dear reneebcc,
Toys are OK; there are toy stores in Saudi. Although, back in 2001, they banned Pokeman cards:
" Saudi Arabia has banned Pokemon cards, saying they show symbols associated with Israel and are harmful to kids.

Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has declared a fatwa, or religious ruling, against the cute little characters Japan's Nintendo has made into a multibillion dollar enterprise that is enormously popular around the world.

Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia's Higher Committee for Scientific Research and Islamic Law said Pokemon games and cards have ``possessed the minds'' of Saudi children.

The fatwa said Pokemon video games and cards have symbols that include ``the Star of David, which everyone knows is connected to international Zionism and is Israel's national emblem.''

``A number of parents have been involved in the game and spare no expense to support their children and use the game to reward or punish them,'' said the edict."

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2001/3/28-173

Don't know if that's still in effect, though.

Regards,
John

[Mia Xanthi]

I have never heard of anyone having trouble bringing toys into the Kingdom. I know a girl (actually a Muslim girl) who brought in a rather large number of Barbie dolls with no problem.

Toys R Us is there, and almost every supermarket has a toy aisle.

[007]