Turks in Saudi Arabia, also known to as Turkish Arabians, Turkish Saudi Arabians, Saudi Arabian Turks, Arabian Turks, or Saudi Turks(Turkish: Suudi Arabistan Türkleri, Arabic: الأتراك في السعودية) refers to ethnic Turks living in Saudi Arabia. The majority of Arabian Turks descend from Ottoman settlers who arrived in the region during the Ottoman rule of Arabia. Most Ottoman Turkish descendants in Saudi Arabia trace their roots to Anatolia; however, some ethnic Turks also came from the Balkans, Cyprus, the Levant, North Africa and other regions which had significant Turkish communities. In addition to Ottoman settlement policies, Turkish pilgrims to Mecca and Medina often settled down in the area permanently.
There has also been modern migration to Saudi Arabia from the Republic of Turkey as well as other modern nation-states which were once part of the Ottoman Empire.
History
Ottoman migration to Arabia
The Turkish presence in Saudi Arabia can be traced historically from the bastions of the Arabian Peninsula painted of Ottoman dominion in past centuries. The Ottoman Empire, which arose in the 13th century starting in the Middle East and Europe, expanded in the 16th century to cover almost the entire Arabian Peninsula, including the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Turkish domination of today’s Saudi Arabia began at this period and continuing on towards Ottoman rule. The Ottoman leadership of the area was mainly accomplished by appointing local influentials; however, the empire also deployed a network of Turkish soldiers, administrators and academics to garrison these territories and secure the pilgrim routes.
Thus, after huge Ottoman influence in the region, yet the many-centuries-long Ottoman presence had left its mark, and Turkish cultural traits could be found in the architecture, the cuisine, and some of the local customs of Saudi Arabia. In recent years, with the strengthening of the diplomatic and economic relations between modern Turkey and Saudi Arabia, a new wave of Turkish nationals to Saudi Arabia has emerged, mainly for work in the construction, education, and health sectors, further enriching the historical Turkish presence. Today, though not overwhelmingly numerous, Turkish people and culture are still woven into the fabric that is responsible for the diversity and shared history of Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula.[5]
During the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum, more than 8,000 Turkish expats from Saudi Arabia cast votes whether Turkey should abolish its parliamentary system and become a presidential republic.[6] 58.34% of the Turkish expatriates in Saudi Arabia opted for "No", while 41.66% voted for "Yes". The yes vote was concentrated in Jeddah and the Western Region, while in Riyadh no was the dominant choice. The no vote was significantly higher compared to votes of several European Turkish expat communities.[7]
Ethnic Turks in Saudi Arabia have played a vital role in the Saudi economy, mainly due to their large presence in construction, trade, and healthcare. Turks have worked on construction for decades, erecting much of the Saudi skyscrapers, roads and hotels that powered the desert kingdom’s ambitious modernization plans. Additionally, Turkish businesses have played a key role in bilateral trade between the two countries(especially goods and services). Moreover, Turkish specialists within sectors such as engineering and healthcare with their knowledge have covered workforce shortages supporting local competencies. Such contributions have not only bolstered economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but also aided the development of the Kingdom.[9] As of today, there are 2,100 Turkish-operated hairdresser shops, 3,200 restaurants, and 1,900 furniture stores in Saudi Arabia.[10]
^Ergener, Reşit (2002), About Turkey: Geography, Economy, Politics, Religion, and Culture, Pilgrims Process, ISBN 0-9710609-6-7.
Bibliography
Ergener, Reşit (2002), About Turkey: Geography, Economy, Politics, Religion, and Culture, Pilgrims Process, ISBN0-9710609-6-7.
Fuller, Graham E. (2008), The new Turkish republic: Turkey as a pivotal state in the Muslim world, US Institute of Peace Press, ISBN978-1-60127-019-1.
Hale, William M. (1981), The Political and Economic Development of modern Turkey, Taylor & Francis, ISBN0-7099-0014-7.
Harzig, Christiane; Juteau, Danielle; Schmitt, Irina (2006), The Social Construction of Diversity: Recasting the Master Narrative of Industrial Nations, Berghahn Books, ISBN1-57181-376-4.
Jung, Dietrich; Piccoli, Wolfango (2001), Turkey at the Crossroads: Ottoman Legacies and a Greater Middle East, Zed Books, ISBN1-85649-867-0.
Karpat, Kemal H. (2004), Studies on Turkish Politics and Society: Selected Articles and Essays:Volume 94 of Social, economic, and political studies of the Middle East, BRILL, ISBN90-04-13322-4.
Koslowski, Rey (2004), Intnl Migration and Globalization Domestic Politics, Taylor & Francis, ISBN0-203-48837-7.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1997), Trends in International Migration: Continuous Reporting System on Migration: Annual Report 1996, OECD Publishing, ISBN92-64-15508-2.
