When we moved our family to Saudi Arabia, we knew life would look a little different.
New culture.
New landscapes.
New routines.
What we didn’t realize was just how many experiences our kids would have that most American kids never do.
Not because one childhood is better than another — but because the world offers so many different ways to grow up.
Living abroad has a funny way of making the extraordinary feel completely normal.
Here are a few things that became everyday life for our kids.
Camels Are Just… There
In many parts of the U.S., kids might see deer crossing the road.
In Saudi Arabia?
Camels.
Actual camels.
Roadside camels.
Desert camels.
Baby camels standing next to their very large, slightly judgmental looking mothers.
Eventually our kids stopped reacting and just casually said,
“Oh look… camels.”
Like spotting squirrels.
The Desert Is a Playground
Some families spend weekends at parks or sports fields.
Our kids climbed dunes, explored rock formations like Judah’s Thumb, and camped under massive desert skies.
The desert becomes a giant natural playground.
And if you really want to entertain kids in the sand? Bring remote control cars.
We had an Traxxas X-Maxx and a small fleet of other off-road RC cars that absolutely flew across the dunes.
Watching those trucks launch off sand hills while kids chased them across the desert might have been one of the greatest parenting hacks we discovered.
Sand + RC cars = hours of entertainment.
Even the Desert Has McDonald’s
Another funny thing about desert travel: just when you think you’re in the middle of nowhere…
There’s a McDonald’s.
More than once we found ourselves driving along what felt like a completely desolate desert highway only to see the golden arches appear like a mirage.
Because no matter where you are in the world, sometimes kids just want fries.
And honestly… sometimes parents do too.
Coffee Is a Cultural Experience
Hospitality in Saudi culture is a real tradition.
Guests are often welcomed with Arabic coffee and dates, shared slowly while people talk and connect.
Sometimes it was also Turkish coffee, which is strong enough to wake up your ancestors.
Our kids grew up seeing that coffee wasn’t something you grab on the run, it was something you share.
Weekend Trips Can Mean Another Country
One of the coolest parts about living in the Gulf region is how close everything is.
For our family, a “weekend trip” sometimes meant another country.
We drove about four hours to Qatar and stayed at the incredible Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, which has one of the largest water parks in the Middle East.
Imagine massive slides, lazy rivers, wave pools — basically a full vacation playground for kids.
Theme Parks, In the Middle East
Another thing that surprises people about this region is how many incredible theme parks there are.
In United Arab Emirates, our kids experienced:
• LEGOLAND Dubai
• Motiongate Dubai
In Abu Dhabi, we visited:
• Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
• Yas Waterworld
And of course we saw the famous Burj Khalifa, which feels almost unreal when you’re standing at the bottom looking up.
For kids, it’s like stepping into a futuristic playground.
Adventure Is Just Normal Life
Living abroad meant adventure wasn’t something we saved for vacations.
It was part of regular life.
Watching the dust clouds of the Dakar Rally race across the desert.
Exploring caves like Jabal Al-Qarah.
Running down giant sand dunes.
Seeing Ed Sheeran perform at the Al Dana Amphitheatre under the desert night sky.
These moments become part of childhood memories.
What Living Abroad Teaches Kids
The biggest thing our kids gained from living abroad wasn’t just travel.
It was perspective.
They learned that people around the world live differently and that those differences are fascinating, not scary.
They saw cultures, traditions, foods, and ways of life that most kids only read about.
And once kids see how big the world really is, their thinking gets bigger too.
Final Thoughts
Living in Saudi Arabia gave our family experiences we never expected.
Camels on the roadside.
RC cars racing across dunes.
Road trips across borders.
Concerts in neighboring countries.
Theme parks in futuristic cities.
And yes, even the occasional McDonald’s appearing in the middle of the desert.
The truth is, childhood looks different everywhere.
And sometimes the most unexpected places end up giving kids the biggest sense of adventure.
Kilometers with Kids 
Leave a comment