Obama’s Visit to Saudi Arabia Shows Off King’s Desert Retreat  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Although they did not discuss human rights, President Obama met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia today during his visit to absolute monarchy. The visit gave Saudis a glimpse into the King's desert retreat after an American journalist tweeted photographs from Rawdat Khuraim.
POTUS did not discuss human rights issues, but he will meet w/ a leading advocate against domestic violence at hotel tmrw
— Carrie Budoff Brown (@cbudoffbrown) March 28, 2014
On Twitter, reactions poured in throughout brief meeting.
Satirist Karl Sharro quips:
Obama and I are alike in that we both have to travel to Saudi Arabia for work.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) March 28, 2014
Saudi activist Tamador Alyami asks [ar]:
السؤال: لماذا يسمح بتواجد صحافيات أمريكيات في روضة خريم ولا يسمح بوجود صحافيات سعوديات؟ #زيارة_أوباما_للسعودية
— تماضر اليامي Tamador (@TamadorAlyami) March 28, 2014
Question: Why are American women journalists allowed at Rawdat Khuraim (the king's desert retreat) while Saudi women journalists are banned?
And there was a challenge for Obama:
Hi @BarackObama, will you appoint a women as your official driver in #SaudiArabia tomorrow? http://t.co/ydeNDyqQKV pic.twitter.com/PaR0Pli4b2
— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) March 28, 2014
Journalist Kim Ghattas picks up the thread and asks:
What are chances a woman will drive 1 of cars in Obama motorcade in Saudi? @amnesty says pdt shud make it a point http://t.co/60AIHo9gUo
— Kim Ghattas (@BBCKimGhattas) March 28, 2014
In other news, Bayan notes:
White House reporter @cbudoffbrown gets almost 10,000 followers in a day, just for covering Obama trip to #Saudi. #SaudisLoveTwitter
— Bayan (@BintBattuta87) March 28, 2014
And Carrie Budoff Brown tweeted away scenes Saudis were shielded from such as these:
Scene from a bilat pic.twitter.com/FszCg7e4s5
— Carrie Budoff Brown (@cbudoffbrown) March 28, 2014
Time is a big thing here pic.twitter.com/BkYl62okoD
— Carrie Budoff Brown (@cbudoffbrown) March 28, 2014
Chocolate centerpieces and lush flowers — just about everywhere at King Abdullah's desert ranch pic.twitter.com/1uUcd6QyYZ
— Carrie Budoff Brown (@cbudoffbrown) March 28, 2014
Nice view pic.twitter.com/8dnZeGtXr5
— Carrie Budoff Brown (@cbudoffbrown) March 28, 2014
A surprised Brown comments:
Power of Twitter in Middle East: I got 7,000 new followers since landing in Riyadh 5 hours ago, all cause of photos from Abdullah's retreat
— Carrie Budoff Brown (@cbudoffbrown) March 28, 2014
And Otaibi explains why:
on behalf of Saudis, thanks for letting us see what inside King Abdullah's retreat. It has been a such a big secret.. @cbudoffbrown
— Otaibi (@A_A_2001) March 28, 2014