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Starbucks, Dunkin', SUVs. For Saudis, US brands and culture an ‘inseparable part' of life

Starbucks, Dunkin', SUVs. For Saudis, US brands and culture an ‘inseparable part' of life

During his nine years living in the US state of Tennessee, Fahd, a Saudi national, found comfort and consistency at Dunkin' Donuts, where he placed the same order every day.
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Now back in Riyadh, Fahd is doing something similar, highlighting the Saudi Arabian love affair with all things American that many find surprising.
'When I came here, thank God, the same cafe and same order were here too,' says the 31-year-old mechanical engineer, who does not want to give his family name.
'I started living the same lifestyle here as I did in America.'
People sit at a Dunkin' coffee shop in Riyadh. Photo: AFP
Saudi Arabia, often known for its religious austerity, is home to Islam's holiest sites, and welcomes millions of Muslim pilgrims every year.
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