JEDDAH: An American citizen was the focus of attention in the Bahra governorate recently, not for his work with the King Faisal Foundation but because he speaks Arabic with a Saudi Bedouin accent.
Neil Packman, from Minnesota in the United States, is the head of the Al-Baida Village Development in Bahra and surprised journalists visiting the area when he welcomed them in the local Arabic dialect, according to a report in a local publication.
Packman studied Arabic at secondary school in Egypt and later continued his studies in the language at various universities. His speciality is economics and he has a diploma in design, environmental and agricultural science.
“In the summer of 2010 a friend told me that the King Faisal Foundation was looking for a person specializing in design, environmental and agricultural science, so I traveled to Saudi Arabia for a six-month trial period,” he said.
“I applied, got the job and went to Al-Baida where I lived in a room and studied the site for a year. I became close to the locals and the people who visited the center.”
He said he was the first American Christian to meet the villagers, and interacted with them so much that they taught him their local dialect. He said he became friends with a local man, Khaled Al-Jahdali, now 24, who taught him all the local customs, including greetings and what to say before dinner.
Packman said the work began with only five people, but this has now expanded to 65. His deputy is Khamis Al-Jahdali.
American who speaks in Saudi Bedouin accent
American who speaks in Saudi Bedouin accent
‘Kingdom is on a path toward the light,’ says US Senator Graham after meeting Prince Khalid bin Salman
DUBAI: US Senator Lindsey Graham believes Saudi Arabia is on ‘a path toward the light’, in a statement he issued after meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who is on an official visit to Washington.
“My engagement with Saudi Arabia over the past two days has given me a sense of confidence that the Kingdom – while it has its own interests – is on a path toward the light, not the darkness,” the senator said in his statement.
The senator also said he was looking forward to visiting Saudi Arabia soon.
The thumbs up tour continues. Great meeting with the Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Salman.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 29, 2026
Wow, these people are clever. pic.twitter.com/btT6OSmcSN
“Over the years, I have developed a strong working relationship with Saudi Arabia. I know President Trump is a strong admirer of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I have seen the changes the Crown Prince has embraced and I have been impressed,” Graham said.
The US senator added that after meeting with Prince Khalid, and Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan earlier, “I am convinced that Saudi Arabia believes the best thing for the region is economic growth and prosperity.”
“Saudi Arabia wants to be a destination of choice in the future, so that people around the world to come visit what I think is an incredible country. Saudi Arabia wants to be one of the dominant forces in Al, which means the best and brightest minds will come. I am convinced that this is still the goal of the Crown Prince and the Kingdom.”
Graham also expressed appreciation to what the Kingdom was trying to do in Syria.
“They have openly said they are the friend of both the Syrian government and the Kurdish people. The attitude of seeking compromise rather than destruction, hopefully, will win the day,” the senator said in his statement.
Prince Khalid is expected to discuss Saudi-US ties and ways to strengthen during his visit, and earlier met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
