50% Arrogance / 50% Ignorance
The rudeness is almost a daily occurence when flying in Saudi. There are of course some professionals, but as soon as you get away from Riyadh you never know what you are going to get. When asked to report over a position - you may call five or six times with no answer, then a few minutes later the controller will come back and demand an explanation as to why you did not check in.
We've been given a parking position in Jeddah a few times, confirmed the position, taxied to the position and then been screamed at because it was not the right one. The last time it happened I told ground that he should listen to the tape - then nothing but silence. No apologies ever or even the admission that the mistake was in fact theirs. The other day we were given a landing clearance 15 minutes before arrival into a Northern airport, as the tower said that they would be gone to pray at our estimated arrival time... It is a culture suited to the control of camels - not airplanes. Their rudeness and lack of understanding of what it is that they are supposed to be doing is unequaled anywhere else in the world.