Guide to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Investors Allowed Property Purchase in Makkah & Madinah

2007-03-27T21:35:00.000+03:00

Foreign Investors can now BUY properties in the Two holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah!

This is probably the BIGGEST piece of news that has come since it was last discussed over a year ago. Back in the day, a Foreign Investor was not able to buy a property (land/home) in Makkahor Madinah. He was able though, to buy a property for himself in any other city, so many Investors would either buy the property in the name of a Saudi to bypass the laws against such purchases, or would just end up buying properties outside the Two Holy Cities.

As for the new law, there have been many updates to the law. Besides allowing the Foreign Investor to buy a personal property in Makkah and Madinah, he is also allowed to enter certain activities that were previously prohibited.

A simple list of some of those newly permitted activities for Foreign Investors:

Wholesale sales
Import & Export
Mining (Diamonds, Minerals...)
Manufacture (I'll expand on this later, insha Allah...)

I have the Arabic newspaper clipping at home, but wa sunable to bring it with me to this Internet Cafe to translate it. When I have translated it, I'll add a link to this post with and update.

In general, this is a HUGE BLESSING for foreign Investors, as you will see from the previous post on Answering Some Foreign Investment Questions, this is something our brother Abu Aasiyah was asking about...

If you're thinking about Investing outside America in general or specifically looking to move to a Muslim Country, I would say that this is a big break for you, try taking the steps to Invest in Saudi Arabia as soon as possible.

Answering some Foreign Investment Questions

2007-03-17T23:25:00.000+03:00

I know I've been on hiatus for sooooo long, but I do apologize to those who found some of the information on my blogs to be of benefit. I won't go into the reasons for my disappearance here, I'd rather mention it at the personal blog.

I received an e-mail from a brother named Abu Aasiyah. He asked a few questions about the whole Foreign Investment subject, and --with his permission-- I will post his e-mail as long as my answers so that others may benefit as well. As for the text of the e-mail (with some editting):

Assalamualaikum,

My name is Abu Aasiyah.

I benefited from reading your blog, may Allah reward you with good. I had a few questions I hope you can help me with. Inshallah in a couple of months I will be traveling to Saudi to research and start a business. Everyone I have spoken to insists that you have to go and check it out before starting a business. But with the cost of airfare and time away from work and limited start up capital I want to make as few trips as possible so that the majority of my money can be spent on the business rather than research.

From running a business in [Country Omitted] I know the major expenses can be accommodation and renting the location to operate, especially when starting a new business and you have lots of start up expenses like rent for yourself and family warehouse/storefront or land. The business can take a long time before making a profit and you end up going out of business before you are in it.

So I thought to buy the property (i.e. apartment above a store or land for the business) would be the safest route as it would cut down a lot of expenses, as it takes time to grow.Here we have store fronts with apartments above them, where the owner lives on top and runs his business below. Is it possible to get one for 40,000 to 50,000 US? Does this even exist?

How would someone like me who speaks no Arabic go about finding a real estate agent who speaks English, and who is familiar with commercial properties?

Also the dream to live in Mecca or Medina --even if not possible to own a business there-- the closest city would be my next best choice as I could still be within an hour or two from either city, but I am not familiar with the geography. Do you have any suggestions to any cites that are close by?

I have some friends at the University and others who are working in the country --but just like yourself-- are so busy with their studies, they cannot leave school or work to be my personal guide for two weeks translating for me around the country. Do you know of a trustworthy brother with some business sense that I could hire to run around and assist me?

I had a couple of ideas, but I haven't decided what will be best until I get there and see. Can I start the paperwork process before I get down there and decide on the business, or do I have to submit a business proposal beforehand?

Please forgive me for bombarding you with so many questions any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Jazakula khairan

As-salamualaikum Wa Rahmatulahi Wa Barakatuhu

First of all, Abu Aasiyah (and anybody else that might be interested in living/investing in Saudi Arabia), I would advise you to do exactly what you're doing right now, Research & Development. Investing your life savings (or even part of them) is a BIG THING. Especially if it is going to help you to possibly make Hijrah (migration) for the sake of Allah.

You don't necessarily have to come here, but it would be a good investment to come to find out if Saudi Arabia is the place for you or not. I know it might sound very disencouraging, but I've seen people that wanted to move to Morocco, Egypt and even Yemen for good, yet they end up coming back after a very short stay. They would've brought tons of money over (compared to their overall savings) and might have even liquidated their assets in their original country. So let's face reality and accept that not all our boats might sail in the direction we want them to. Also, let's remember that all our worldly and religious affairs are in the Hands of Allah, once we have taken the means to mae them fruitful, we depend on His Tawfeeq (allowing of success) to reap those fruits.

I know quite a few foreigners that have come to Saudi Arabia to invest and have successfully migrated here. All of them, at one point or another, came here first Whether it was `Umrah or Hajj, they came, they saw, they thought and then... they acted. There are a few people that have applied without coming, and it's not hard at all to apply while still in your home country. The best thing to do is to invest in a field that you have some experience in. I'll try to go in depth in later posts as to the different fields that you can invest in.

The major expenses here, after the initial costs are office rental, and accomodations for you and your family. As for buying a property, the Investment Authority allows you to buy a property for your business or even to buy land for a home or factory as long as it is not in Makkah or Madinah. It's pretty obvious why foreigners are not alowed to purchase land in the two Holy Cities, but I personally would never want to live outside either one of them. For those people that would like to live in Makkah, then it's possible to apply for your business in Makkah or in Jeddah or in Taif. Makkah has a lot more business in it than Madinah does, and Jeddah is the business capital on the Saudi West Coast. Both Jeddah and Taif are less than an hour's drive from Makkah, so they are ideal for owning property in. 40,000 USD comes out to 150,000 SAR (Saudi Riyals) and 50,000 USD comes out to 187,500 SAR at an exchange rate of 3.75 SAR to 1 USD. To tell you the truth, you might only be able to buy a decent size piece of land at that cost. The best thing you can do right now, is invest that money in your business (while paying rent) and then once you have gathered double or triple that amount, you might be in a better position to buy property. After 9/11 the property values have gone up since people have brought a lot of their money back from investents in the west. When you don't want to put your savings in a bank, you put it in land, at leas that's how people prefer it here.

As for a real estate agent that is bi- or even multi-lingual, then they are not that common, at least not here in Madinah. But the only time you really need a real estate agent here, is when you're looking to buy. Most of the time, when renting, you can find a place to rent through word of mouth. That's how most of us find apartments and office space, it's just that kind of community here...

If --and when-- you come here, you will definitely need a guide. A lot of brothers WANT to help, but few can. Others have to weigh the benefit to the harms and find that the time is worth a lot more than the money. I'm sure we can find you a guide here in Madinah, but I can't really garauntee one in any other cities. Madinah is a place where people are a lot simpler and generally are willing to go out of their way to help an outsider, it's always better when they will benefit monitarily as a reward for their co-operation. At any rate, finding a guide is small potatoes, we'll worry about that when you get here insha Allah.

As for your last question, we touched on it earlier but I'll go in on a little more detail for you here. The paperwork that is needed in general is a copy of your passport, along with a bank statement that is certified (or stamped) by the bank, but that will later need to be certified by the Saudi Embassy in your home country. You can do the WHOLE process from your home country, but you will have to come here for the final leg of the procedures. When you come you will have to have rented an office space that meets the requirements by the local Chamber of Commerce, as well as starting the paperwork for your Iqaamah (Residency Permit). Once you have done that, and a few other errands, you will be given an Iqaamah and will be given sufficient visas for your immediate family (wife, children). Once you've done that, you come back here and start your life as a Foreign Investor (sounds pretty cool huh?) here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By the way, once your visa has been issued for you to come here for that final leg of procedures, you have up to a year to come here, so it's not much of a hurry...

Take your time, ask Allah for help and guidance, and then take the plunge once you've re-assessed your situation after reading this brief explanation. Also, remember that the laws for Foreign Investment have changed many times within the last few years, so it's always best to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you and not to procrastinate. A few years ago, all you had to have was 100,000 SAR in your bank account in your home country and a photocopy of your passport. Now they have started a system based on different fees that you pay to the Investment Authority just to get the ball rolling. Also be advised, that to do all this paperwork you will have to hire an agent, and the fees of the agent will run you anywhere from 15,000 SAR to 30,000 SAR. Some agents will charge a whole lot more due to the different fees and tariffs they have to pay to get the work done.

I'll try to go into detail as much as I can about all the different aspects that I've talked about, but remember, that with school and the family it's not easy to always update people on stuff that is constantly changing and developing. I hope this answer was to your liking and has at least put a dent into the huge amount of questions that somebody might have when thinking about taking such a big step in one's life. May Allah make us all successful in all our endeavors and make us sincere in doing whatever we do for His sake alone.

Take care, and enjoy...

Update:
Foreign Investors are now ALLOWED to buy personal property in Makkah and Madinah

Driving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2006-10-16T21:22:00.000+03:00

A while back I did a DOs and DON'Ts of car rental in Saudi Arabia. Here's something else you might want to read in regards to driving in our beloved Kingdom...

The motorways in Saudi Arabia are of fairly high quality. They're repaved every few years. Being that tar is the last and final product to be made from crude oil, we have plenty of it to pave the roads. The problems though, come with the many other obstacles on the road:

Firstly, the drivers... Many Saudis who cannot find regular salary jobs turn to taxying. Each taxi can hold four to six passengers depending on the size. Each Passenger pays about 50 Saudi Riyals to take the trip from Madinah to Makkah. So if the taxy driver takes the least amount of people, he makes about 150+ Saudi Riyals after the cost of gasoline and other small costs.

Therefore, if the taxy driver just makes one round trip to and from Makkah, he rakes in an easy 300+ Saudi Riyals. The drive is about four hours long, as Makkah is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) away, that is of course, if the driver is driving at the speed limit of 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour. That's like working an eight hour shift at work, so it should be enough. Especially, if you're doing it five days a week, that's 6,000+ Saudi Riyals of pure profit. But unfortunately, man's nature is that of wanting more. So Mr. Bedouin Taximan might decide to drive at the average taxi speed of 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour so that he can make two round trips which take two and a half to three hours each way.

This of course means Mr. Bedouin Taximan will be pretty tired since he's been driving so long, and will be in a hurry to get back, and some of these guys reach speeds of 180 kilometers (112.5 miles) per hour easily, without even flinching. I don't think I need to explain why there are so many accidents anymore, do I?

Secondly, the debris... The motorways in Saudi Arabia are generally in the middle of the desert. That means almost anything can end up on the road, whether it's inanimate like a shredded tire (will get into that later) or an empty box, or an animate object like a sheep or a camel.

The inanimate obects can be pretty statc on the road if they are heavy and there isn't much wind, so you can normally swerve out of the way when encountering them. But if there is a sandstorm or just a heavy wind travelling between mountain passes or over a barren valley, then the object can move to the lane that you're in or the lane you're swerving into. Also, the wind doesn't have a normal direction that it blows in, but generally you can notice which way it is blowing so you might get into the lane that is from the direction of the wind so the wind ends up blowing the box away from you.

If the object is an animate one like a sheep or a camel or a bedouin crossing the highway, then you might end up in a worse predicament. Sheeps and humans are pretty fast and can get out of the way. As for camels, they're stubborn creatures that will not move, but rather will come at you and attack the care that is coming at them. They way they do this, and I am NOT joking, is they will stand their ground when seeing your car, and when you're about to hit them they will jump. Not like a hop but mor elike a pounce. They'll jump onto your car and then due to their weight (about one ton) they will cause your roof to cave in on you. So basically, they won't let you take them out without them actually taking you out too. If you see a camel up ahead, then try your best to slow down and come to a complete stop.

Thridly, the tires... In Saudi Arabia, people aren't as careful when it comes to maintaining their vehicles. Whether it's not changing the oil on time, or letting the break pads come to a grinding end or whether it's simply not checking the wear and tear of their tires.

Many times you'll find shreds of an old tire scattered accross the motorway. nine times out of ten you'll find the vehicle that lost that tire. Whether the vehicle survived the blowout or not, others can still be harmed by the tire shreds left on the road. Most normal tires have lots of metal grids running through them which help the tire support the car's weight and keep the tire firm.

When the tire blows to shreds, these metal wires are left bare, ready to shred whatever runs over them. The bigger the tire (say a bus or truck tire), the worse the shredding. Due to the many accidents caused by tire blowouts, the government has legislated VERY, VERY tough laws against buying or selling used tires. A lot of small tire shops will change a car's tires for new ones but then save the old tires and maybe even re-tread them so that they can sell them at a fraction of the cost. I'll admit once my tire blew out on my way back from Riyadh, and th eonly thing I could afford was a used tire which I bought from a small bedouin village on the way. I had very little money left and the guy at the shop had a used tire which I could buy for around 30 Saudi Riyals, when most regular tires cost around 150 or more.

Due to better police monitoring of speeding on the motorways, as well as stricter legislation, it's becoming more and more uncommon to see the tragedies that many of us have gotten used to seeing on a drive to or back from Makkah. May Allah make it easier for the Government to do its job and keep the masses safe. May He also guide the masses to think not only about themselves, but their fellow drivers on these national motorways. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world, may Allah make things safer for us in the future... Aameen

Arab Economic Forum in Houston

2006-06-18T12:44:00.000+03:00

News and Events

2006 U.S.-Arab Economic Forum

One World. Two Cultures. Endless Possibilities.

The 2006 U.S.-Arab Economic Forum is the year's premier event for those interested in business and policy decisions spanning the regions.

Interact with top leaders to discuss business opportunities in industries ranging from energy, financial services and health care to information technology, trade and tourism.

Explore ways to use business as a bridge to build stronger U.S.-Arab relations and create a shared stake in a prosperous future.

Hear from almost 100 leading decision makers, including executives from the corporate, institutional and governmental sectors.

For more information visit: http://www.usaeforum.org/

Duration: June 26, 2006 - June 28, 2006

Location: Houston, Texas, United States of America

Organized By: American Middle-East Economic Affairs Committee (AMEAC)

Contacts:

American Middle-East Economic Affairs Committee (AMEAC) U.S.-Arab Economic Forum 12740 W. Warren Ave. Suite 300 Dearborn, MI 48126Tel: USA +1 (313) 457-0291 Fax: USA +1 (313) 457-0292 E-mail: contact@usaeforum.org

Foreign Investment Conference in London

2006-06-18T12:37:00.000+03:00

News and Events

Invest: Saudi Arabia

A two-day conference focusing on investment opportunities in the Kingdom
19-20 June 2006, The Park Lane Hotel, London

Featured expert speakers include:

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, H.M. Ambassador, Riyadh
Dr. Abdallah Dabbagh, President & Chief Executive Officer, MAADEN
H.E. Dr. Fawaz al-Alami, Deputy Minister of Industry & Commerce, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY & COMMERCE
H.E. Amr Bin Abdullah al-Dabbagh, Chairman of the Board of Directors & Governor, SAUDI ARABIAN GENERAL INVESTMENT AUTHORITY
H.E. Khalid Alyahya, President, SAUDI RAILWAYS ORGANISATION
Dr Said A. al-Shaikh, Chief Economist, THE NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK
David Brewer, Lord Mayor, THE CITY OF LONDON

The only event in Europe for those who are serious about doing business in Saudi Arabia MEED’s Invest: Saudi Arabia has been designed to attract investors, contractors, financiers and suppliers interested in the fast expanding and highly lucrative investment opportunities in the Kingdom. If you’re interested in doing business with the Kingdom, or investing in it, this is the event for you.

Hear about the rapid transformation and dynamic reform taking place in the Gulf’s most lucrative project market

This is your opportunity to meet the key players from both public and private sectors of Saudi Arabia. Attendance will provide delegates with unique insights into the vast array of diverse opportunities across the country’s project market, as well as providing a full update on all the latest changes and developments with regards the financial and capital markets. Never has the country offered such possibilities and this conference represents a comprehensive update of all the key opportunities.

Fore more details: conferences@meed-dubai.com

Duration: June 19, 2006 - June 20, 2006

Location: London, United Kingdom

Organized By: MEED

Contacts:

MEED Conference Registration 33-39 Bowling Green Lane London EC1R 0DA, UK Fax: (UK) +44 (0)20 7505 6001 Fax: (Middle East) (+9714) 368 8025 Tel: (UK) +44 (0)20 7841 4814 Tel: (Middle East) (+9714) 390 0699 Email: conferences@meed-dubai.com

More info regarding Foreign Investment in the Kingdom

2006-06-12T13:28:00.000+03:00

For all of those Brothers and Sisters that e-mailed me regarding specific information on the Foreign Investment Program, I apologize for not responding to all the e-mails.

Rather than trying to explain it myself, I'd rather turn you all to the source of the Information:
The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA)

The site is quite professionally designed, though usability (navigation and general interaction) might be a little arcane...

The following questions will be answered, as well as hundreds of other less popular questions:

What type of Business can I set up in Saudi Arabia?
How much money will it take to get everything set up?
What can I do with my Residency Permit (Iqaamah)?
Can I buy land in Saudi Arabia?
How long does the Residency Permit (Iqaamah) last?
Will I be free to do business in other fields?
Can I do business in the Petro-Chemical Field?

Once you have gotten a good idea of the specific information that you are looking for:

Decide whether you'd like to move ahead and start your business.
Once you have made your decision, make Istikhaarah, asking Allaah if your decision is better for you and to make it come through if it is
Drop me an e-mail to start your paperwork with an agent

The paperwork used to take over a month and a half, but now, actually getting the license (once all other paperwork is in place), takes under two weeks.

There are many advances in this industry right now, but I would advise those Brothers and Sisters that want to make Hijrah to Saudi Arabia not to hesitate since laws do tend to change based on constant discussion and observation of their effectiveness.

May Allah make it easy for everybody to make Hijrah to the Land of the Two Holy Mosques (al-Haramain), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Economy: Foreign Investment in Saudi Arabia

2006-06-05T09:17:00.000+03:00

There is lot's of talk these days about investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I personally know three Foreign Investors personally, and another few who have applied. It's not as hard as it used to be. Before, you had to show a Bank Balance of at least 2,000,000 (yes that's two million) Riyals before even starting the business..

Now, you only have to show 100,000 (one hundred thousand) Riyals. Your can select the type of business that you would like from a WIDE range of selections.

The benefits of your OWN business:

You are your OWN sponsor (if you know how the sponsorship stuff works, you know what a hassle it can be)
You are your OWN boss (unless you hire somebody to run your company and tell you what to do)
You can enter and leave the Kingdom as you like.
You can live here, possibly, forever (as long as your business is running)

Basically, it's the solution of solutions for all us foreigners that want to make this beautiful country our home.

Besides the 100,000 (one hunder thousand) Riyals that you will have to show in a Bank Balance (you don't have to give it to anybody, you just have to HAVE IT to USE IT), you will need to spend a pretty decent amount of money in hiring an agent to expedite your paperwork. Don't try to do it yourself, it's a HASSLE. You need to know who and where to go to get your paperwork completed and if you try as an individual who is OBLIVIOUS to the way things work here, you'll take forever to get your paperwork done.

It will cost about 30,000 (thirty thousand) Riyals for the agent to have all your paperwork completed and have your files opened in all the Ministries and Agencies that you will need.

It will cost about 5,000 (five thousand) Riyals to pay for the Iqaamah (residency document) and a few other minor paperwork.

You will also have to set up a small office to prove the initial establishment of your business.

Over the coming weeks, I'll be covering Foreign Investment in Saudi Arabia in some detail, insha Allah. Please forgive me if I take long, but we have finals for school, and that's more important than my blog. If you are interested in Foreign Investment in Saudi Arabia, contact me either through the comments section or my e-mail address (abumiftah [at] hotmail) and I'll get back to you about starting paperwork and finding an agent.

Take care people...
Peace...

Economy: Lower Gas Prices

2006-06-03T03:00:00.000+03:00

That's right, the price of gasonline has gone... DOWN!

A few days ago, the price of one liter went down from about 0.96 Saudi Riyals to about 0.62 Saudi Riyals.

"So what?", you might be thinking...

1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters
1 Dollar = 3.72 Riyals

So after doing the math, the average Gallon in America is at about 3 Dollars, thus making the average Gallon in Saudi, at about 62 cents. THAT'S PHAT!

While the rest of the world is suffering SOARING gas prices, we are experiencing DROPPING gas prices. Check out this chart of general prices per gallon around the world. The chart has three fields: Country, City and Price (in U.S. Dollars).

Netherlands	Amsterdam	$6.48
Norway	Oslo	$6.27
Italy	Milan	$5.96
Denmark	Copenhagen	$5.93
Belgium	Brussels	$5.91
Sweden	Stockholm	$5.80
United Kingdom	London	$5.79
Germany	Frankfurt	$5.57
France	Paris	$5.54
Portugal	Lisbon	$5.35
Hungary	Budapest	$4.94
Luxembourg		$4.82
Croatia	Zagreb	$4.81
Ireland	Dublin	$4.78
Switzerland	Geneva	$4.74
Spain	Madrid	$4.55
Japan	Tokyo	$4.24
Czech Republic	Prague	$4.19
Romania	Bucharest	$4.09
Andorra		$4.08
Estonia	Tallinn	$3.62
Bulgaria	Sofia	$3.52
Brazil	Brasilia	$3.12
Cuba	Havana	$3.03
Taiwan	Taipei	$2.84
Lebanon	Beirut	$2.63
South Africa	Johannesburg	$2.62
Nicaragua	Managua	$2.61
Panama	Panama City	$2.19
Russia	Moscow	$2.10
Puerto Rico	San Juan	$1.74
Kuwait	Kuwait City	$0.78
Egypt	Cairo	$0.65
Nigeria	Lagos	$0.38
Venezuela	Caracas	$0.12

Enjoy...

Health Info: Contact Lense History

2006-05-18T03:36:00.000+03:00

Every new trend or technology has its pioneers, so do contact lenses in Saudi Arabia.
I'd like to provide a little information about one of the pioneers of contact lenses in Saudi Arabia.

Michel J. Gambino, O.D.

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Dr. Gambino enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of New Orleans. When he completed his pre-med studies, he was accepted by the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry. As a freshman he won the Nikon Essay National Scholarship award for an essay he wrote entitled “Optometry and the Underprivileged”. The essay was subsequently published in the Journal of the American Optometric Association. During his four years at UABSO Dr. Gambino was very active in student politics. In his junior year he was elected national president of the American Optometric Student Association. As a senior he was tapped for ODK national honors society. He graduated with honors and received the award for Outstanding Leadership as an optometry student.

After graduation Dr. Gambino entered private optometry practice specializing in contact lenses in New Orleans. Starting from scratch, he built a very successful contact lens practice, which included three offices in Greater New Orleans. As computers became more prevalent, he became concerned about the impact of long hours in front of a visual display terminal on his patients’ vision and overall health. After much research he published a manual entitled. “VDT’s and Productivity – Stop The Automated Office Dollar Drain.” He started a consultation company called Visual Technologies, Inc., which consulted with many Fortune 500 companies.

In the late 1980’s, Dr Gambino was asked by a private Saudi Arabian company to come to Saudi Arabia and help establish an American–style contact lens practice. He and his family spent two years living in Saudi Arabia. He worked throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia establishing a chain of contact lens offices. His stint in Saudi was interrupted by the Gulf War and he and his family never returned.

Eventually, he moved to Dallas where he again began a contact lens practice. As technology advanced, he became a leader in developing alternatives to refractive surgeries such as radial keratotomy, PRK and LASIK. He has lectured extensively and has published articles on the subject. He is now using his 27 years experience as a contact lens practitioner to provide patients with a safe, non-surgical alternative to Lasik eye surgery.

I came across this information when looking up the different LASIK centers in Saudi Arabia, thought it would be helpful to mention something related to LASIK by mentioning this Bio of Dr. Gambino.

Health Info: LASIK Procedure Locations

2006-05-16T03:34:00.000+03:00

Some resources on finding LASIK and other procedures done by very high quality Eye Centers:

Magrabi Hospitals

Jeddah
Khozam Street- Kilo 3 , Makkah Road
hospadmin@magrabi.com.sa
(+9662) 636 5000
(+9662)636 6164

Jeddah
Madina Road ,
madina-road@magrabi.com.sa
(+9662) 665 5200
(+9662) 665 0200

Madinah
Airpoart Road ,
madina-munawara@magrabi.com.sa
(+9664) 842 3252
(+9664) 842 3346

Makkah
Al Aziziah St., in front of the Saudi British bank
makkah@magrabi.com.sa
(+9662) 559 5010
(+9662) 559 3608

Dammam
Dammam Center , Bin khaldoun st., plot 71
dammam@magrabi.com.sa
(+9663) 820 3372

al Hassa
Inside Al Hassa Hospital, Al Hassa, Al Hafoof ,
dammam@magrabi.com.sa
(+9663) 585 8888

Aseer
Abha- Khamis Road ,
(+9667) 235 5555
(+9667) 235 6666

Jizan
Prince Sultan street, beside the Arabic Bank,
khamis-mushayt@magrabi.com.sa
(+9667) 322 5555
(+9667) 322 4444

Riyadh
Ring Road East Exit 14 , Rabwa District
riyadh@magrabi.com.sa
(+9661) 445 5049
(+9661) 445 5021

Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Centers

Riyadh
(+9661) 462-2224
(+9661) 463-3582 Fax

If and when I get more information on LASIK Centers in Saudi Arabia I will add them to this post insha Allah

Health Info: LASIK in Saudi Arabia

2006-05-16T03:32:00.000+03:00

I've been seing a lot of hype in local advertisements and in the media about LASIK surgery, and I did some research on LASIK in Saudi Arabia and found some interesting info.
I know that back home in America some of the best places to get LASIK procedures done are:

East Coast:
New York City (Manhattan)
New Jersey
Orlando, Miami
Connecticut
Boston
Atlanta
Mid-West:
Kansas City
Chicago
Milwaukee
Indianapolis
West of the Mississippi
San Antonio
Dallas
San Fransisco
Los Angeles
Washington

Check it out, if you have any questions, as always, send them as a comment. If you're planning to get LASIK Surgery done and you live in the Western Region, I've provided a link below where you can probably find a LASIK Surgeon in Jeddah.

May Allah cure all those who suffer and grant them speedy recoveries... Aameen

What is LASIK ?

LASIK is the safest and accurate method to correct short sight (myopia), Long sight (Hyperopia), Astigmatism (Cylindrical powers) and other Corneal scarring disorders.

How old is this treatment?
LASIK is in existence since 1988, and has already gained wide acceptance world over. More than 5 million people in USA have undergone LASIK.

How is LASIK better than Contact Lenses ?

Contact lenses require special care and careful maintenance. Moreover it is a recurring expenditure. A full 5 years use of contact lenses would cost you almost same as LASIK treatment.

Is LASIK a surgery ?

LASIK is a very simple procedure done with application of just anaesthetic drops. It is just the reshaping of the cornea with the help of a cold laser (Exclimer Laser), with sub micron accuracy.

How is LASIK done ?

A thin corneal flap is lifted with the help of a Hansatome which is integrated with the main machine and laser is applied on the cornea in computer controlled, predetermined manner. This flap is replaced immediately, which adheres within a minute. LASIK is not at all a complicated procedure.

Who can undergo LASIK ?

Any person above the age of 18 years whose power is stable for the last 1 year. There is no upperage limit.

What are the powers it can correct ?

Myopia : minus 1 to minus 20 diopters.
Hyperopia : plus 1 to plus 8 diopters.
Astigmatism : upto 8 diopters.

Advantages of LASIK

No injection
No prolonged medication
No surgery
Totally an out patient procedure
Treatment over within 10 minutes
Normal activities can be resumed the next day
Permanent, once in life time treatment
Minimum recurrence of power

What is the latest in LASIK technology ?

The safety and accuracy of the LASIK treatment largely depends on the
machine on which it is performed. Though there are various machines
available for LASIK, Zyoptix -100 integrated with Hansatome is the best
worksation trusted and accepted worldwide.

A note about LASIK:
LASIK is one type of laser eye surgery that is commonly performed for the correction of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Surgeons in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the greater Jeddah area who perform LASIK may also perform laser eye procedures such as PRK, LASEK and Epi-LASIK. They may also offer non-laser alternatives to LASIK, and may offer variations of LASIK such as monovision LASIK to address presbyopia, or custom LASIK. Please consult with a surgeon to review your options and determine if laser eye surgery or another surgery would be best for you.

About Jeddah LASIK surgeons:
The AllAboutVision.com LASIK Surgeon Directory is a resource for you to learn more about Jeddah, Saudi Arabia LASIK surgeons and to help you select a surgeon if you choose to have LASIK or another laser eye surgery. Please review the profiles of each greater Jeddah LASIK surgeon to learn about his or her philosophy and treatment experience; then schedule a consultation and full evaluation to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for LASIK or another corrective procedure.

Let me know if you need any more information.

Health Info: Asbestos Report

2006-05-13T03:29:00.000+03:00

This is an Aspestos Report from a few years back...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—January 10, 2003—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was set to issue a national alert about asbestos in Zonolite insulation, when the White House intervened, according to a recent news story (St. Louis Post–Dispatch, 12/27/2002). Originally slated for last April, the announcement would have been included in a declaration of “public emergency.”

“When the government comes across this kind of information and doesn’t tell people about it, I just think it’s wrong, unconscionable…” former EPA administrator William Ruckelshaus said about the failure to warn homeowners (quoted in the St. Louis Post–Dispatch). “Your first obligation is to tell the people living in these homes of the possible danger.”

The White House Office of Management and Budget was the agency that nixed the emergency declaration. It is headed by John Graham, a man many environmental and health groups consider unfriendly to consumer causes.
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Millions of U.S. Homes Contain Asbestos–Contaminated Zonolite

Up to 35 million homes in the United States may be insulated with Zonolite. A large portion of the insulation is derived from asbestos–containing vermiculite, a mineral ore resembling mica that was mined in the small town of Libby, Montana. The contaminated vermiculite was shipped throughout the nation.

Although Libby’s asbestos–contaminated vermiculite mine shut down in 1990, its legacy of death and disease remains. Town residents develop asbestos diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma at a rate that is 60 times that of other geographic areas (see Health of Residents Compromised). Libby has been declared a Superfund disaster area, in need of federal aid.

The EPA chose to begin the removal of Zonolite insulation from homes in Libby, Montana, at the same time that it agreed not to issue a nationwide warning about Zonolite dangers . It also pledged to clean up asbestos–containing soil from Libby yards, school grounds and parks.

How Zonolite Asbestos Becomes a Hazard

Asbestos–containing Zonolite becomes a problem if it is disturbed or in poor repair. For example, if you drill in an attic insulated with Zonolite, or if the insulation becomes deteriorated, there is a high risk that asbestos fibers will become airborne. The homeowner may then breath in asbestos dust or fibers.

You cannot determine if your home contains asbestos–contaminated Zonolite by a mere visual inspection. You may take insulation samples yourself and send them to a certified laboratory, although this procedure is not recommended unless you are cautious and use special techniques. The National Institute for Standards and Technology maintains web lists of laboratories certified to do asbestos analysis.

You can hire a professional to take samples of suspect Zonolite insulation, but make sure the person you choose is certified to do this work. He or she should have received proper training, including a federal or state–approved asbestos safety course. Your regional EPA office or local health department will have a list of these asbestos professionals in your area.
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Other asbestos Products Are Still In Use

Unfortunately, Zonolite is not the only product that still contains asbestos. Asbestos–contaminated vermiculite has been used in soil conditioners, fertilizers, and animal feed. Other products that may include the substance are automobile brake shoes and clutches, building materials, and older small appliances and hair dryers, to name a few. According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos has been a component in almost 5,000 consumer products, many of which remain in use .

Last year, Senator Patty Murray (D–WA) introduced a bill entitled the “Ban Asbestos in America Act.” It would have prohibited the manufacture, import, or distribution of asbestos products in the United States and increased research grants for finding a treatment for mesothelioma. The legislature failed to pass this bill.

Asbestos will be banned in most European Union countries by 2005. Argentina, Australia, Chile, Croatia, El Salvador, Iceland, Latvia, and Saudi Arabia have also banned asbestos. Clearly, we in the United States have some catching up to do in eliminating this dangerous substance.

Brayton Purcell is concerned about asbestos in products, at job sites, and in the environment. We have over 20 years of experience in asbestos litigation. If you or a family member has been injured by asbestos exposure, please feel free to contact us to learn about your legal options.

Opinion Time: Al-Hamdu lillah Saudi Arabia has banned the use of Asbestos or else, w'd be having all kinds of problems here, especially mesothelioma, which according to my readings, is causing quite a racket in the Legal Scene in America. Huge Lawsuits are being filed du to mesothelioma.

I'll probably be covering that disease in my next post insha Allah.. may Allah ease the pain of those affected in whatever way He sees best. Aameen

Health Info: Mesothelioma

2006-05-12T01:24:00.000+03:00

The Different Types Of Mesothelioma

Now before I go into this topic I'd like to say, that the hype that I was seeing for this topic seems to be totally justified! This is a SERIOUS problem, Allaahu al-Musta`aan.

A disease that has only started to come to light in recent years, Mesothelioma is a cancer that normally presents itself in malignant form and results in tumours in and around vital organs of the body. The definition of the word Mesothelioma is literally cancer of the mesothelium (-oma being a medical term for cancer). The mesothelium is the sac that lines and protects vital organs such as the heart and the lungs, and this disease causes the cells of the lining to become abnormal and malignant.

The result of asbestos exposure, Mesothelioma comes in three forms: pleural Mesothelioma; peritoneal Mesothelioma; and pericardial Mesothelioma. All three types have a variety of associated symptoms, and there are some symptoms that are common to all three types of the disease. In all cases of the disease, sufferers are unlikely to even realise that there is a problem until many years after they have actually contracted Mesothelioma from regular exposure to asbestos.

The symptoms of all types of Mesothelioma do not generally manifest for several decades after contraction. This can make the disease difficult to diagnose and all too often is too late to save the patient by the time a diagnosis is made.

Pleural Mesothelioma:

The most common form of Mesothelioma is pleural Mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the lungs and the protective lining and cavity of the lungs. The symptoms of pleural Mesothelioma result from pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid between the lung lining and the chest cavity. Sufferers of pleural Mesothelioma may experience some or all of the
following symptoms: difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, weight loss, fever, coughing up of blood, and rasping.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

A rarer form of Mesothelioma is peritoneal Mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the stomach and abdomen. The cancer can start in the abdominal area and spread to other parts of the body, but the tumours that press against the wall of the abdomen can cause some or all of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, breathing problems, chest pain, bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever, and blood clotting abnormalities.

Pericardial Mesothelioma:

The last and the rarest of the Mesothelioma types is pericardial Mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the heart and the cavity that surrounds the heart. The tumours affecting pericardial Mesothelioma patients can cause some or all of these symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, persistent coughing, and palpitations.

There are also cases of other asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and respiratory problems that have stemmed from exposure to this potentially fatal material. Anyone that has worked with asbestos should see their doctor if they have any onset of this type of problem or if they are concerned and have doubts.

As you can see, the symptoms for all three types of Mesothelioma are non-specific, which means that they could be the result of a number of more common diseases that are associated with the same symptoms. Many of the symptoms are the same as those displayed by viral pneumonia patients, and the disease if often mistaken for something else.

If your doctor is unaware that you have been exposed to asbestos, he or she is unlikely to assume that you may have Mesothelioma and will instead test for a number of other more common diseases that are associated with your symptoms. People who have worked with asbestos or who have close contact with someone that works with asbestos should therefore always be vigilant in looking out for any of these symptoms and seeking medical advice if any or all of the symptoms manifest. They should also make their doctor aware that they have worked with asbestos so that no further time is wasted in

testing for other types of disease. Much of the delay in diagnosing Mesothelioma comes from lack of information and awareness on both the part of the doctor and the patient.

However, it is up to the patient, who is aware of the asbestos exposure, to increase the chances of a speedy diagnosis by making the doctor aware of the circumstances and keeping an eye out of any tell tale signs that Mesothelioma may be present.

If you suffer from Mesothelioma or fear that you, or a loved one might be affected and you live in Saudi Arabia, you might want to check out this info I found on doctors that deal with Mesothelioma in Riyadh, the Capitol:

Department of Accident & Emergency Services
Armed Forces Hospital
PO Box 7897 (46)
Riyadh 11159
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Department of Medicine, College of Medicine
King Saud University
PO Box 2925
Riyadh 11461
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

I've made an attempt to contact them, I'll update if I get any replies, insha Allah...
May Allah cure us of all our ailments

Car-Rental: Things you Shouldn't Do

2006-05-08T02:56:00.000+03:00

I promised to post about what NOT to do when renting a car in Saudi Arabia, but I never got around to it until now, so here goes, Abu Miftah's list of what NOT to do when renting a car:

Don't give anybody your original Personal Identification papers unless you know thm very well. You don't want the guy to hold them as ransome until you return the car and then you get pulled over at a Check-Point and go to jail. Can somebody spell "Illegal Alien" for me?!
Don't give more than a 1,000 Riyal deposit if you are only renting the car for a week. Make sure you get a receipt.
Don't think, "I trust these guys they won't screw up". Document everything and make sure you ask all the right questions like when you must turn the car in (some places are strict right down to the hour and half-hour). Make sure, the time you collected the car is accurately noted, don't forget!
Don't deal with people you don't have to! If the guy is smoking up a miniature cloud over his head and is yapping away on the company phone and reading the comics, you don't need to have a professional, business or any other relationship with him. Most Rent-a-Car places are located near one another, take a hike down the sidewalk and keep shopping.
Don't tell the guy you are not gonna leave your city if you possibly might do so. If you even remotely intend to go out of city limits, TELL HIM! So that he can provide the proper paperwork in case of Check-Points, you don't want to be considered a Car Thief. I don't think they've made a "Grand Theft Auto: Saudi Arabia" game yet. Please don't give them any ideas.
Don't leave without getting a mobile phone number for the dude that processed your Car Rental. Get the number of the land line as well just in-case he turns his cell off. Try making friends with the dude, it might pay off.
Don't EVER settle for the initial price-per-day or price-per-additional-kilometer. This is not America, there is no fixed prices, consider yourself at the local Hialeah Flea Market (only Miami people would understand that)! Bargain your way down to a suitable price, and never go there without an approximate price-per-day in your mind, ask a friend.
If you're allergic to cigarette smoke, or if you get migraines like me, don't settle for a car that smells like a cigarette butt. Say no to drugs! Peep another car, or take that hike down the sidewalk again.

That's about it, check back soon i will update this after finals insha Allah.

Car-Rental: Things you should do

2006-05-05T02:55:00.000+03:00

Renting a car in Saudi Arabia can be a headache, it can also be as easy as can be.

Take the following tips into consideration before doing anything:

Make sure you have all your identification documents with you
Make sure you have copies of those papers
Make sure your sponsor (if you're an expatriate) doesn't have a problem with you renting a car, or leaving the city (if you plan to go out of town)
Make sure the Car Rental place is trustworthy, check for their license and see how long they have been in business, how many branches do they have in Saudi Arabia, perhaps they are an international Car Rental company
Make sure the terms that ou sign on are understandable and that you agree, nobody is forcing you to rent a car from these people
Check how many kilometers (1.6 kilometer per mile) you get free, and how much each extra kilometer costs
If you plan to go out of town, or think you might just go out of town even though you're not planning to, register with the company that you will be taking the car out of city limits. The reason you should do this is because the Local Police might just give you trouble at a Checkpoint on your way out when you aren't given permission by the owner of the car (Car Rental Company) to take it out of city limits. Plus you might just get some extra kilos if you ask to be able to take the car out of city limits.
If you are takng others with you make sure they all have valid documents and are legal residents. You don't want the headache of Jawazat (Immigration) give you problems cuz you wanted to help some poor guy (illegal alien) get to his home or city.
Make sure you have the Car Rental Company's contact information, perhaps you might want to take the phone number of the employee that actually processed you rental just in case something goes wrong.
There are different fees you can pay to make sure you are not liable if some loser crashes into you (I'll be covering Saudi Driving Tips in future posts Insha Allah)

Well that's about all I can think of for now, I'll probably update the post if there is anything important that I missed. Comments are always welcome, and perhaps the links provided in the sidebar might be of some use so you might wanna check that out. If you want any more information, leave a comment and I'll update insha Allah.

I'll probably put up a post regarding what NOT to do when wanting to rent a car in Saudi Arabia, solook out for that. Enjoy!

Saudi Arabian Info: Major Cities

2006-04-18T05:42:00.000+03:00

Here's a list of some of the Major Cities in Saudi Arabia

`Afif
`Ar`ar
Abha
Abqaiq
Al Bahah
Buraidah
Ad-Dammam
Dhahran
Ad-Dir`iyah (now a suburb of Riyadh)
Duba
Ha'il
Al-Hufuf
Al-Jawf
Jeddah
Jizan
Al-Jubayl
King Abdullah Economic City (still in the planning process, not built yet)
Khamis Mushayt
Al-Kharj
Khobar
Layla
Al-Majma'ah
Makkah (Mecca)
Madinah (Medina)
Najran
Qal'at Bishah
Al-Qatif
Ras Tanura
Ra's al-Khafji
Riyadh (National Capital)
As-Sulayyil
At-Ta'if
Tabuk
Udaliyah,
`Unayzah
Yanbu' al-Bahr

If I didn't mention your city, please don't be offended... it's just a blog!

Saudi Arabian Info: People & Culture

2006-04-16T20:36:00.000+03:00

Saudi Arabia's population as of 2005 is estimated to be about 26.4 million, including about 5.6 million resident foreigners. Until the 1960s, most of the population was nomadic or semi-nomadic; due to rapid economic and urban growth, more than 95% of the population now is settled. The birth rate is 29.56 births per 1,000 people. The death rate is only 2.62 deaths per 1,000 people. Some cities and oases have densities of more than 1,000 people per square kilometre (2,600/sq mi).

Most Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin and are descended from South Asians, Iranians, Malays, and others, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast. Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom. There also are significant numbers of South and South East Asian expatriates mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

There are around 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia, most of whom live in compounds or gated communities. According to the CIA World Fact Book, 100% of Saudi Arabias citizens are Muslims.

Saudi Arabian culture revolves almost entirely around the religion of Islam. Islam's two holiest sites, Makkah (Mecca) and Madinah (Medina), are located in the country. Every day, five times a day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which dot the country. The weekend consists of Thursday and Friday. Islam's holy book the Qur'an is Saudi Arabia's constitution, and Shari'ah (Islamic law) is the foundation of its legal system.

Saudi Arabian dress is strongly symbolic, representing the people's ties to the land, the past, and Islam. The predominantly loose and flowing, but covering garments reflect the practicalities of life in a desert country as well as Islam's emphasis on conservative dress. Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton (known as a thawb or thobe), with a shimagh (a large checkered square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) or a ghutra (a plain white square made of finer cotton, also held in place by a cord coil) worn on the head. For rare chilly days, Saudi men wear a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. Women's clothes are decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread, and appliques. However, Saudi women must wear a long cloak (abaya) and veil (niqab) when they leave the house to protect their modesty. The law does not apply to foreigners at such a high degree, but both men and women are told to dress modestly.

Islam forbids the eating of pork and the drinking of alcohol, and this law is followed strictly throughout Saudi Arabia. Arabic unleavened bread (or khobz) is eaten with almost all meals. Other staples include cooked lamb, grilled chicken, felafel (deep-fried chickpea balls), shwarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), and fuul (a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon). Traditional coffee houses used to be ubiquitous, but are now being displaced by food-hall style cafes. Arabic tea is also a famous custom, which is used in both casual and formal meetings between friends, family and even strangers. The tea is black (without milk) and has herbal flavoring that comes in many variations.

Saudi Arabian Info: Geology & Climate

2006-04-14T17:32:00.000+03:00

The Kingdom occupies eighty percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's boundaries with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen are undefined, so the exact size of the country remains unknown. The Saudi government's estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometers (856,355 sq mi). Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 square kilometers (830,000 sq mi) and 2,240,000 square kilometers (864,869 sq mi).

The climate is dry and hot. Dry desert with great extremes of temperature and the terrain is mostly uninhabited, sandy desert. In most parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds, xerophytic herbs and shrubs. Animals include the ibex, wildcats, baboons, wolves, and hyenas in the highlands. Small birds are found in the oases. The coastal area of the Red Sea, especially the coral reefs, have a rich marine fauna. Saudi Arabia has a coastline of 2,640 kilometers (1,640 mi).

Saudi Arabia consists mostly of semi-desert and desert with oases. Almost half of the total country is uninhabitable desert with annual precipitation up to 100 millimetres (4 in) in most regions. The western regions are plateau and the east is lowland. The southwest region has mountains as high as 3,000 metres (9,840 ft), and is an area known for the greenest and freshest climate in all of the country. The capital, Riyadh, which is to the center-east has an average temperature in July of 42°C (108?F) and 14°C (57°F) in January. In contrast, Jeddah on the western coast has 31°C (88°F) in July and 23°C (73°F) in January.

Less than 2 % of the total area is suitable for cultivation, and in the early 1990s, population distribution varied greatly among the towns of the eastern and western coastal areas, the densely populated interior oases, and the vast, almost empty deserts, such as the Rub' al Khali (desert), the Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands. There are no permanent rivers or lakes in Saudi Arabia.

Enjoy...

Saudi Arabian Info: Introduction

2006-04-13T02:29:00.000+03:00

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Jordan on the north,
Iraq on the north and north-east, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on
the south and south-east, and Yemen on the south, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red Sea to its west.
It is called "The land of the two Holy Mosques", a reference to Makkah (Mecca) and Madinah (Medina), Islam's two holiest places.

The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A regional ruler, Imam Muhammad bin Saud, joined forces with an Islamic reformer, Imam Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. Over the next one hundred and fifty years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula.

The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud).

The discovery of oil in March 1938 transformed the country economically, and has given the Kingdom great legitimacy over the years.

There are no recognized political parties or national elections. The King is often classified as an absolute monarch, but his powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'ah and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi Royal Family, religious leaders (`Ulamaa'), and other important elements in Saudi society. The state's ideology is Salafi. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among themselves with the subsequent approval of the`Ulamaa'.

Legislation is by resolution of the Council of Ministers, ratified by Royal Decree, and must be compatible with the Shari'a (Islamic law). Justice is administered according to the Shari'ah by a system of religious courts whose judges are appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, composed of 12 senior jurists. The independence of the judiciary is protected by law. The King acts as the highest court of appeal and has the power to pardon. Access to high officials (usually at a Majlis, or public audience) and the right to petition them directly are well-established traditions.

More to come...

Living in Saudi Arabia

2006-04-11T20:10:00.000+03:00

A lot of people ask:

What's it like Living in Saudi Arabia?
Does Saudi Arabia have the internet?
I bet they don't have the Internet in Saudi, do they?
Do they ride camels and stuff?
Do they live in mud huts in Saudi Arabia?
What do you do for fun in Saudi?

And many other questions, due to a picture that's painted in their heads of a primitive society in which raggedy bedouin tribesmen tend to their flocks of sheep and camels...

Saudi Arabia is ANYTHING but that. It's quite modern, though in some cases it seems a bit TOO modern. The economy is pretty strong these days and if you want to see the latest Mercedes, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche or other phat cars, just take a trip to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammar or even sometimes here in Madinah.

I'll be talking about different topics regarding life here in the Saudi society and comments are ALWAYS welcome, just keep them clean.
If you're wondering about life in Saudi Arabia, because you might have just gotten a job with a Saudi company, or are planning to visit for some other reason such as Hajj, `Umrah or to study...
Check back