The other side of the story

The other side of the story
By Mona Rahman
Deprived women, mostly of South Asian origins, who come to Saudi Arabia as Umrah pilgrims and later take to working illegally as housemaids or domestic helpers are often faced with boundless challenges, which are often shrouded by issues of their illegal status here and runaway stories that are heard more often in Ramadan when the demand of housemaids is at its peak.Nusrat Liaquat (name changed), a Pakistani woman who works as a housemaid in Taif, came to the Kingdom eight years ago on an Umrah visa and overstayed as an illegal after her visa expired. “I have worked in many households in Makkah, Jeddah, and am presently working in Taif. I often shift from one house to another because of a general dissatisfaction over various issues,” said Liaquat.She recalled her experience in an Arab household.“The Arab woman for whom I worked was the principal of a school in Jeddah and her husband was a manager in a company. Their villa had many rooms and toilets which I had to clean every day. Moreover, looking after their six children was a tough job. I used to get up daily at 4 in the morning and work till midnight. I left because I was over-worked, and this for a mere pittance. Moreover, they did not treat me well,” said Liaquat, who now works for an Indian family in Taif.According to reports, everyday 2,000 illegal domestic helpers are arrested by the police, and in a year, the ratio of illegal maids working in the Kingdom has increased by 40 percent.These maids also face problems of non-payment or delays in their payments, and are often forced to do laborious work for long hours, even during the weekends.They earn around SR1800 to SR2000 per month for eight to nine hours of work per day.“I worked for 18 months and was paid for only 12 months. I did not have the courage to ask for more money as they threatened to hand me over to the police charging me with some false allegations. The woman of the house even warned that she would throw acid on my face,” said Raziyah (name changed), an Indian maid working in Makkah.These maids or ‘masis’, as they are generally called in South Asian households, often suffer from severe health problems. Yet even when ill, they cannot be treated in hospitals and clinics as they lack a legal status.Recently, it was reported that an Indian housemaid in the Kingdom, Sehar Bano, died of T.B. “Bano had been ill for a long time, and despite that, she worked persistently. She couldn’t visit a doctor and lived in a shabby place with her husband and kids, all of who were illegals. Her dead body was unidentified and she was buried like that. Her husband ran away fearing the police and the kids were deported back to India,” said Naseem Khan, a Pakistani national in Jeddah for whom Bano worked.For many of these maids, life becomes a “hide and seek” game of sorts as they have to endlessly shift their residences and place of work in the fear of detention, and consequently, deportation.Ruksana, a young illegal Pakistani national, is one such maid.“My mother used to work for a female teacher. When she was sick, her teenage brother replaced her. However, he was soon arrested and deported because of which I had to take over the work,” she said, adding that the “small” houses they live in are little defense against the Jawazaat raids but they do manage to escape when the timings of the raid are known in advance.“Otherwise, the (illegal) male members are detained and are beaten up while the women are only imprisoned for a few days until the legal documents are processed and they are deported,” said Ruksana.She said that at times, the Jawazaat or the police demand a ransom of a minimum of SR2,000, on the payment of which they are “left free after a few days.”In Jeddah, the maids typically reside in districts, such as, Al-Aziziyah and Sharafiah. In Makkah, most maids live in Al-Nuzha district. In some cases, the building care-taker, commonly referred to as the “haaris”, provides the maid with a small room built on the terrace so that she is kept away from the police raids.Rani, an Indian maid, who is on her husband’s Iqama, illegally works as a housemaid.“Many times, our sponsor charges us a lot of money, as high as SR5,000, in order to renew our Iqamas. Even then, they keep delaying things and it is not easy to get the work done,” said Rani. – SG

Summer internships lure expat youth

Summer internships lure expat youth
By Mona Rahman

For many youngsters, summertime is about fun, enjoyment, get-togethers and hanging out with friends in the malls. But for two Bangladeshi students at the Bangladesh International School, Jeddah, Saud Mirajul Aziz and Mohaimen Mohammad Kaisar, it is an ideal time to have what they call “the experience of a lifetime” by working as interns and attaining technical know-how at a multinational company.“I joined the internship program to become familiar with a professional office work environment,” said Aziz, who recently completed I.G.C.S.E in Jeddah.“Before my exams, I planned to join a training center in order to learn technical skills. However, through internship, I have the opportunity to learn two things: the office environment as well as technical work,” he said.Teenagers in expat families across the Kingdom, who have not gone to their home countries or elsewhere for the holidays, laze around in the summers, glued to a couch watching a movie or surfing the Internet at home.Kaisar said that he planned to do something unusual this summer.“I did not want to sit at home for three whole months. I wanted to do something that is resourceful … and then this opportunity came up. It was quite unexpected,” said Kaisar.Many corporate houses are offering summer internships that are attracting students in significant numbers. Aziz and Kaisar have enrolled in a three-month internship program, which started in June and will end in September.“I joined the company on June 28 and plan to diligently work for three months,” said Kaisar.Internships are increasingly being sought by young professionals as a means to become acquainted with the work culture.Through internships, students gain experience in different fields, establish contacts that are vital for networking, and receive letters of recommendation from professionals in the field. The other advantage of internships is that students gain work experience without permanently committing themselves to a specific field. “I felt awkward the first few days of work, but then I began to feel more confident. Initially, I thought that office environments were boring. Gradually I learnt that office work is not so boring if you know what you are doing. The best part is I get a coffee break every two hours,” quipped Aziz.Kaisar said that he was initially nervous being in an environment that “has almost no resemblance to school life.”“However, working with knowledgeable and friendly people, it was very easy to adjust to the changes. It feels great to work in a professional, high class, and a peaceful environment, though I miss the noisy and fun-filled classrooms,” he said.Aziz and Kaisar are learning different IT-related operations along with basic work ethics.“I am learning how to give basic IT support to businesses along with advanced computing skills. It’s a big deal working with a top organization at such an early stage of my career,” said Kaisar.“I am confident that the skills that I am acquiring now will help me to adjust to any office environment, and, moreover, help me to choose my career path,” he added.Asked about the nature of his work, Aziz said: “I am working at the IT Department’s help desk. When anyone has a technical problem, they call me and I help them solve it. I have previously worked as the company’s IT Assets Inventory. So basically, I am the ‘IT guy’.” – SG

Housewives cook for money in Ramadan

Housewives cook for money in Ramadan
By Mona Rahman

JEDDAH – The month of Ramadan is a busy time for those women who prepare food at home for vending. These self-employed, professional cooks work hard to generate extra income for their families and themselves. “I have been vending food for the last two years and as the mother of four children, I am supporting my family. I work hard during the month of Ramadan as I have many orders and supply women with food delicacies,” said Umm Khadija. “I offer my services to women who are working in banks and offices where there are women’s branches or sections and also in the past to teachers when the schools were open during Ramadan,” she addedUmm Salma shares a similar story. However, she does not visit offices to look for customers, but rather cooks for particular families with working womenfolk. “I am adept at cooking Saudi dishes and presently I am preparing a full Iftar table for a lady doctor who works full-time in a government hospital and is unable to do the cooking after a hard day’s work. The dishes include soup, sambosas, dessert, and pastries. The lady provides me with the ingredients and I charge her SR2,000 for the entire month of Ramadan.”Some women buy from these cooks because they consider the food to be more hygienic and better prepared than that offered by take-away restaurants. “I hired a Palestinian cook who, except for weekends, cooks for me. She charges me SR150 a day for cooking five or six dishes, but I don’t hesitate to pay as the health and hygiene issue, which is of prime importance, is guaranteed,” said Abeer Khalid, an Egyptian national in Jeddah.Most of the women who are professional cooks reside in Hejaz, that is, Makkah, Jeddah and the surrounding areas, and they are usually low-income Palestinian, Syrian and Saudi nationals for whom cooking is the only way to earn a living. These ladies wake up early in the morning and all day long to prepare food despite fasting themselves. They visit the women’s branches of banks and offices or beauty parlors where women employees buy from them. When they are not able to visit many places in a day, they hire drivers who do the work for them, and many women office workers send their drivers to the homes of these cooks to collect the food. “Sambosa is sold for one riyal per piece and women often buy fifty riyals worth so they can store the sambosa for two or three days. I can earn one or two thousand riyals a week, but it involves careful organizing, preparing, distributing and, of course, endless effort. I even have to pay the driver who helps me in delivering the food. In a day I am able to cater to approximately 10-12 families,” said Khadija“We do not sell every day; one day we prepare, cook and freeze items and the next day we deliver them according to the schedule. Sometimes we cook for long hours standing in the heat of kitchen despite fasting, but we believe that we work with a strong faith while fasting. And also it is a means of getting blessings by feeding people and helpibg them break their fast with delicious things,” she addedMany women who work in offices all day are delighted to be helped by these cooks. “Providing healthy food for families is just as important in Ramadan as it is at other times of the year. Additionally, it is a great way to help female entrepreneurs in our region, especially those women who have to work from home. Cooking and catering for others can be the start of their lives as businesswomen,” said Muna Abu Sulayman, a well-known television personality.A municipal official from Makkah, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said women in Riyadh do not usually cook food at home to sell. However, women in Hejaz do and the food is usually clean and healthy. These women not only work on an individual basis but sometimes also in collaboration with some restaurants.As many people who sell items illegally have their goods confiscated or are even deported if they are caught by the municipality, Saudi Gazette asked an official if there were restrictions on women cooking food at home to sell. “There are no specific laws concerning the delivering of food (commercially), but the punishment that might be meted out is the confiscation of their goods and materials,” he said. – SG

Housewives cook for money in Ramadan

Housewives cook for money in Ramadan
By Mona Rahman

JEDDAH – The month of Ramadan is a busy time for those women who prepare food at home for vending. These self-employed, professional cooks work hard to generate extra income for their families and themselves. “I have been vending food for the last two years and as the mother of four children, I am supporting my family. I work hard during the month of Ramadan as I have many orders and supply women with food delicacies,” said Umm Khadija. “I offer my services to women who are working in banks and offices where there are women’s branches or sections and also in the past to teachers when the schools were open during Ramadan,” she addedUmm Salma shares a similar story. However, she does not visit offices to look for customers, but rather cooks for particular families with working womenfolk. “I am adept at cooking Saudi dishes and presently I am preparing a full Iftar table for a lady doctor who works full-time in a government hospital and is unable to do the cooking after a hard day’s work. The dishes include soup, sambosas, dessert, and pastries. The lady provides me with the ingredients and I charge her SR2,000 for the entire month of Ramadan.”Some women buy from these cooks because they consider the food to be more hygienic and better prepared than that offered by take-away restaurants. “I hired a Palestinian cook who, except for weekends, cooks for me. She charges me SR150 a day for cooking five or six dishes, but I don’t hesitate to pay as the health and hygiene issue, which is of prime importance, is guaranteed,” said Abeer Khalid, an Egyptian national in Jeddah.Most of the women who are professional cooks reside in Hejaz, that is, Makkah, Jeddah and the surrounding areas, and they are usually low-income Palestinian, Syrian and Saudi nationals for whom cooking is the only way to earn a living. These ladies wake up early in the morning and all day long to prepare food despite fasting themselves. They visit the women’s branches of banks and offices or beauty parlors where women employees buy from them. When they are not able to visit many places in a day, they hire drivers who do the work for them, and many women office workers send their drivers to the homes of these cooks to collect the food. “Sambosa is sold for one riyal per piece and women often buy fifty riyals worth so they can store the sambosa for two or three days. I can earn one or two thousand riyals a week, but it involves careful organizing, preparing, distributing and, of course, endless effort. I even have to pay the driver who helps me in delivering the food. In a day I am able to cater to approximately 10-12 families,” said Khadija“We do not sell every day; one day we prepare, cook and freeze items and the next day we deliver them according to the schedule. Sometimes we cook for long hours standing in the heat of kitchen despite fasting, but we believe that we work with a strong faith while fasting. And also it is a means of getting blessings by feeding people and helpibg them break their fast with delicious things,” she addedMany women who work in offices all day are delighted to be helped by these cooks. “Providing healthy food for families is just as important in Ramadan as it is at other times of the year. Additionally, it is a great way to help female entrepreneurs in our region, especially those women who have to work from home. Cooking and catering for others can be the start of their lives as businesswomen,” said Muna Abu Sulayman, a well-known television personality.A municipal official from Makkah, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said women in Riyadh do not usually cook food at home to sell. However, women in Hejaz do and the food is usually clean and healthy. These women not only work on an individual basis but sometimes also in collaboration with some restaurants.As many people who sell items illegally have their goods confiscated or are even deported if they are caught by the municipality, Saudi Gazette asked an official if there were restrictions on women cooking food at home to sell. “There are no specific laws concerning the delivering of food (commercially), but the punishment that might be meted out is the confiscation of their goods and materials,” he said. – SG

Ad graphic design: A ubiquitous form of art

Ad graphic design: A ubiquitous form of art
By Mona Rahman
Graphic design is the most widespread form of art, visualizing the ideas and perceptions of an artist these days simultaneously. It has also become a commercial art and is touching our lives in every possible manner, including everything we see, do and even buy. It is seen on public billboards, Web sites, gift certificates, give-away items, calendars, and brochures.“It is an intricate combination of colors; shapes and lines; numbers and charts; and pictures and photographs expressing the unique thoughts of an artist who struggles to bring out something distinctive or useful,” explained Rauzan Saud Jalal, a Saudi artist and participant in the ad graphic design exhibition titled “Advertise From Makkah” organized by the Tasami Center for Visual Arts and Umm Al-Qura University at the Serafi Mall in Jeddah last week.“It can be seen as directional arrows on street signs, the billboards or even as hand-tags in clothing stores.My showcased work, for instance, includes the model of a street in which I have proposed a roundabout for an actual street as well as the logo and new design for calendars, brochures, give-away items and flyers for the promotion of a local jewelry shop,” she added in an interview with Saudi Gazette. On a personal level, she believes that everything has a certain design and sensory qualities, both of which are easy to express via colors, shapes and lines.Another graphic designer participating in the exhibition, Lojain Zeyad Khoja’s work demonstrated that graphic design is a part of everyday life in which individuals communicate things visually, and this form therefore has the power to make people experience certain things or react. Her series of pictures in which a man was torturing and punishing his wife mercilessly, for instance, was captivating. “I etched this story on the canvas so that I could deliver the message that there should be love and harmony between a couple and that it is atrocious when a man abuses his wife,” she said in an interview with Saudi Gazette.Another theme of Khoja’s work was the various forms of ‘mercy’, and flyers showcasing this idea of hers were included in the exhibition. Lasting five days, the unique exhibition sought to attract a diverse variety of visitors to appreciate this very unique form of everyday art. In particular, the exhibition “aimed to attract those in the advertising field, to introduce them to Saudi artists, particularly women, that have specialized in this art form,” said Adnan Theqa, Tasami Center’s vice president. “Saudi Arabia needs to encourage commercial art across the country, as it has great scope in the interior design field, and many organizations will need to employ more artists to create logos and design their brochures to further promote their products,” remarked participating artist Hadeel Hashim Shemi.The participating artists had beautifully given shape to their ideas in the form of advertisements for certain brands and companies, and their ideas testified to the latest trends in vogue. Graphic design in itself, requires a profound understanding of colors, structures and lines, and the most common models depicted streets and on-road structures like roundabouts, that designers had proposed. - SGWhat is graphic design?• Various methods are used to create and combine symbols, images and/or words to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.• A graphic designer may use typography, visual arts and page layout techniques to produce the final result.• Common uses of graphic design include magazines, advertisements and product packaging. For example, a product package might include a logo or other artwork, organized text and pure design elements such as shapes and color which unify the piece.• While Graphic Design as a discipline has a relatively recent history, graphic design-like activities span the history of humankind: from the caves of Lascaux, to Rome’s Trajan’s Column to the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, to the dazzling neons of Ginza.• From road signs to technical schematics, from interoffice memorandums to reference manuals, graphic design enhances transfer of knowledge. Readability is enhanced by improving the visual presentation of text.

Working women face uphill battle during Ramadan

Working women face uphill battle during Ramadan
By Mona Rahman

The blessed month of Ramadan has ushered in through the threshold with its trademark blessings, compassion and mercy. The new “culture” of Ramadan - consisting of elaborate meals - however, causes much inconvenience to working women in the Kingdom. After spending a day at work, these women have to rush home to meet the Iftar preparation “deadline” so that their families have a decent meal to sit down at and consequently miss out on the true spirit of the holy month.“I have to reach work in the morning just like normal days, where I handle my official schedule at the same time as planning and timing my cooking duties,” remarked Nasreen Khaled, a Saudi woman working in a bank in Jeddah. “After reaching home, I get no time to rest and have to quickly set the dinner table for Iftar.“Ramadan is about devoting time to spiritual activities and worship, but unfortunately, during the evening I have to look after my twins who are below the age of three, so cannot offer Tarawih prayers or go out anywhere.”There’s not much a working woman can do, moreover, if her husband insists on getting the more elaborate delicacies to eat during Iftar, and or some couples, this is a major source of contention during the holy month. “My husband loves food and prefers a variety of dishes, especially sweets like rice pudding, kunafa and amli, all of which are very time-consuming to make and I can only make during the weekends,” said Khaleda, a Syrian woman working for a private organization in Riyadh. She added that this puts her husband into a bad mood.One solution that an increasing number of women are turning to is finding a cook who will handle the Iftar and Suhoor responsibilities, and some women are even considering the contribution of their generous mothers to the Iftar.Farida Al-Fawaz is a Saudi operation supervisor at Khaleejia Investment in Riyadh, and she told Saudi Gazette that she reaches home well after 4 P.M., leaving her so tired that she has now invested in a domestic helper and gets occasional help from her mother in the form of favorite dishes sent over for Iftars. She also relies on her mother during the weekend, when the family gets together and the latter does all the cooking so that her daughter can rest.“Prior to the start of Ramadan, I prepare things and freeze them so that it’s easy to cook them on weekends when my helper is not around,” she said. “I buy sambosa leaves and fill them with mince meat, potatoes; or buy spring roll sheets and fill them with chicken and freeze it all for convenience.”Finding a domestic helper for Ramadan, however, is both a highly expensive and frustrating ordeal as they are in high demand throughout the month. Noura is a doctor working in Al-Khobar and she told Saudi Gazette that: “I have a time consuming job, often entailing long hours, extending beyond my duty hours, and I reach home just before Iftar time I and unable to do the cooking myself. I have no choice but to hire a cook during the month, but she charges double than she should - 2,000 Saudi riyals.”A cheaper solution most women seem to prefer is to hire the services of delivery women who make popular Iftar food items at home and sell them at offices and homes, though they are sometimes discouraged by doing so. The delivery women sell frozen packs of sambosas, rolls, and waraq anaa - often at the charge of one Saudi riyal per piece.Umm Sara is one such professional cook and delivery woman and she told Saudi Gazette that she gets her supplies from the supermarket in the evening and prepares the items of food the next morning so that the packets can be delivered on time and well before Iftar. “I used to supply them at schools but since it’s the holidays, I visit ladies’ sections in banks and offices and supply customers with packets of frozen food,” she remarked. “Often they make purchases of approximately 50 Saudi riyals, and sometimes I’ll be delivering somewhere while my driver will be delivering elsewhere. This is why I can earn in a righteous manner.” – SG

Remembering the month of Ramadan that was

Remembering the month of Ramadan that was
By Mona Rahman

The observance of Ramadan in the Kingdom has been replaced by a flip-flop culture over the years with modifications in the Iftar, Suhoor and activities contributing to positive as well as negative changes in people’s daily lives.Paying charityIn the past, a key factor of Ramadan was fund collection within mosques through unregistered local organizations or charities. This practice has since been banned by the Saudi government, and now all organizations need to be registered, approved by the government and regularized, with the option to pay directly through the bank. “Now all charity is done through aukawf, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” said Mohammed Siddique Al-Ansari, Imam of a mosque in Riyadh. “Charity is not allowed to be collected anywhere else, or by any individual or organization.” All charitable organizations have their own bank account numbers and are easily distinguishable as INSAN bank accounts in the Kingdom to ensure that money for charity is not diverted into “wrong hands” or exploited for non-charitable purposes, he added.He did, however, advise people to return to the roots of charity-giving and consider needy relatives and friends before giving the money to a bank. “That way it will remain sadaqa and silla instead of just sadaqa,” he said.Eating outPeople now increasingly opt to have Iftar in restaurants as a mode of resorting to comfort and convenience instead of preparing food at home. Some even prefer catering services and sign a month’s contract with them for the duration of Ramadan. “Women in particular, who are exhausted with demanding housemaids or are working, prefer to have Iftars in restaurants to avoid the usual toil of cooking,” said Masood Ahmad Puri, Manager of La Sani Restaurant in Jeddah. “Everyone gets the monthly booking done prior to Ramadan; Saudis as well as expats bring their relatives and guests for Iftar parties, and now people invite their guests for Suhoor too.” He added that the past two years, especially, have seen an increase in eating out during Ramadan.UnityRamadan in the past was characterized by a sense of unity amongst people with Iftar and Suhoor becoming social affairs where entire families would come together to eat and pray. Now, however, both occasions have largely become private affairs with members of one family often eating at different times and alone, despite living together.“The special aroma of food and qahwa were a fragrance of togetherness that could be experienced 20 to 25 years back in every neighborhood,” reminisced Baqi Eskander, a 70-year-old Saudi pilgrim guide in Makkah. “Saudis lived together and participated in feasts together, contributing any food they had, but now my eyes long to see those days again.“Families have split and people have become engaged in solely earning money. Before, they used to support each other, and now each person is just restricted to his own needs.”Mad scramble for goodsAnyone who has gone grocery shopping in the past couple of days will testify that it has constituted nothing short of a mad scramble to buy goods. Supermarkets in major cities are teeming with customers who are in a rush to stock up on things like sacks of rice and bottles of cooking oil as if nothing will be left to buy later.“From the time a few days are left to Ramadan - before the new moon is even sighted - people start rushing here and there, rushing to buy things,” remarked Abdul Qadir, a 70-year-old Syrian man in Riyadh. “Supermarkets have commercialized Ramadan through their promotions, and customers buy a lot more because of those. It seems like a month of feasts has been ushered in instead of fasting. In the past, people devoted more time to worship and ate what they got.”It’s time to relax?Another disturbing phenomenon is the greater inclination in most people to eat lots of food, watch lots of TV, stay awake all night and do all their chores after sunset. A false perception dominates that Ramadan is a month of lethargy and relaxation. “People stuff themselves with heavy, oily food and even decorate their tables with fancy trimmings, which isn’t the true spirit of Ramadan and didn’t even exist a few decades back,” said Tamer Hussain, a 67-year-old Egyptian in Jeddah.Living conditions during past Ramadans were such that most people worked normal eight-hour (or more) days but standard working hours have now been reduced to six in almost all offices. “Years back, thirst and hunger never slowed people down; they still exhibited the same energy while going to work,” said Mahmoud Abbas, a 62-year-old Pakistani living in Madina. “We used to get up for Fajr prayers and then set off to work, but the new generation blames Ramadan for the lack of work and postponement of tasks.”These days, the post-Tarawih prayers’ period constitutes of jam-packed roads as people flock to malls and other recreational centers. It is a much better alternative to watching TV at home, but 26-year-old Syed Nabeel Hassan remembers his childhood in the Kingdom with nostalgia, when there were no satellite channels, Internet and hardly a computer in every home.“We used to watch two local channels, which were the best in Ramadan because they used to air special variety shows,” he reminisced. “After Tarawih prayers, we used to go out and play football, volleyball, board games and table football with our friends. But now young people have been introduced to other activities like watching satellite channels, surfing the Internet.”“Ramadan has lost its true spirit; people even start shopping for Eid from the 15th day of Ramadan onward, even though all Eid shopping was always done in the last few days of Ramadan. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be wrong to start calling Ramadan a month of fashion in the future,” he concluded. – SG

What expats should know

What expats should know
By Mona Rahman

Saudi Arabia is home to a large number of skilled, semi-skilled and professional foreign workers. Many entrepreneuring expatriates have successfully set up their own businesses in the Kingdom. However, an expatriate seeking to start a business should do so only through the legal channels, failing which he can face dire consequences. “Expatriates can initiate business activities in industry, contracting and other services. The SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority) that was formed a decade ago has laid down relevant rules and regulations for foreign businessmen to run their businesses in the Kingdom,” said Abdul Aziz Shehzad, legal advisor in the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).The SAGIA offices that are located in different regions of the Kingdom will answer any queries, and the authority’s website (www.sagia.gov.sa) provides all the required information, he added.Expatriates can make investments in various areas, such as, the industrial sector, services sector, real estate (except in Makkah and Madina) and in the agri-business. The most common businesses that expats invest in are garment and textile shops, baqalas (grocery shops), carpets, abayas, tailoring, and construction.The capital requirements for each of these businesses vary. They are: SR1 million for industrial licenses, SR500,000 for service licenses, project value of not less than SR30 million for real estate, and a capital of not less than SR25 million for agri-business investments.A business license should be obtained by the expat either under his name or under a Saudi national’s name, along with a letter of ‘no objection’, in which he is assigned a designated post in the business setup and a percentage of the sales profit is fixed between the Saudi investor and the expat.“Under the Foreign Investment Act, expats can also request to partner with their sponsors, or request approval of their sponsors for a ‘no objection’ letter in order to establish their own business,” said Modar Al-Hijji, senior license analyst specialist at SAGIA.He said that expats who want to set up a business in the Kingdom should pursue legal channels in order to avoid any “unwelcome circumstances”. According to Al-Hijji, the procedure of obtaining a legal business license is quite clear. “The first step is obtaining the required information from the SAGIA website (info@sagia.gov.sa) or by visiting the SAGIA call center. Next, a request for obtaining a business license should be submitted through law firms only. Then the individual must visit the SAGIA office and request a consultation with an investment advisor. He should read and abide by the documentation requirements,” he explained. Some of the conditions for granting a license to a non-Saudi by the authorities include: The investment activity to be licensed should not be listed as a banned activity in the foreign investment listings; the planned product should abide by the Kingdom’s rules and regulations, or the laws of the European Union or the United States in the absence of those laws, in terms of standards and specifications, raw materials and production processes; the applicant should be a natural or nominated person who has come to the Kingdom for investment; the foreign investor should not have been found guilty in the past of significant violations of the requirements of the Act; and the grant of a license shall not result in the violation of any international or regional agreement to which the Kingdom is a party.Starting any sort of business by non-Saudis in the Kingdom is illegal if they do not have a license issued by the SAGIA, along with a CR from the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry. “Running business activities under the umbrella of Saudi kafils (sponsors) is illegal, if neither the Saudi national nor the expat obtains a ‘no objection’ letter or neither of their names are mentioned on any legal documents. In legal terminology, this is called a “cover-up”, which is a punishable crime, which includes imprisonment and penalties for both parties (Saudi national and expat), along with the deportation of the expat and the cancellation of the kafil’s license, i.e. C.R,” said Shehzad, adding that the Ministry of Interior has a special department to monitor such illegal commercial activities and take appropriate action.Going through legal channels for setting up a business is imperative for a foreign national because, otherwise, he may encounter certain drawbacks, such as, “the business may be overtaken by the kafil if he intends to deceive the expat. This is possible as the business has been registered in the kafil’s name and the expat cannot file a case against him. Moreover, they had not obtained the ‘no objection’ letter,” said Shehzad.Saudi nationals or members of the GCC are subject to Zakat when they make investments while a non-Saudi natural person is subject to tax if he meets any of the following conditions: a resident who does business in the Kingdom, a partner in a resident partnership (personal company), and a general partner in a resident company limited by shares. Natural person is defined as a resident in the Kingdom for a taxable year if he has a permanent place of residence in the Kingdom and physically resides in the Kingdom for 30 days or more; or he physically resides in the Kingdom for 183 days or more.The income of a foreign individual or an entity investing in the Kingdom i.e. is subject to 20% income tax. Distribution of profits (dividends) by such business to the non-resident shareholders is also subject to a 5 percent withholding tax. “A resident person earning income from a source in the Kingdom is subject to a 20 percent corporate income tax,” said Mohammad Kamran Sial, senior manager, Tax and Zakat Services at KPMG.“If a non-resident earns income from a source in the Kingdom, such as, for rendering services, the income is subject to withholding tax,” he said.If the source of the income earned by a foreigner is not considered to be from a source in the Kingdom, under the tax law, such income is not subject to tax. “For example, income earned from providing training services completely outside the Kingdom is not considered to be from a source in the Kingdom. However, if training services are performed inside or both inside and outside the Kingdom, the income becomes taxable under the mode of withholding tax,” said Sial. There are penalties/fines if the expat fails to pay, delays the settlement or evades tax. – SG

So close, yet so far
By Mona Rahman
Even though avenues to higher education for expatriates are opening up in the Kingdom, young expats say that not all is well pointing to the exorbitant fees charged by local colleges and universities, along with other obstacles, such as a language barrier and a concomitant cultural difference.“An expatriate in the Kingdom, with an average income, has to meet the needs of his family here, and in most cases, his family back home. If he spends SR25,000 to SR50,000 annually per child’s higher education, there’s not much left for other expenses. Higher education may be expanding in the Kingdom, but it is still very expensive,” said Khadim Hussein, father of Sobia Khadim, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science at the Punjab University, Lahore.“Our children, immediately after they finish school, have no option but to leave the Kingdom for higher education. And very often, one of the parents leaves with the child, while the other stays in the Kingdom to work and support the child’s education, which results in the splitting up of the family,” he said. Educational institutions, such as Prince Sultan University for Tourism and Business, Riyadh College for Dentistry and Pharmacy, College of Business Administration, University of Tabuk, Effat University, Batterjee Medical College, etc., have opened up to expat students. These universities offer a similar fee structure for both expatriates and Saudis.Excluding the registration fee and depending on the chosen program, the fee structures in some of these colleges are: Batterjee Medical College (SR40,000 – SR70,000), Effat University (SR20,000 per semester), College of Business Administration (SR1300 per credit hour, total credit hours adding up to 131), Prince Sultan University For Tourism and Business ($2,500-$5,000 for international students), and Riyadh Private College For Dentistry and Pharmacy ($10,000 - $12,500 for undergraduate programs and $15,000 - $17,500 for postgraduate programs).King Abdulaziz University (KAU) will be offering three-year degree programs to expats in computer networking, insurance, marketing, sales, accounting, and pharmacy starting October at the university’s Jeddah Community College (JCC). Admissions will be strictly based on merit and the six-semester course will cost SR45,000. Irfan Ahmed, KAU marketing manager, believes that if local colleges are able to provide affordable as well as vocational education to young expats, students will be able to save on expenses by studying in the Kingdom with their families.“Saudi universities that plan to provide educational opportunities to expats should keep in mind that education should be affordable for all and that it is not a money-minting business that may bar diligent students from seeking education,” he said.Many expatriates believe that pursuing higher education in their home country suits them better in more ways than one.Fatima Subhani Khan, a Jeddah resident who is now studying at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, said that private education in the Kingdom is very expensive and that more colleges should be established here to meet the educational needs of all expats.“Education here is still in its early stages. It will probably take some time to achieve international standards,” she said.Abdul Rahman, an expat student pursuing a distance education program, said: “After completing my class 12, I enrolled in a private institute in Riyadh. But being unsatisfied with the standard of education and the expensive fee structure there, I quit and have now joined a distance education course.” The most likely option for expats who do not leave the Kingdom for higher education is enrolling in universities in their home country that conduct exams here. Pakistani universities, such as, University of Karachi, Allama Iqbal Open University, etc., conduct graduate and post-graduate programs in the Kingdom. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), etc., are among some of the Indian universities that operate here via local centers.“I did my BBA from the University of Karachi. Now I would like to pursue a post-graduate program in the Kingdom, provided the program’s fee structure is not beyond one’s reach and that it has a decent quality of education,” said Malik Khurram Mansoor, marketing officer at the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh. The Saudi government offers scholarships to nationals only.“The government has announced 100 percent scholarships for Saudi nationals who score 65 percent or above. Why can’t there be similar moves for expat students?” asked Mutarba Khan, a former student of the International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ), who is now studying in Batterjee Medical College.Ahmad Abdul Wahab, Vice Dean of Technology and Development of JCC, said: “Organizations should have objectives in line with their strategic plans. One of the aspects that supports the achievement of the goals of the JCC’s strategic plan is to serve the community because it is a community college that works for the community at large.” He said other local colleges should also take the lead if they have the capacity and if it is in line with their goals and objectives. Expat students who go abroad for higher studies are also faced with the uncertainties of coming back to the Kingdom at any given time in case of an Iqama renewal. They might have to miss a semester if there are conflicting dates.Ashfaq Mehmood, principal of the Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ), Al-Aziziah, said: “Universities here should reduce their fee structures because it’s very difficult for our children, especially daughters, to travel alone. Moreover, these children are faced with a dilemma if they have to miss a semester to travel back to get their Iqama renewed.”Seconding him, Syed Masood Ahmed, principal of IISJ, said colleges and universities should introduce affordable professional courses and programs for deserving expats. “It would strengthen interaction between communities in every aspect,” he said. – SG

Retinoblastoma: The little-known childhood malignancy
By Mona Rahman

Though Retinoblastoma is the most common type of eye cancer found in children, most parents are unaware of the existence of this life-threatening cancer of the retina which occurs at the back of the eye.Representing three percent of all childhood cancer and occurring equally in both boys and girls and independent of race, retinoblastoma normally affects only one eye in up to 70 percent of patients, but a significant 30 percent cases involve both eyes.There are approximately three million cases of the illness affecting children under the age of 14 every year, and this rate is higher in predominantly developing regions: India, Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is significantly rarer in the developed world with approximately 300 cases in the United States and 40 cases in the United Kingdom occurring annually. “In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of children suffering from this illness is about one in every 17,000 live births, and we encounter about 30 to 40 cases annually,” remarked Dr. Adel Mohamed Abdul Wahab Khalil, an Ophthalmologist at the Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, in an interview with Saudi Gazette. “The age incidence is usually between birth to six years, but commonly before three years of age. This is because retinoblastoma is due to the malignant transformation of primitive retinal cells – which tend to disappear within the first few years of life.”More than 90 percent of afflicted children can be cured of retinoblastoma through early detection and treatment, preserving a child’s vision. “Early detection is vital for providing the child with a good chance to survive, avoid eye excision and preserve a good level of vision,” added Dr. Khalil.Difficult choicesDr. Michael Dean, an Oncologist from the renowned Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States writes that if the tumor is found in one eye, then it is normally safe to remove that eye without posing a risk to the other. In such cases, new prostheses are “remarkably good” and “children can lead a normal life with one eye.” However, when detected in both eyes, then the worst-affected one is normally removed and the other specialists attempt to save.DetectionRetinoblastoma is normally found via routine eye examinations, but it can also show up as a white lesion in the eye or the lack of the ‘red eye’ phenomenon in photographs, painful headaches and vision trouble. The tumor can either be confined to the eye, spread to the optic nerve or spread even further as well in the worst-case scenario.One useful way the tumor can be detected by parents is when using a flash to take pictures of a certain child, where an affected eye may look white in the photograph. Some children also look like they are squinting or if the tumor is particularly large the afflicted eye will look painfully red.“The most common symptoms are white opacity in the center of the pupil, squinting, pain in the eye, redness and eye enlargement caused but elevated intraocular pressure,” explained Dr. Adel. “If the tumor is confined to the retina for a long time, it will spread inside the eye, along the optic nerve, to the orbit, lymph nodes, lungs, brain and bones.”Types of tumorRetinoblastoma can occur in two forms: heritable and non-heritable. In the former, the tumor is often bilateral – occurring in both eyes, while in the latter it is normally found in just one eye.The heritable form of retinoblastoma accounts for about two in every five cases, and is caused by a genetic abnormality. This means that an abnormal gene allows the tumor to develop, and may either be inherited from a parent or occur for the first time at an early stage of development in the womb. People with this gene - known as the RB1 - also have an increased risk of developing other types of tumor later in life, according to Dr. Khalil.“In heritable retinoblastoma, the child carries a 40 percent risk if a parent has been affected with it. In this type, the disease may affect more than one child in the same family,” he said. “In non-heritable retinoblastoma, the tumor is unilateral and non-transmissible. The child of a non-heritable retinoblastoma parent has only 1% risk of getting it.”TreatmentTreatment for this cancer typically requires the cooperation of an ophthalmic oncologist, pediatric oncologist, and radiation therapist. Investigations via eye ultrasound, CT scan, MRI and some genetic studies may be conducted by the consultant ophthalmologist. The genetic study involves testing a child’s blood for the RB1 gene and results can take months to come back, so parents must be prepared to wait. The other investigations are fairly straightforward and completely painless.The kind of treatment used depends on the number, position and size of the tumor in the eye. The treatment initially seeks to get rid of the cancer and then to preserve vision. Depending on the treatment, some patients may lose partial vision.Dr. Khalil remarked that treatment methods included laser treatment, cry therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and enucleating in very advanced cases. He advises parents to put their worry to rest by having periodic tests done on their child. “This disease is statistically rare but we need to consider the risks it poses nevertheless,” he said. “Routine check ups are mandatory for high-risk cases, particularly is there is a family history of the disease.” – SG

Stay ‘tuned in’ to fight stress
By Mona Rahman

Move over reiki, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, massage, herbal medicines, online streaming, etc., all of which are known for their stress relieving properties, and come at a price. It’s the idiot box, or the television, that seems to be making its place as the top stress buster for many. And why not, watching TV is an activity that doesn’t incur any added expenses, apart from the electricity bills of course.“Every individual attempts to escape from the monotonous, work-filled, and stress-induced life. For doing so, people find the TV as the most easily accessible media that they think would put them in a state of relaxation,” said Dr. Sameh Hassan, asst. professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, Canada.He cited a survery that was conducted in 2001, in which 3668 Saudi individuals were sampled, and the survey showed that each individual spent 26.7 hours per week watching TV.Different levels of stress are encountered by every individual, and it’s imperative to release this stress, otherwise it would jeopardize our physical health.“When we are faced with a situation in which we need to defensively act, the brain releases adrenaline that raises the blood pressure and prepares us to react so that we are relieved. But if we fail in responding to the situation, these hormones remain unreleased for a long period of time, causing stress such as, tension in the muscles, unfocused anxiety and rapid heartbeats,” said Nineveh Camara, a consultant in the St. Vincent Clay Hospital, Brazil.She said this accumulated stress could end up weakening the immune system, making the individual susceptible to illness. Stress has become a fact in life and to wholly eliminate it seems to be impossible. Nevertheless, there is need to manage it so that it wouldn’t harm our health. And we can do this by indulging in activities depending upon our interests.“In essence, there is no magical formula regarding what to do in order to relieve one’s stress. Different people find different things that would sooth them, such as, some find comfort in prayer, others in relaxation, massage, sports, socializing....etc, ‘’ explained Dr. Hassan.Indeed, TV offers a pleasant distraction from the rut of life, workplace dilemmas, and other pressurizing situations.Reem Khaled, a Saudi working mother of two kids and a PHD student at King Abdul Aziz University, says after a busy day, she finds solace in TV. “I am a workaholic person who works all day, and when I am at home in the night, I study and research for my thesis. Working for 20 hours a day drains out all my energy. But because I watch TV when I am working, it keeps me kicking and ticking,” said Khaled, adding that listening to soothing music and talking to friends also helps her release all her negativities.There are various TV programs, shows and movies in categories of entertainment, news, interviews, reality shows, etc.“When I was looking for a better career opportunity and was under social pressure, TV worked as a perfect stressbuster as I would watch movies. On the contrary, at times I would also feel tired when I would be sitting infront of the TV for prolonged hours. So TV can work both ways: it helps release stress while it can also stress us out,” said said Itteeq-Ur-Rahman, a Pakistani management consultant in Jeddah.He said that watching TV does not necessarily helps relieve stress. “However, if it does, the reason is that TV viewing temporarily takes away the mind from any distracting thoughts, enabling the person to better concentrate and focus later on,” said Rahman. For children too, a day’s hard work is often rewarded with some time allotted to them for cartoon viewing by their parents.“Children enjoy cartoons because cartoon characters, such as, the Spiderman, superman, etc., have superpowers with which they can do fantastic things, and the children wish to project themselves as these characters and in these situations,” said Camara.“However, TV can lead to stressful responses and violent behavior among children. For example, this can happen when children watch violent cartoons. Uncontrolled viewing can keep them from participating in other cultural activities and social interaction, which may cause disorders in the development of their personalities,” she added.Besides the idiot box, social networking sites, such as facebook, twitter, etc., have gained popularity with their variety of activities, games and chat sessions. – SG

Ready, set, let’s go!
By Mona Rahman

Field trips have always been an essential part of the educational system. In this, new concepts have emerged, thus making the process of learning closely associated with travelling. Experts in the field believe that students develop life skills in a fun and challenging way through educational trips that provide them with an opportunity to broaden their horizons.“Field trips aid in the development of skills in students as well as give students a chance to socialize with each other. They learn numerous things, such as, how to deal with different situations, plus they become more active,” said Dr. Sadik Dahlan, director general of Coral International School in Jeddah. Students are taken to academic and non-academic trips. The academic trips offer students deeper subject learning and an increased level of self-confidence. “Our education is usually based on textbooks. Students are taken on academic field trips that are planned in accordance with what is being taught in the classroom so that they can learn and easily relate their experiences. We hold discussions with the schoolteachers about what topic they are teaching so that we can organize a related field trip. For example, on the environment day, students were taken to a park,” said Dahlan, adding that students at his school have also visited colleges, universities, libraries, etc.Seconding Dahlan, Huda, principal of the Learning Oasis School in Riyadh, gave another example of subject-related academic trips.“Field trips related to science or social studies subjects are common. These include a trip to the zoo if the children are studying about animals,” she said.Non-academic trips allow the students to escape for a while their accustomed studying routine. Students are taken to malls where there is usually a small play land, where they can indulge in some physical activity that otherwise is limited due to the lack of parks and playgrounds in Jeddah. Students visit sports centers as well as nearby cities as part of their school trips.“Children at our school have virtually visited every new mall in the city, and are updated with different aspects of the place they visit, such as, its management, etc.,” said Dahlan, adding that other activities, such as, swimming, barbeque, etc., are also included in the field trips.Schools and other institutes, while organizing a field trip, make all the necessary arrangements, such as, obtaining the permission of the owners of the place they intend to visit.“Steps include securing permission from the appropriate authorities, organizing transportation to and from the location, and contacting the administration of the location to verify the schedule,” said Rahina Mukhtar, teacher and ‘trips coordinator’ in Darul Al-Hekma International School, Jeddah.Most schools charge an amount for these trips as ‘miscellaneous fees’ at the commencement of the new academic session or whenever the students are taken for trips.“We deduct these charges as miscellaneous fees from the overall fees of each student at the start of the academic year. These charges range between SR400 to SR1000, and we usually have three such trips in an academic year,” said Dahlan.Huda said the charges for a trip vary according to the location that has been planned. “For example, if that particular place charges SR10 per person, the school will charge SR15 per student, which includes the cost of the meals as well,” she said.Proper supervision is essential during all field trips to ensure that the children follow instructions and are safe.“For the children’s safety, we divide them into batches according to their age, and these batches are then taken on trips on separate days. The ratio of the teacher to the students in one trip is 1:5, i.e., there is one teacher for every five students, plus there is a helper, a nurse and a supervisor. School buses wait outside the place incase of any emergency. The students are identified with a batch giving out the school’s name, telephone number, etc., attached to their shirts,” said Huda.Despite all such precautions taken by the school prior to a field trip, some parents do not allow their children to be part of the trip as they say they fear about their children’s security.“Parents want their children to learn, and thus allow them to go for trips. However, some parents are more skeptical and fear the possibility of any unseen accident during the trip. However mishaps are inevitable and their fear should not hinder their kid’s learning,” said Khalil Rafique, an Egyptian father of three.Abeer Arif, a Saudi mother of two, said that because of the stories of lost children and bus accidents that she gets to hear so often, she fears losing her children due to similar incidents.“If parents trust the school and the trip place is safe, they must not hesitate to send their children as the teachers will take good care of them. Moreover, the children must be taught how to behave during such trips,” she said. – SGBest locationsSome of the best places for school children to visit are the downtown Old Jeddah, and the mountains in Makkah that though aren’t considered a very safe option for school children. Dahlan said that in the US, students visit places such as the police stations, etc. “It’s a public mission we need to implement. Students should be taken to historical locations as there they will see what they have been learning for long,” he said. – SGTrip tales Hafsa Ahmed, a Pakistani student in the Learning Oasis in Riyadh, said that her school takes students on trips prior to exams and sometimes after it.“We have visited the Star City, few diplomatic quarters, museums and a cultural center. Such trips should be conducted so that we as expats can learn about the culture of the country in which we are living,” said Ahmed. – SG

Saudi women are different’
By Mona Rahman

SAUDI women are playing many different roles, including in the media, and the Kingdom is witnessing an evaluation in terms of the image of Saudi women.“We believe in the importance of the vital role being played by Saudi women in the development of their society,” said Zoya Sakr, the head of sales and marketing at Al-Aan TV at a round-table discussion at Jeddah’s Hilton Hotel recently organized by Al-Aan TV in order to honor Saudi women working in media. The glitzy event aimed to launch a lifestyle program titled “Al Saudiyyat Ghair” (Saudi women are Different), and kicked off with a press conference that addressed the role of female journalists in Saudi Arabia, and initiated a women-focused dialogue process.“’Al Saudiyyat Ghair’ aims to demonstrate the different roles played by Saudi women and to highlight their skills, talents and capabilities. It is based on practical and scientific research in order to shed light on the reality of Arab women and aims to correct the popular image. In short, it is celebrating the success of women in various fields.”She added that the Kingdom is witnessing considerable evolution in terms of the role of women, and yet the image of Saudi women is still misunderstood in the rest of the world. This new program aims to debunk all mysteries and unveil the real image of Saudi women. “It is launched with the initiative that it is dedicated to Saudi women in media and with the secondary objective to cover the issues concerning Saudi women,” she said. The episodes will focus on the manner in which a woman educates, entertains, empowers and engages aspects of life, for her betterment.”Emphasizing these values, the owner of Servo Productions, Abeer Bloch said: We met with officials at Al-Aan, who identified this vision and concept, and we encouraged them to produce this program as a result of extensive research.” As a lifestyle-based show, the program will be covering a number of issues concerning women such as health, shopping, fashion and cooking. Ultimately, the show wants people to know that Saudi women are striving to succeed and achieve their ambitions with determination and intelligence.Muna Abu Sulayman, the co-host of the popular all-women talk show “Kalam Nawa’im” that appears on MBC remarked that she thinks the role of female journalists is the same as men. “Female journalists can beautifully portray the problems people face in society,” she said. “The social reforms in the Kingdom are moving with the times and people are relying on female journalists, in particular, to explore issues for them objectively and fairly.” Muna is also working on a new program that will present the latest issues to Arab and Muslims viewers.Women journalists should be provided with more opportunities including they should be trained well professionally. There is a need of bringing a system from the ministry of culture with good strategies of hiring women and training them. “Saudi women should be provided with opportunities to travel abroad as well as they should be taken to different companies where they can see how men and women work and should be allowed to take decisions solely”, said Manal Faisal Alsharief, Editor In Chief in a Ladies Dept.Commenting on the program, Hiba Jamal the presenter of Al Saoudiyyat Gheir said:” the program met a huge success immediately after its launch. Our audience feedbacks were tremendously positive during the first month; we are looking forward to furthering our success through a purposeful and constructive approach to all issues of concern to Saudi women.” – SG

Abaya trends among expat women
By Mona Rahman

EXQUISITELY styled abayas are on the wish list of every woman in the Kingdom. Expat women too are determined to make a fashion statement out of the typically black cloaks that are, by and large, not mandatory in their home countries. “Saudi women as well as expat women prefer modern abaya styles. However, women in Riyadh are more conservative in their choice of abaya colors, and there are some restrictions prohibiting very attractive and colorful abayas in Riyadh. On the other hand, women in Jeddah like to wear colorful abayas,” said Hala Droubi, a Syrian PR coordinator in TBWA\RAAD, Jeddah.“Another difference between Saudi women and expatriate women,” she said, “is that most Saudi women are willing to invest more in abayas than the average expatriate women. They also buy new abayas more frequently and in almost every season or have their own custom-made abayas, making sure that they follow the latest trends in abaya styles.” Abayas in vibrant hues, with bands of glistening diamantes, sheaths of leopard prints, glittering stones, ribbon and lace embellishments, etc. are just some of the designs in abayas that are gaining popularity with expat women.Droubi said the latest trend in abayas is inspired by the old traditional Egyptian “milaya laf” dress, which women used to wear in the 1920s in Egypt. Abayas in butterfly and fish silhouettes and with embroidery designs on the neck, back and borders also score high with expat women, and so do black abayas blended with bright and flashy colors, and those embellished with sparkling diamantes and detailed bead work in the front. Satin pleated abayas with chic net sleeves give a modern and contemporary look.Expat women, whether they are teenage girls, working women or the elderly, have their own explicit tastes and manner of wearing their abayas. Note that the young girls prefer funky and heavily embellished abayas in vibrant hues.Little girls also do not want to be left out. They can choose from a variety of abayas, such as, those adorned with cartoon character motifs of Tweety, Fulla, Barbie, etc.Sahar Naseem, a Pakistani national and junior analyst in Khalijia Invest in Riyadh, told Saudi Gazette how she likes her abaya.“My abayas are unique and stylish. I like them to be glamorous, and to be something that catches one’s attention at first sight. For this, abayas do not have to be heavily embellished; they look nice when they are simple and elegant. Above all, the abaya should be a good fit,” explained Naseem.“For diversity, I like to try out every style and color with regards to abayas. Abaya styles are seasonal, and these days, the ones with stone embellishments, particularly the pink and white colored stones, are most preferred by South Asians like me. I am personally fond of the white stones that give a flashy look,” said Mutarba Khan, an Indian studying in Batterjee Medical College. Working women, for reasons of comfort and convenience, prefer styles that stand out as simple yet elegant. Mostly, they do not spend much to buy abayas.“I wear an abaya that is tailor-made and has a moderate fitting. It has beautiful stones on the edges and sleeves that are eye-catching and elegant,” said Tahani Shamma, a Palestinian national, working as a technical support IT specialist in Kamal Osman Jamjoom Est., Jeddah. Like Shamma, Rubina Naseem, a Pakistani freelance writer and teacher in Riyadh, has a penchant for simple abaya designs.“My abaya has just a touch of embroidery on the sleeves and the bottom. It is simple and decent with well-finished motifs. The sleeves are not too long as long sleeves can be a problem while travelling, working, shopping and dining out,” said Naseem.Abayas are priced according to their designs, embroidery, fabric, etc. Es-Taras, a type of Swarovski crystal, is commonly as an used abaya embellishment.Abdul Rahman, sales manager in Riyadh Lady, Najjar Mall, Jeddah, said that the expensive abayas at his shop are mostly bought by Lebanese, Syrian and Egyptian women. “Abaya prices vary according to a number of factors. Here, the price ranges between SR400, for which you can get yourself a less customized abaya, to SR1,000 for a tailor-made abaya,” he said. When it comes to shopping for abayas, it turns out that expat women have specific ‘favorite’ places to shop.“Abaya shops in Al-Balad, Mehmood Saeed Plaza and Bawadi are visited by the Asian expatriate women, particularly Indians and Pakistanis, who make purchases in the range of SR 200-SR 300,” said Abbas, salesman in one abaya shop in Bawadi, Jeddah.Like in everything else, trends in abayas, their colors, designs, fabrics, etc., are dynamic. Most abaya fabrics in the Kingdom are imported from Japan, France, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand and China, with those from Japan being the most common and of good quality. Silk, polyester, georgette and satin are the popularly used abaya fabrics. The Kum Seeni (Chinese-arm) styled abayas or Aade, the normal one-sleeved abayas come in an elegant net finish.Abayas are also customized as to suit the occasion. “Party-wear abayas are heavily embroidered to give a glamorous look, while the semi-precious stone embellishments and metal work are used sparingly on daily-wear abayas,” said Muna Sulaiyman, an abaya designer in Jeddah. – SG

For ex-PISJ VP, end of an ‘experience of a lifetime’
By Mona Rahman

THE Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ) – Al-Azizia bid farewell to Salma Shah Khan, the former vice principal of the school, who completed her service period this month.Saudi Gazette interviewed the beloved member of the PISJ faculty, who has been part of the school for 35 years.“My journey in teaching began when I was appointed as a teacher in the Government College for Women in Mardan, Pakistan. I got married then and was selected as a public service commissioner. I came to Saudi Arabia with my husband and joined the PISJ in 1974,” recalled Khan.She says teaching and grooming students at the PISJ has been “an experience of a lifetime”.“I taught English in the 70’s when the school was located in Al-Baghdadia. PISJ had education till Class ten, and in 1984, the building was shifted to Al-Azizia, when college classes were introduced after realizing the higher educational needs of the Pakistani nationals here. I was appointed to conduct the college classes, and that has been a wonderful experience for me,” said Khan.In her career, Khan has shouldered multiple responsibilities that include heading the English Literary Society, Educational Board Affairs, Examination Committee, the post of headmistress, sectional head of senior classes and, finally, taking over as the vice principal of the school.“I was appointed the headmistress of the school for the first time in 1992. Upon the abolishment of the headmistress system, I took charge as the Sectional Head (1999-2003), and in 2005, I was appointed as the vice principal of PISJ,” she said.The post of the vice principal was definitely not a piece of cake for Khan. She said it was a challenging job to handle the students, staff and the authorities.“It is not always possible to keep everyone happy and satisfied,” she said.According to Khan, the most complex problem that the school faced during her tenure as the vice principal was when the Saudi government gave directives to the school stating that all the teachers should be sponsored by the school and not on their husband’s or father’s Iqama.“There were many teachers whose sponsorship had to be transferred. Warning letters were sent to the teachers to follow the instructions failing which they would be terminated. However, by 2007, the issue had been resolved,” said Khan.Another testing time, she said, was during the “clashes between the parents’ committee and the teachers over certain issues”.Khan said her happiest moments were when PISJ students secured positions on the board, and during the recent 50th anniversary celebrations of the school. Khan has a word for all students. “I advise all students, especially the girls, to give utmost importance to education in order to survive in this tough world,” she said. To her colleagues, the PISJ faculty, she says: “The institution should be given top priority over all matters, and teachers should perform their duty with the highest dedication. They should fully acquaint themselves with the teaching system, and groom the students in a way that reflects the high standards that PISJ has achieved over the years.” She concluded by thanking the school for presenting her with a shield in recognition of her services. – SG

Portrait of a teacher
By Mona Rahman

DR. Ishrat Suri, a professor of Education and English as a Second Language and a former American expat in the Kingdom, with her vision, far-sightedness and intellect, probably epitomizes the ideal qualities of a teacher. Having taught in the Kingdom for 24 years, she is currently teaching at Rice University, Houston, and was here recently on an Umrah visit and to meet her students, friends and colleagues.“Teaching was my childhood passion and ambition. While I was studying in the convent school in Lahore, I used to talk with a lot of hand gestures, which cause one sister to remark, ‘You will be a great teacher one day’”, and that, Dr. Suri said, was what motivated her to become a teacher.Dr. Suri’s father was in the Pakistani military forces. She was only 12 when she used to gather poor children from the neighborhood and give them school-type tuition classes.She was hired by the Saudi Ministry of Education in 1981 to teach in the ‘Teachers Training College’ in Madina.“It was the first ever college in Madina and we were the first batch of teachers,” recalled Dr. Suri. “Saudis were new to the English language and often faced difficulty in pronouncing words, but they exhibited the determination and skill to learn. Some of them took some time to do so, while some others were quick at it. Teaching them was a joy for me” she saidDr. Suri believes that women in Saudi Arabia are “highly motivated and willing to take challenges. They have been successful and have accomplished a lot, providing a challenge for men,” she said.After teaching for eight years in Madina, Dr. Suri traveled to the United States, where she said she was able to reflect Saudi culture in her teaching style.“Students in America were eager to know about the lifestyle and culture of Saudi Arabia, as during that time. They thought that the Kingdom was just a desert with hot weather. I was able to discuss with them the different aspects of Islamic culture. I could see that they were able to accept the fact that Saudi Arabia has a culture which keeps its people happy,” she said.However, Dr. Suri returned to the Kingdom after two years. She feels Saudi Arabia is the best place to live in.“Every country in the world has its own set of rules and regulations, and respecting them should be the foremost duty of its citizens,” she said.Her appointment in Umm-Ul-Qura University in Makkah gave Dr. Suri “a lot of opportunity to grow in terms of attitude and work ethics.”“Every student of mine wanted to do something. They wanted to enter the business field, work in a bank, and so on. The Saudi government is now offering a very conducive environment for women. Saudi women, who comprise half the country’s population, today are so accomplished that they are taking up a variety of jobs,” she saidMany of her students have become teachers and Dr. Suri is extremely proud of them.“They have replaced me,” she remarked.What does Dr. Suri think about the higher education system in the Kingdom? “The government should now consider the population and establish more universities that should act as a beacon of light for the Muslim World which looks up to Saudi Arabia and for Muslim professionals who would like to come here to study,” she said.Dr. Suri said learning English also helps in spreading awareness about the knowledge of Islam. “The curriculum here compulsorily follows the knowledge of the Hadith and the Qur’an. Saudis who learn English can impart this knowledge to non-Muslims. It gives us a double edge,” she said. – SG

Meet the ‘American Bedu’
By Mona Rahman

Carol Fleming Al-Ajroush, an American national in Riyadh married to a Saudi, and who is known as the ‘American Bedu’ in cyberspace, in her blog with the same title, sheds light on the life of an expat woman in the Kingdom. Carol started her blog initially to maintain contact with her family and friends in the US and share with them her experiences and observations of life in Saudi Arabia. “However, I was egged on to open up the blog to the world and post daily on aspects of life, culture, tradition and experiences in Saudi Arabia,” she said.Describing her blog as “a mechanism towards bridging the gap between the East and the West as well as presenting a realistic perspective on day-to-day life in the Kingdom”, she said it has further opened up her “network of friends and opportunities” in Saudi Arabia. Carol, who works as a medical education coordinator with the College of Medicine of the National Guard Health Affairs and as an International Affairs specialist, referred to one incident in which she shared on her blog her experience of undergoing cancer treatment in Saudi Arabia.“Because I shared my cancer story on the blog, I continue to receive private email requests from other women afflicted with cancer and seeking support,” Carol said.She said her husband gave her the title of ‘American Bedu’after learning that she was from a small village in Northwest Pennsylvania in the US. “He quipped ‘only Bedus come from villages so I guess that makes you my American Bedu’, and the name has stuck ever since,” she said.Carol, a former American diplomat, resigned after 20 years of service to marry her Saudi husband.“I met my husband when we were both working in Pakistan for different employers. Our courtship took place over several years and in five countries. I arrived with him in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan in 2006, and together we performed Umrah as a married couple,” she said.Carol said she enjoys the culture and lifestyle of Saudi Arabia.“Living here has been a great experience for me and I attribute it to having done extensive research about the Kingdom prior to coming here. This also included making contacts with individuals in the Kingdom on social networking sites and newsgroups. As a result, even prior to my arrival I had a social network of like-minded friends in place,” she said.Carol believes that though there are a lot of cultural differences between the Kingdom and the US, there are also similarities, such as, “one’s dedication to the family”.She said she enjoys her present job as it “allows her to routinely interact with expats from across the world as well as Saudi nationals”, prior to which she worked as a media consultant for Saudi TV Channel 2. Several of Carol’s stories based on her cross-cultural experiences have been published in the book “Bridges - An Anthology”. Recently, her articles were published in the Oasis Magazine.Referring to the Kingdom’s humanitarian gesture of performing free-of-charge surgery for separating conjoined twins, she said she is ‘highly impressed’ by Saudi hospitality. Carol is optimistic that opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia are growing, especially in the education sector. “I would like to see regular physical education programs implemented in all schools for both boys and girls, and more educational choices for women as they begin university studies,” she said.Carol said she has learned a lot in the Kingdom and that she continues to learn and improve her Arabic language skills. “As a foreigner married to a Saudi national, it is essential to have a good grasp of the local lingo. My Saudi mother-in-law gives me lessons on how to prepare many of the popular Saudi dishes, such as, kabsa, jeerish, garcon,and seleek,” she added. Carol has a word for all new expats in the Kingdom. “Do your research well in advance before arrival. Get the support network in place and do not be shy or afraid as an expat to interact with Saudis. Venture out and explore the beautiful sites in the Kingdom,” she saidAs she continues to learn more about the customs, practices and traditions of life in Saudi Arabia, Carol says: “I have discovered that every region and town has its own hidden treasures, history and places of interest.” – SG

Rheumatism remains an unknown affliction in the Kingdom
By Mona Rahman
A lecture on rheumatism was delivered last Wednesday aiming to raise awareness about the illness at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, and attended by a number of health professionals in the field.“This is a campaign that seeks to increase the level of awareness amongst people in the Kingdom about this disease,” remarked Dr. Hatem Eleishi, assistant professor of rheumatology at Cairo University and consultant rheumatologist at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital. “Most people are ignorant of the ways in which it can affect the body and particularly of the fact that more women are afflicted by it than men. At least one in a hundred people is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.”He added that raising awareness about rheumatology is also necessary as it remains a relatively unknown affliction in Middle Eastern population. “Rheumatism is described as pain in the musculoskeletal system, that is, the joints, the bones and the muscles,” he remarked. “It refers to that branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the joints, bones and muscles, including conditions affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys and skin.”He clarified the fact that rheumatoid arthritis is related to the immune system, caused by a mistake in the immune system’s recognition of the joints. Because the system recognizes joints as microbes, it starts to produce antibodies that attack them and cause inflammation, which results in pain and the swelling of the afflicted joints. Commonly afflicted joints are normally the hands, feets, shoulders, elbows and knees, according to Dr. Eleishi.He explained that some of the basic causes of rheumatism include bad posture habits such as sitting too long in front of the computer; the overuse of certain joints and muscles; ageing of the cartilage of joints can lead to osteoarthritis of the joints (especially in the knees and spine); sleep disorders and other psychological factors; deposition of crystals of urate (the salt of uric acid) in joints can cause intense inflammation called gouty arthritis.Dr. Eleisha also focused on the diagnosis of patients, explaining that a rheumatologist pays particular attention to a patient’s history (including family history, medication history and symptoms), which often gives the rheumatologist up to 70% of the required information for diagnosis. It is vital, therefore, that patients tell their doctor everything in detail.After diagnosis and medication prescriptions, a rheumatologist should then ideally instruct the patient on how to live with the illness. This will include guidelines on keeping the correct posture and movement, which form part of an ongoing rehabilitation program to help the patient regain lost functions, accomplished through physiotherapy.Physiotherapy sessions include working with specific electronic systems as well as undergoing therapeutic exercises which most rheumatologists claim are even more effective than medicines in this area.Dr. Eleisha concluded the lecture by offering two tips on consultation for those who suffer from the symptoms outlined above: Never consult any pharmacist or general physician, and always refer to a specialist.Do not stop taking prescribed medicine unless advised by your doctor. – SG

Spotlight on women’s health at PWS seminar
By Mona Rahman

WOMEN’s health was the key focus at a seminar organized by the Pakistan Welfare Society (PWS) at the Pakistan International School Jeddah, PISJ-Al-Azizia, recently.A panel of qualified and experienced lady doctors enlightened the audience about various issues related to women’s health.Speakers at the seminar included: Dr Farzhana Iqbal, Dr Nilofer Azra, Dr Faiza Ghazanfar Ali, Dr Farah, and Dr Seema Saeed.Dr Farzhana shed light on the transitional phases of peri-menopause, detailing its symptoms, such as, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood and sleep disturbances, and urinary tract infections past the age of 40, and their treatments, which include: HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), herbal medicines, and regular exercise.Dr Nilofer Azra discussed the causes that lead to infertility in females as well as males. She said the problem can be treated.Dr Faiza Ghazanfar Ali shed light on the various facets of autism. “Autism is often ignored by parents. Its symptoms, which include, delays and impairment in social skills, begin in early childhood,” she said, adding that the treatment includes intake of organic foods.In her presentation, Dr Farah spoke about breast cancer, which, she said is a second major cause of deaths among women in the US.Riffat Arshad and Madeeha Minhas conducted the program.“The PWS welcomes the help and services of people – in the form of donations, participation in seminars, or by providing medical instruments. All nationals are invited,” said Minhas.A large number of women, who attended the seminar, applauded the efforts of PWS in providing awareness about health issues.The PWS has until now offered approximately 8,000 persons free-of-charge medical checkups. – SG

‘Expat Dads deserve more than one day a year’
By Mona Rahman

MANY expatriate fathers in the Kingdom often have to part with their children who travel elsewhere in search of quality education.Moreover, apart from the empty nest syndrome which afflicts parents when their children leave home, it is the fathers who have to pay the children’s exorbitant tuition fees.“I came to Saudi Arabia leaving my family behind in Lahore so that I can support them financially. My children are studying in universities while I have to live here in a bachelors’ accommodation,” said Sajid Butt, a Pakistani national in Jeddah whose children study in Punjab University, Lahore. “Life is a struggle living in a foreign land without one’s family. But I am sure my sacrifices will pay off when my children would reach their goals,” he said.International Fathers’ Day is celebrated on June 21 in many countries, such as, the US, UK, Canada, Chile, France, Japan and India, while a few others celebrate it on the third day of June.In Saudi Arabia, though the day is not officially marked, some expatriates nevertheless consider it an occasion to honor their fathers and spend time with them. However, many expats believe that dads, especially expat dads deserve more than just a day. They say it is the spirit behind the celebration that matters and that the contribution of fathers to their families and to societies at large should be acknowledged.“A father is thought to be the Rabb Al-Usra, which means ‘head of the family’, in Islamic culture, and shares a very beautiful and intimate relationship with his children, unlike in the western culture in which there is a communication gap between the father and his son. However, celebrating the importance of a father should not be limited to just a day,” said Dr Mohammad Iqbal Musani, who works at Al-Jedani Hospital, Jeddah.“In our culture, our children are emotionally attached to us. They share everything with us. Dads deserve more than one day a year, and every day in itself is a celebration of this relationship,” said Ifthikhar Wali Khan, a Pakistani national working as banker in an Islamic bank in Jeddah. As a tribute to them, fathers are showered with cards, flowers and gifts or something more special. For some children who do not live at home, it is a chance to spend quality time with their fathers. The day also brings wonderful opportunities for children to express thanks and to apologize for rude or insensitive behavior.Sara Hussien, an Egyptian who studied at Cairo University, has plans for this year’s Fathers’ Day.“For seven years, I lived away from my father and visited the Kingdom only during the holidays. I cherish all the moments that I spend with my father. He has been my pillar of strength, and this year, I hope to spend some quality time with him,” she said.Setting up a day to honor fathers began in Spokane, Washington in 1909.A father is indeed that person who gives an identity to his son or daughter, thereby shaping them with his vision, support and guidance. “I helped my son choose his career when he was interested in studying medicine. He has now decided to pursue a degree in business management and I support that decision of his as well,” said Dr Musani.“My father holds a special place in my life. He has helped me with my college admissions in Karachi. He also provides me with mental strength,” said the recently-married Sadaf Khan, who is the daughter of Ifthikhar Wali Khan.“During this process (marriage), my father stood by me in all my decisions and today, I am thankful to him. What a great dad he is!” she added.Fathers often play the role of being their children’s best friends and mentors.“A father should develop a healthy relation with all his children and be like a friend to them. On Fathers’ Day, it is the children’s turn to do something special for their parents,” said Mohammad Tasleem, a Pakistani accountant analyst at Al-Jaffali SBM. Sadaf Tasleem, Tasleem’s daughter who is studying in Lahore, said she misses her father a lot. “For the last four years in Pakistan, I have missed my father a lot and have spoken to him on the phone a number of times. I send him presents on his birthday. He has helped me in choosing my career,” she said.Carol Fleming Al-Ajroush, an American media consultant and freelance writer based in Riyadh, shares some memories of her deceased father with Saudi Gazette. “When I was four-years-old, my father allowed me to help him plant pine trees all around our place. At that time I was taller than the trees that we planted. Eventually, the trees grew much taller than any of us, and now they provide us with a natural and thick wall of privacy. Every time I see these trees, I am reminded of the day when they were planted and the time I spent with my dad,” she said.Describing the relationship between a father and his daughter as ‘one of the most beautiful, caring and protective relationships’, Al-Ajroush said: “A unique and special bond exists between a girl and her father. Until the girl grows up into a woman and marries, it is her father who is her male role model.” – SG