Blogs from Saudi Arabia, Middle East - page 3

Lungo il viale principale di Aqaba, quasi all'altezza della colossale asta che sventola la bandiera della rivolta araba, si ritrova quotidianamente un gruppetto di anonimi taxi bianchi che sembra non curarsi minimamente del viavai di potenziali clenti, e i cui autisti oziano beatamente sulle rovine di un vecchio divano trascinato fin lì da chissadove. Dopo più di una settimana di indifferente frequentazione mi decido finalmente a chiedere la destinazione di quelle vetture, ancora dubbioso del fatto che ne abbiano veramente una. "Saudi" è la risposta annoiata di uno degli autisti. Saudi, eggià, l'Arabia Saudita è proprio qui a due passi, il confine si trova a poco meno di venti chilometri! Ed ecco quindi che una combinazione di noia (Giordania) e fortuna (il paese, da sempre chiuso al turismo individuale, ha da poco spalancato le sue porte ... read more

Saudi Arabia has only just opened up to tourists, the first visas becoming available in 2019 for just a few months before Covid struck. We start in the capital city of Riyadh where the temperature when we land on a November evening is 25c. Riyadh is still a work in progress. There is already some great modern architecture but the city's metro is just a series of bridges and holes in the ground. The only way to get around is to walk or drive and almost nobody walks. There are lots of shopping malls, all rather empty of shoppers and two more malls are being built, both claiming to be the largest in the world. Above one mall rises the Kingdom Tower, a 99 story twin tower with a bridge between its spires. When built it ... read more

What makes something valuable? This question is long debated by the economists and traders throughout the world. Marx would say my mother’s rhubarb crumble should be valued at the sum of the ingredients plus the effort of the chef. And given that Mum can whip one up in minutes and the rhubarb grew in the garden, Marx and I may disagree on the value. Keynes might argue value is defined by scarcity and demand for the pudding. Truly, everyone knows that my mother is singular in perfecting this treat, whilst demand is from all the family. Thus, Mum could drive a high price yet it is provided freely! You should however “Mind your Ps & Qs” as Val would have said – the cost of a lack of politeness will weigh heavy on your heart. Both ... read more

Being assigned to work in a remote area where you can only see vast deserts and camels makes someone a stranger when the latter had a chance to visit the city. A lot has changed since I've visited this place. The developments in this area have made it more attractive to locals, tourists and expat like me. A nice sea view, lots of green and breezy weather compared to our work site which is dry and barren. Al-Khobar is a big city, and one of the cleanest and neatest with huge shopping malls, hotels, wide streets, and high-rise buildings. Btw, Al-Khobar has become the first city in the MENA region to benefit from a pilot project on the fifth-generation wireless network, or 5G network. Come now and visit Al-Khobar!... read more

Never too late to post this 2016 Christmas gathering with colleagues though simple, we enjoyed celebrating it away from home. This is as usual for expats working in the foreign land and the challenge is that you are in a country that does not celebrate this kind of holiday season. Got teary eyed when this time of the year comes around while I'm here. How one will wish to be back home to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. Now this is the mouth-watering part of the celebration: We all agreed to meet on Friday-off on December 23rd at Hot Pot Restaurant in 4th St, Thuqbah, Al Khobar. This is a smokeless Grill and Shabu-Shabu Restaurant where you can cook-and-eat-all-you-can!! 'till your gut explodes (LOL-just joking) with variety of choices to cook-and-eat like shrimp, dumplings, marinated ... read more