Apni Kitab

All you wanted to know about getting a job in Saudi Arabia & didnt know whom to ask

2008-10-11T15:28:00.005+03:00

Many people ask me for advice about getting a job in Saudi Arabia, so here’s the inside scoop. Selection of a candidate for a particular job depends on the fitment of the candidate profile to the company's vacancies & the candidate's performance in the Interview & Saudi Arabia is no different in this aspect.

I have laid down the various points that a candidate needs to necessarily go through before getting his dream job.

a. Research Research Research: Research is the most important aspect of preparing yourself for that ideal tax free job. Research not only the target companies but also the cultural environment. Saudi Arabia is not meant for everyone and unless you are mentally prepared to accept the culture shock dont take the plunge.

There is a lot of information available on the prospective companies as well as Saudi Culture on the web. American Bedu and Saudi Jeans are some of the popular blogs which portray the Saudi way of life quite accurately.

b. Connect to Stakeholders: Once you have identified your target companies the next step is to connect to stakeholders in these companies. Social Media offers candidates a unprecedented chance to connect to various stakeholders in companies. Log on to social sites like Facebook, Orkut etc and connect to employees working in these companies and find out about their good/bad experiences.

Also Yahoo groups like expatsinsaudiarabia etc could be researched to get more information.

c. Use professional Networks: There are more than 400 HR professionals in KSA who are using Linkedin. Use professionals sites like www.linkedin.com to identify the HR Managers working in companies and connect to them. Ensure your linkedin profile is updated with key skills/testimonials etc before connecting to the HR fraternity.

d. Design a Resume: An updated resume should be prepared with your professional skills and passport validity etc clearly mentioned.Links to your professional profile on linkedin would help in adding value to your profile.

e. Apply! : The easiest way of Applying to KSA jobs would be to apply on an Internet job portal like www.naukrigulf.com , www.bayt.com etc. Apart from this, your resume could also be circulated to Consultants in your area who deal with Saudi Arabian placements. However, consultants make try and charge you Placement fee so beware of fraudsters there.

f. Job Contarct: Once you are selected, a job contarct needs to be signed with the employer. A Job contract to be legally binding needs to be in Arabic, so get the same translated by a reputed translation agency incase your employer does not give you a english version. Also all the costs related to employment including Visa processing, Flight tickets etc needs to be paid by the employer. Also, legally speaking, you have the entitlement to 21 days vacation every year.

g.Visa Category: The first step that a candidate should do when he gets his Work visa is to check the designation mentioned in the visa. Since getting Work Visas for the desired profession is not always possible, companies resort to taking visas in lower categories like Labour or Driver. These visas do not allow the candidate to bring their family along with them.

All the Best!

Advertising Agencies in Saudi Arabia

2008-10-08T14:35:00.004+03:00

The following interview is with a Creative Director of an Advertising form who has graciously allowed me to ask him some questions about himself and his experiences as an Advertising professional in Saudi Arabia.

- Please Introduce yourself & the work that you do

I'm Manoj Mahalley. Working as Creative Director with a leading advertising agency in Riyadh. We create communication packages for various corporates to boost their business and generate awareness about their products and services.

- As a person who has worked in the Advertising field in KSA as well as other markets, what do you think about the KSA market?

KSA is an emerging market in terms of advertising and has a lot of potential to grow.
Awareness about the various trends in international advertising is increasing amongst the local clients and they too want to benchmark their communications to the best in the industry.Transition from "product to brand" is evolving slowly. However,this market can't still be compared with the best in the world as yet.

- Who are the leading Advertising players in the Kingdom?

All the big advertising network have their presence here. BBDO, JWT, Y&R, Ogilvy, Grey are some of the leading marquee brands having their presence in the Kingdom.

- What kind of revenue models are in place in the current Advertising market in KSA?

Agencies of record(AOR) follow two models
1: Fixed retainership 2: Project basis

- What are the unique parameters which are taken into account while designing a campaign for the Saudi Market
The law of the land is advertising needs to be "Sharia Compliant"

- What advice would you like to give to candidates looking for a Career in Advertising here?

This is a stable region in terms of economy. There are no major turmoil which sometime causes advertising business to slowdown. This area offers you a great opportunity to implement whatever you have learned outside. Hence one can opt for advertising career here though it is still a nascent market.

- Are there any additional comments you would like to add?

One of the advertising legends had said "This is the profession where you can have fun with clothes on"
But those who are expecting sex-citing advertising from this market should opt for other countries in Middle-East.

Thanks Manoj for sparing time to talk to us. Your inputs have been very insightful in understanding the Advertising industry.

"Doing Business" Ranking of Saudi Arabia

2008-10-06T17:16:00.004+03:00

"Doing Business 2009" is a co-publication of World Bank and International Finance Corporation.It is the sixth in a series of annual reports investigating regulations than enhance business and those that constrain it.The data covers 181 economies of the world and how they fare in 10 stages of Business life.

I was pleasently surprised with Saudi Arabia being on the 16th position in the global ranking of "Ease of doing business". The ranking for "Starting a business" has improved from 38 last year to 28 this year. The number of procedures for starting the business in Saudi Arabia have fallen from 13 in 2006 to 7 now. The duration also seems to have reduced from 39 days for starting a business to 12 days.However, from personal experience, i would say that it takes more than 40 days to complete the formalities mentioned in the 7 step procedure and not 12 days.And if there is a foreign investor involved it may take even longer.

What catapults KSA to the top ranks is the ease of Registering property. It takes 2 days and costs 0% of property value to register a property in Saudi Arabia.

Though timelines are questionable, Saudi Arabia is a top regional reformer and leaves its middle east peers far behind in terms of most parameters.

Global Meltdown: Effects on Saudi Arabia

2008-09-17T21:13:00.007+03:00

It all started with Feddie & Fannie, continued with Lehman Brothers, AIG and analysts say this is the tip of the iceberg ....The unthinkable has happened. Marquee brands, once the icon of American Financial system are falling like nine pins. Anxiey over the subprime crisis turned to alarm when Lehman brothers filed for Bankruptcy and AIG had to be bailed out by the Federal Reserve.

The repurcussions would be prolonged and would go down in history as the worst financial crisis seen by Wallstreet for decades.

So what does all this mean for Saudi Arabia? As early as May 2008, Lehman Brothers has announced to set up an Investment Bank in Saudi Arabia. AIG already had a significant presence in KSA through offices in Riyadh,Jeddah and Khobar. It remains to be seen as to what happens to these business interests.

Another interesting part of the story which is likely to unfold in the near future is the Investment by Saudis in the US economy. Would Saudi Arabian companies consolidate its interests in USA & invest more? Some of the richest Saudis are known to invest in global companies when the share prices have been low. This may provide ample buying opportunity for them in companies whose market share may have eroded but which can still provide good long term prospects.

Clarification: 07/10/08

Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan's largest brokerage, will pay just two dollars for the bankrupt US Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.'s investment banking and equities operations in the Middle East and Europe, a top-selling business daily in Tokyo reported.
The Tokyo-based Nomura got the rock-bottom price because it will take over only the failed Wall Street firm's employees, and not its stocks, bonds or other assets, the Nikkei Shimbun said.

Click here for more details.

Inflation in Saudi Arabia?

2008-09-02T20:25:00.004+03:00

Inflation is a term which has been unheard of by the locals and expats living in Saudi Arabia for a long time. The inflation rate has hovered around 1-2% for many years but has reached 11-12% and is bound to increase if analysts are to be believed.

Inflation has been a common cause of concern for most economies in the world grappling with high oil prices. But why is there such a high inflation rate in Saudi which is the producer of 25% of the World's Oil supply?

The Arab news article on Inflation sheds some light on this.

Zain is finally here

2008-08-30T14:03:00.003+03:00

Tired of paying sky high mobile bills, unsatisfactory customer service and erratic connections....ZAIN is finally here! It has been a long wait for Zain which is the leading mobile operator in 22 countries across Middle East & Africa.

Zain is offering a package of 50 percent lifetime discount on the billing for the first 500,000 customers and one network system for 16 countries which will not have roaming charges for its subscribers

Read more about it in the Arab news article published today....

Housing for Expats in Riyadh

2008-08-09T17:29:00.003+03:00

It has been a while since i blogged. The comments from blog visitors have been inspiring & am happy I am able to help expats coming into the Kingdom in my own small way.

Far from your country, setting up a house in a new city, with different culture & language can be a daunting task. The housing needs of different individuals would vary depending on their income. However the housing market for expats could be broadly segregated into:

- Compound Accomodation
- Independent Villas
- Rented Apartments

The tenant needs to have a IQAMA (Residence permit) before getting into the Rental agreement with the owner.

Compound Accomodation:

Living in Compounds is not for everyone; most of the compounds cater to the needs of westerners and people with relatively higher income. Compounds provide a culturally familiar environment for non saudis with fully furnished housing, sports & cultural amenities.Most of the compounds are highly secure & provide the most modern of amenities.

Saudi law insists that companies house their foreign staff or atleast give housing allowance. Some companies house all their employees in one compound whereas most of them give a housing allowance. Housing allowance is a very important element of any employee contract, so make sure it is mentioned in the work contract.There is normally a big waiting list in all well known compounds & its better to apply in advance.

The following are some of the compounds in Riyadh;if you are a compund manager and want to showcase your compound details, please add the same in the comments section. I have mentioned websites wherever available so that you can take a look at the compound pictures for making informed decisions:

a. Alfaisaliah Residence: www.alfaisaliahhotel.com
b. Arizona Golf Resort: www.agr.com.sa
c. Arabian Homes: www.arabian-homes.com
d. Najd Village: +966-01-2481040
e. Eid Villas: www.eidvillas.com.sa
f. Almostaqbal homes: 966-01-481666
g. Akaria Villas:
h. Alhamra Oasis village: 966-1-2490440
i. Cordoba Oasis village: www.cordoba.com.sa
j. Kingdom City: 966-1-2750275
k. Olaya Compound:
l. Alyamamah Village: 966-1-4012550
m. ROC Compound: 966-01-2412800
n. Ranco Village: www.rancovillage.net
o. Alwaha Garden Compund: 00966-01-2788414
p. Villas Roses: 966-01-4887611
q. Rabwa Compound: 00966-01-4931741
r. Al Jazeera Bader: 00966-01-4921135
s. Arab Investment Compound: 00966-01-4760601
t. Sahara Towers: 966-01-4625666
u. Romaizan Conpound: +966-01-2740917
v. Seder Village: +966-01-2280000
w. Almohaeya Compound: 966-01-4821222
x. Asasco Village 00966-01-4190936

Independent Villas & Rented Apartments:

Most of the expat population would take housing under this category. The Rental prices for housing in Riyadh are relatively cheaper to UAE & Muscat but the Rental prices have been on the rise over the last 2-3 years. Typically housing would range from SR 2000 to SR 4000 per month for decent quality apartments.

A good source for finding housing accomodation would be through www.expatriates.com. Another way of finding these houses would be through House Consultants/Brokers. These brokers are called Akarias here and typically have small one man offices in all parts of the city. They charge a nominal amount called service charge on a yearly basis for identifying the ideal fitement.

Internet Trends in Saudi Arabia

2008-06-21T12:34:00.004+03:00

As part of my profile, i get to have many interesting meetings with people representing companies for their manpower needs.

Today i met a gentleman who is an industrial consultant from India. He helps companies in setting up factories in Saudi Arabia. In 1999, he had tried his hand at setting up internet portals in india for automobiles and personal finance. Needless to say, Internet was in its infancy in India and he lost almost a million in the process.His product was right but timing wasn"t.

The Internet industry in KSA is slightly better than the situation mentioned above. Though internet is widely used for personal uses, usage for business purposes is still limited. However, Internet players having the patience and waiting it out are bound to be benefited.

The Report published by Internet World Stats provides a rosy picture with 6,200,000 users as of Mar/08 which translates to about 22.0% penetration.

Wonderful Blog about Expats in Saudi Arabia

2008-06-14T18:39:00.006+03:00

I found this wonderfully informative blog about working in Saudi Arabia written by an Indian expat. He gives inputs about critical issues like Family visa, Relocation, Medical Insurance, Employement contracts, Banks, Schools etc etc.

The blog can be viewed at http://www.workinginsaudiarabia.blogspot.com/

Cheers!

"Artificial Rain" in Middle East

2008-05-31T17:22:00.007+03:00

Recently i got a forward from a friend in India about how UAE is using artificial rain to bring down the temparature. I was wondering what Saudi Arabia, the richest in Oil & the poorest in water would be doing. I googled through a few articles and sure enough the kingdom is pushing ahead with its plans for maximising the water resources.

Prince Turki bin Nasser, Chairman of Saudi Meteorology and Environment Protection Authority, said King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz had approved the plan, which could be the first artificial rain experiment in the Middle East.

Quoted by Arabic language daily Okaz, the Prince said details of the project would be presented at an environment forum in Jeddah this week.

Source: http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=me_saud&Number=296192151&view=expanded&sb=3&o=21

Enjoy a few pictures of the Artificial rain in UAE

DONE BY THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT AT THE NATIONAL CENTRE OF METEOROLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY (NCMS) TO REMOVE THE AIR POLLUTION ON DUBAI'S ATMOSPHERE..

IT IS CALLED "CLOUD SEEDING" A LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO CUSTOMISE WEATHER..CLOUD SEEDING, A FORM OF WEATHER MODIFICATION, IS THE ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OR TYPE OF PRECIPITATION THAT FALLS FROM CLOUDS, BY DISPERSING SUBSTANCES INTO THE AIR THAT SERVE AS CLOUD CONDENSATION OR ICE NUCLEI. THE USUAL INTENT IS TO INCREASE PRECIPITATION, BUT HAIL SUPPRESSION IS ALSO WIDELY PRACTICED. SILVER IODIDE AND DRY ICE ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED SUBSTANCES IN CLOUD SEEDING .

AN AIRCRAFT IS PUTTING DRY ICE ON CLOUDS WHICH MAKES ARTIFICIAL RAIN

Mile High Tower: Jeddah

2008-05-29T11:39:00.005+03:00

".....and we thought al Burj was tall"

Move over Al Burj(UAE) & Mubarak towers(Kuwait). The mother of all buildings "The Mile High Tower" is coming up in Jeddah.

(Courtesy of The Daily Mail)

The Mile high tower is being built by Saudi Prince al-Walid bin Talal. As the name suggests, the tower will be a mile in height (1609m).

The project is being planned by Riyadh-based Kingdom Holding Company and it is understood that it will be engineered by Great Britain's Hyder Consulting, in conjunction with Arup, and constructed by Bechtel. Omrania, a Saudi firm, is thought to be the project architect, in collaboration with the US' Pickard Chilton
It is projected to cost $10.7 billion
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_High_Tower)

The tower's projected height means wind will be a major factor in the design, and it seems the company has spoken to wind consultants and lift manufacturers to deal with the logistical challenge of transporting elevator passengers to such a height.

The sheer amount of raw materials to build such a project would be immense, as would the engineering requirements. I’d love to see if man could accomplish such a feat. For me, i was wondering who would do the window washing on the 300th floor.

Smoking in the Kingdom

2008-05-18T13:54:00.003+03:00

Tobacco is a dirty weed. I like it.
It satisfies no normal need. I like it.
It makes you thin, it makes you lean,
It takes the hair right off your bean
It's the worst darn stuff I've ever seen.
I like it.
~Graham Lee Hemminger, Tobacco

"Care for a smoke, Pratik?" i was asked when i had my first client meeting in Riyadh. I feigned a inappropriate look and said "Thanks,I dont like smoking". Well, partly correct. I dont like smoking, Yes. But i do smoke at times.

People in kingdom widely indulge in smoking. Cigarattes are cheap and widely available.You find people smoking in limousines, internet cafes, offices (and i dont mean only the lobby), shopping malls. So much so that i have come to realise that if an area is not strictly called "No smoking" then it IS a smoking area. How appropriate.

Now, there are different versions to smoking and the stuff you would love is the Hookahs. It seems there are hookah bars just on the outskirts of the city (or so carol tells me) where you can enjoy either shisha (which is the straight up tobacco kind) or the Ma'asil (the fruit falvoured ones. I am told that the french apple flavour is really good.

What is Hookah called in different languages?
English: Hookah
Spanish: narguile or pipe turca
French: Narguil
Farsi: Ghelyoon (Ghelyaan)
Arabic: Shisha or Argile

For more information on how to prepare a hookah please visit http://www.hookahlounge.net/

Dont you know Arabic?

2008-05-18T13:20:00.004+03:00

I wanted to encash my Traveller's cheque and went to the Saudi Fransi bank yesterday. While coming back, i hopped into a limousine and asked to go to Olaya in english. The guy looks at me incredously and says don't you speak Arabic? Obviously i didnt and looking at me with contempt he said "Why do you guys come here if you do not speak Arabic!!

I started to tell him about how visa is the only requirement for coming to the kingdom and noone asked me to write arabic to get my visa or how i have been in this place for two weeks etc. Feeling sour about it throughout the day, now i think, how can i generalize my feelings about the place based on the perceptions of a few people.

On the contrary, i have also found many locals who have been very warm and hospitable. KSA is known for its hospitality and while i am at it; the food here is just amazing guys. Specially the Lebanese & Pakistani restuarants. There is a pakistani restuarant called Marhaba in Olaya. Anyone who loves biriyani should certainly pay them a visit sometime. Another notable paki restuarant is Lahori Kabey in HARA. Dont miss the buffet there on Thursday/Friday.

Internet in KSA

2008-05-15T18:17:00.008+03:00

The internet scenario in Saudi Arabia is similiar to that of India in 2001-2002.

Internet is widely used on personal front. People check their emails, visit websites and even blog a bit. Some of the interesting blogs include www.saudijeans.org and www.delhi4cats.wordpress.com (Amercian Bedu)

Internet usage for business is however limited to checking mails, data gathering on google etc. Usage of internet for searching jobs, matrimony, real estate is still very minimal.Arabic is widely spoken, read and written in business circles. All the company sites and generic portals existing in KSA thrive on a bilingual language model.

Domain name registration is ably controlled by SNIC & domain names cannot be registered for speculation. Only companies having Commercial Registration or registered trademarks with Ministry can register a domain name.

Doing business in Saudi Arabia

2008-05-09T00:29:00.007+03:00

I have been meeting business professionals in Riyadh over the last few weeks from diverse industry backgrouns like IT, Engineering, Construction etc. KSA is a mashup of 80% Saudi population + 20 % expats.

So, it is fairly common to come across professionals from countries like Sudan, Lebannon, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Phillipines. Ofcourse, at the fairly senior levels you will find a fair sprinkling of UK/US and South african nationals too.

That been said, if you are in the Kingdom, do it the KSA way. So, business is fairly relaxed & you need to get used to the way of the kingdom.

- The concept of time is different in Saudi Arabia. It isnt given too much importance. So the meeting isnt like exactly at 3pm but any time in the afternoon.

- People are used to a lot of small talk.This helps in building relationships.

- The business in KSA runs on pure relationships and value proposition/product features of a product plays little or no role in taking decisions. The longer the relationship, the better.

- References play a major part in making a business decision.

- Importance is given to non verbal aspects of communication like silence.Silence is used for contemplation & you should not feel obliged to speak during that time.

- People prefer face to face meetings

- Business Cards i have come across till now are printed both in Arabic and English.

How to get a Driving License for expats in Riyadh

2008-05-05T15:58:00.005+03:00

Confession time folks! This is not ma contant but replicated from another blogger. All for a noble cause of helping fellow expats in saving time & green bucks.

So here goes:

How to get a driving license in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia for Expatriates?

You need to go to Dallah driving school which is near Dallah Hospital on King Fahad Highway. Just take any taxi and ask him to take your there.
Before going to the License Office you need following things:

1. Original Iqamah.
2. Photocopy of Iqama.
3. Photocopy of Passport.
4. Driving License of your country (e.g. India)
5. Translation of Indian driving license in Arabic from an approved translation institute.
6. A letter from your sponsor attested by chamber of commerce for issuing you the license.
7. 8 Passport size photographs
8. Medical report (Blood Group Test)
9. License Fee (75 SR pay it Riyadh bank/ATM for your iqama id and keep the voucher)

Once you have above mentioned things, just take a taxi and ask him to take you to Old Dallah Driving School. Taxi will take 15-20 Saudi Riyals. You are suggested to go there earlier in the morning (reach by 7 am).

Now go to shop next to the entrance gate. (You will be approached by persons for license payment in bank. They will asking 150 SR or 100 SR as fees for 75 SR Govt. Fee. Never turn to them as you had already completed that in Item #9)

From shop, you will get application form which will be filled for you in Arabic then and enclosed in file cover . Total cost for you is 8 riyals.

Now go to Room number 2 in the license office. The person on extreme left will do Eye-sight test. The person on extreme right counter will check your forms, stamp and send you to "License Check" counter. Here one more person will put a stamp on your application and send you for "first try". This trial place is behind the building where you are standing.

There will be a car or more and person will be sitting inside. He will ask you to drive the car a little ahead and then reverse a little. Don't worry it is just to see whether you have ever touched the car or not. The person inside will make his comments on your application.

Now come back to room # 2 and deposit SR 100. He will take your file and ask you to attend a 3 hour class. There will be a three hour class in which you will be taught the basics and after that there will be a computer test. Attend the class very carefully and also read all the things written on front and backside of the chart they give you during the class.

The questions will be mainly Identification of different signals and general driving rules. Signals & Traffic Rules can be viewed from Riyadh Traffic Site

The questions that are going to be asked for the touch screen computer test, will be mentioned during the class by the training instructor. After class they will take you to a room where you will wait for the test to start.

There would be 20 questions and you have to answer them in 30 minutes. If you make any mistake in the first ten questions, then you are failed. In next 10 questions you have to give only five correct answers.

If you clear the computer test then they will test your driving. Congratulations, if you clear the test. By the way, it is very easy test. You just have to drive the car for some meters or you might have to do some simple reverse etc. Cars are of model "Cadillac Custom/Camry 2006". Cars are with gears; not automatic.

Go to room number 1 (main room) and just on your left there is a place where "License Delivery" is written. Get your counter number from here and the go to the counter. Now wait until they deliver you the New Driving License.

Congratulations!!! You can drive the car in Kingdom for the next 5 years from Now.

Total Expenses

Taxi fare (1 day) = 30 SR
Photo Pictures = 15 SR
Blood Group Test = 15 SR
File Cover, Application form filling = 8 SR
Photocopies = 2 SR
Training Fee = 100 SR
License Fee = 75 SR
Indian License Translation = 20 SR
-------------------------------------------
Total License Expenses = 265 SR
===========================================
Your license is valid for 5 years
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you find this guidance useful, please remember me in your good wishes and prayers.

Source:http://riyadhpost.blogspot.com/

Company names in Saudi Arabia

2008-04-27T20:03:00.004+03:00

Companies operating out of the kingdom necessarily go throgh a Saudi joint venture route. The only exceptions would be companies taking the branch office route or the LLC route is what i understand. Since the majority of the share is with the Saudi arabian partner at times, you get to see popular names in other parts of the world having an indication of local flavour in Saudi Arabia.

So,

IBM becomes SBM (Saudi Business Machines)

Landmark becomes Al Bandar International House for Trading co

HSBC becomes SABB (Saudi British Bank)

Abn Amro becomes Saudi Hollandi Bank

Citibank is SAMBA (Saudi American Bank)

Entrepreneurship in Saudi

2008-04-22T21:47:00.003+03:00

Any economy running on sheer entreprenurship would go a long way. Saudis are born entrepreneurs and even if they are not, the goverment provides ample opportunities to mould them into one. Foreign companies trying to establish their presence in Saudi need to find a Saudi partner to start a business except when a foreign company is going through a LLC or a branch route.

So, inherently Saudis are involved in most of the strategic decisions pertaining to these companies and gain a wide perspective of many businesses. I came across Saudi entrepreneurial appetite in three incidents in as many days. Y'day i met a Business centre manager where i had gone to scout for office space. Though the guy did not have any available space, he was very interested in understand the business and even offered to become a partner in starting a business in flat 5 mins!

The same day i also met the owner of a business centre who wants to connect with Real estate Asset management companies in USA/India and seek allainces with them to open offices in KSA.

Today i was talking to my Paki driver who told me that his company owner started with 5 cars some 7 years back and over the last 5-6 years has added 100+ odd cars and 100 more people and started 3 more businesses other than that.

"India- Saudi Arabia" Relations

2008-04-22T15:51:00.002+03:00

Recent article in Arab News

“Saudi Arabia and India have set out a new vision of partnership in which greater strategic and political content will be added to an expanded economic relationship,” said Pranab Mukherjee, India’s Foreign Affairs Minister after talks in Riyadh with Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi foreign minister.

“As part of the new vision, the two countries ratified a major investment protection treaty here yesterday which will be operational 30 days from the date of ratification,” Mukherjee said. The Indian minister had talks with Prince Saud and Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman during his two-day visit to Riyadh. The ratification of the investment promotion and protection agreement by Riyadh and New Delhi will further boost trade and investment links.

Addressing the Indian community on Saturday night, he noted: “The reputation of expatriate Indians as honest and disciplined workers has contributed significantly to the growing ties between India and Saudi Arabia.”

On the Iran nuclear issue, he said: “India holds the view that the solution to the Iranian nuclear issue should be reached diplomatically and not through force.” Mukherjee said that the same opinion was expressed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah during his recent meetings with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney

Asked about Indo-Saudi ties, Mukherjee said India and Saudi Arabia were bound together by a close and multifaceted relationship which went back in history and got sustenance from the two countries’ shared heritage and feelings of respect. “We have common positions on many issues such as terrorism and the situations in Iraq and Palestine.”

Office space in Riyadh

2008-04-21T18:19:00.004+03:00

Real Estate prices in Riyadh, like everywhere else, have sky rocketed over the last few years.The standard of housing/office space here however is much better than what you find in many other places. And with the Oil economy booming,occupancy rates have reached almost 100% in major business centres.

According to Regus GM:Mr.Amran (Regus is the leading Real estate firm in Riyadh), the real estate in Riyadh is more expensive that Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.The current trend of unsatisfied demand is more highlighted in primary grade office space in Olaya and King Fahd Road. (also called Malik Fahd Road)

The overall shortage of supply has compelled tenants to seek alternative options in the form of converting Residential villas to offices. However, recently, a legislation has it seems been issued against this by the goverment.

I was in the process of finding the right office place in Riyadh and my quest landed me at an office in Olaya. I would be happy to help anyone looking for good office space in Riyadh. Mail me at pratikasher@gmail.com for the same.

Sandstorms in KSA

2008-04-20T17:36:00.003+03:00

I have heard about sandstorms and I have seen them on TV but never for real. Well, its never too late :)Infact, a day before i reached Riyadh, there was a sandstorm in the city.Severe sandstorms battered much of the Gulf over the weekend, with winds gusting up to 48 kilometres per hour in places causing hundreds of traffic accidents and sending hundreds more to hospitals suffering from asthma and allergic reactions.

My Paki taxt driver friend was telling me that Riyadh is infamous for Sand storms and when it does happen, the already chaotic traffic system comes to a complete halt. He was advising us to buy a cloth made for covering the face in the event of a sandstorm. Well i have to figure out where to get one now....

Wikipedia says the following about the Sand storms:

A dust storm or sandstorm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions and arises when a gust front passes or when the wind force exceeds the threshold value where loose sand and dust are removed from the dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil erosion from one place and deposition in another. The Sahara and drylands around the Arabian peninsula are the main source of airborne dust, with some contributions from Iran, Pakistan and India into the Arabian Sea, and China's storms deposit dust in the Pacific. It has been argued that recently, poor management of the Earth's drylands, such as neglecting the fallow system, are increasing dust storms from desert margins and changing both the local and global climate, and also impacting local economies.

Late night adventure at Kingdom Tower and Extra Store

2008-04-20T13:20:00.003+03:00

In Riyadh, most of the people go out for shopping after 8.30pm when the last prayer gets over.I went with Khalid of ABB to Kingdom tower y'day. The Kingdom Centre (Arabic: برج المملكة‎) in Riyadh is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, somewhat resembling a modern bottle opener. With a height of 303 m (992 ft), it is the 24th tallest building in world. The tower is host to the highest mosque in the world. The Kingdom Centre is owned by Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company.

The total cost of the project was 2 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was taken by Saudi Arabian El Saif and the Italian Impregilo S.P.A. Kingdom Centre is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Street in the growing business district of Olaya in Riyadh. Kingdom Centre was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award, selected as the "best skyscraper of the world for design". A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. Besides the shopping mall, the Centre includes a Four Seasons Hotel and state-of-the-art apartments. It is possible to go up to the 'skybridge' where there are view of the whole city of Riyadh.

After window shopping for like an hour or so, we went to the Extra store which is one of the largest stores in KSA for good quality electronuic items at low prices.

U know you are in Saudi Arabia when.....

2008-04-19T17:12:00.003+03:00

Carol is a former American diplomat who after 20 years of service resigned to marry a Saudi husband. Her blog Amercian Bedu, which i happened to read few days back had the following interesting one liners about Saudi Arabia:

You Know You’ve Lived In Saudi Arabia When…

Type: Geography - Countries
Description: “You think SR500 is a good price
You enjoy channel 2
Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the housekeeper
You think black is appropriate daytime wear
You wear a jacket inside and take it off when you go out
You know which end of a swarma to unwrap
You think that the further you inch into an intersection the faster the
light will turn green
You give directions by landmarks
You have more carpets than floor space
You expect gold for every birthday
You send your friends a map instead of your address
You begin admiring other women’s “Designer” abayas
You expect to pay more for water than for petrol
You’ve heard of or tried “hubbly bubbly.”
You get confused because US money isn’t color-coded.
You remember not eating in public in the daytime during the holy month of
Ramadan.
You know someone is referring to Pepsi when they say “BEBSI”.
You have ever had to wait for prayer call to be over to finish shopping.
You have friends from 50 different countries.
Rain is still one of the most wonderful sounds in the world.
You have sat in a “men’s” or “women’s” section in an airport, hospital, or
restaurant.
You think anyone with a cane is out to get you.
You think a desert storm is a war.
You think a red light means “step on it.”
You don’t think it is ostentatious to own more than one Rolex.
Your school closes early because of sandstorms
You are not surprised to see an 8 year old driving the car next to you
You can’t buy anything without asking for a discount
You think cars only come in white.”

Source: http://delhi4cats.wordpress.com/

Taxi Drivers in Riyadh

2008-04-19T17:09:00.003+03:00

If you speak Hindi, it is fairly easy to commute across the city since most of the Taxi drivers are from India (more specifically Hyderabad), Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Fares are fairly negotiatble and since petrol is dirt cheap, its always easy to drive hard bargains with them.You can reach anywhere in the city between SR 10 and SR25.In KSA, people use Maps as directions rather than addresses. It takes some time but people get used to it.

And ofcourse, be very careful on Riyadh roads, the Roads are wide but the Driving is very rash here. 100kmph speeds are more a norm than an exception.

Faisaliah Shopping Mall (Swatch and iPhone)

2008-04-19T16:56:00.005+03:00

Whether you see anything worthwhile in Riyadh or not; two buildings you would definately never miss are the Faisaliah Shopping mall and the Kingdom Tower. Both are large architectural marvels looming large into the skyline.

The Al Faisaliah Center,includes luxury shopping, high-tech entertainment and a 250-meter office tower.I went to Faisaliah Shopping mall last week and was pleasently surprised at the range of items available. I went to a Swatch store and saw a chic metallic swatch with a light green screen. Looks awesomely futuristic. Plan to buy one when i get my salary.

And then i set my eyes on something that took my breath away. The iPhone. I dont know what is it about the iphone that makes me so want to buy it. Am not a tech freak and expenses mobiles are not for me. But the iPhone.....its much more than a mobile.

Read more about the phone here.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/index.html#phone

I heard its getting launched in India in September @ 28k....

Riyadh Immigration

2008-04-19T16:51:00.002+03:00

I have heard awful stories of Immigration woes at the Riyadh airport. But, when i arrived at Riyadh, i was pleasently surprised to see that the Saudi immigrations people were very helpful and supportive. Well as supportive as indian immigration atleast. :)

And all the unwanted fears about checking bachelor bags for unwanted CD's and stuff were unfounded.So, guys coming to Riyadh, take heart.The place isnt as bad as people make it sound. Cheers!

Wah Taj!

2008-04-05T10:17:00.005+03:00

- Did you know Agra was called Agraban in the Mahabharat times?
- Did you Agra is a part of Brijbhoomi; the land associated with the birth and legendry activities of lord Krishna?
- Did you know there are five Shiva temples in Agra?

Well I didn’t know all these things and I realized that coming to Delhi and not going to Agra is in itself a big sin. So, here I am booking the Panickers Travel bus to Agra and Mathura. The bus left at 6am from Karol Bagh and we reached Agra Red fort around 11am.

The Red Fort began its life in the 10th century as a simple mud and brick fortress along the banks of the Yamuna river. Under Akbar (1564-1570s) of the Mughal dynasty it was rebuilt along the lines of its predecessor, which accounts for its irregular outer walls. Originally intended as a fortress, the site was partially converted into a palace during the reign of Shah Jahan, who lived in the fortress and died there - a prisoner of his own son. Humayun was offered jewelry and precious stones by the Raja of Gwalior, one of them the famous Koh-i-Noor.

The heydays of Agra came with the reign of Humayun's son, Akbar The Great. During his reign, the main part of the Agra fort was built. Construction of the fort started in 1156 and was finished in 1605.Once inside; one sees the Diwan-e-am and the Diwan-e-khas which are pavilions where the king gave audience to the common people and the elite respectively. The Rang Mahal is a water-cooled apartment for the royal ladies. The Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal are exquisitely ornamented halls, which portray the brilliance and splendor of Mughal royalty.

The next stop was the Taj Mahal. We were to see the Taj in two hours and come back. Two hours for a monument which took 22 years to build? Not fair!

Taj Mahal is a symbol of Love,
The love of a king for his queen.
Here lovers meet by moonlit nights,
Lovers- Unsung! Unseen!
-By Syed Mohammad Asrar-ul-Haq

Though I have seen the Taj around 15 years back, its pristine beauty captivates you the moment you feast your eyes on it.

Facts about Taj Mahal:

» The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by Shahjahan- the fifth Mughal emperor, in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
» Construction began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years.
» Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it.
» The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site.

More about the trip in the second Part of my blog….

Athithi Devo Bhava

2008-04-05T09:18:00.000+03:00

Serpentine lines not withstanding; it is amusing to see the attitude of Immigration officials if you are in the best of moods. But long flights do not give that privilege to most of the passengers. On the immigration check at 4am in the morning at Mumbai airport; the old lady in front of me remarked to the Immigration official about the lack of courtesy extended to passengers by the Immigrations. The courtesy extended she said was so very different in other countries.

The official mumbled something that “this is how it works in India…” and gave a meek smile.

“Athithi Devo Bhava” or so someone said.

Dilbert One Liners

2008-02-18T09:56:00.001+03:00

Here are some nice Dilbert's one liners..Enjoy :)

1. I say no to alcohol, it just doesn't listen.

2. A friend in need is a pest indeed.

3. Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce.

4. Work is fine if it doesn't take too much of your time.

5. When everything comes in your way you're in the wrong lane.

6. The light at the end of the tunnel may be an incoming train.

7. Born free, taxed to death.

8. Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

9. Life is unsure; always eat your dessert first.

10. Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking.

11. If you keep your feet firmly on the ground, you'll have trouble putting on your pants.

12. It's not hard to meet expenses, they are everywhere.

13. I love being a writer... what I can't stand is the paperwork.

14. A printer consists of 3 main parts: the case, the jammed paper tray and the blinking red light.

15. The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was the genius.

16. The trouble with being punctual is that no one is there to appreciate it.

17. in a country of free speech, why are there phone bills?

18. If you cannot change your mind, are you sure you have one?

19. Beat the 5 O'clock rush, leave work at noon!

20. If you can't convince them, confuse them.

21. Its not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop at the end.

22. I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

23. Hot glass looks same as cold glass. - Cunino's Law of Burnt Fingers

24. The cigarette does the smoking you are just the sucker.

25. Someday is not a day of the week

Real Estate in Coimbatore

2008-02-15T20:31:00.006+03:00

Land prices in Coimbatore have moved up by 50 per cent to 100 per cent in the last one year and in some areas, the increase is more than 100 per cent. Areas such as Race Course, R.S. Puram, Peelamedu, Vadavalli and areas in close proximity to Tiruchi Road had witnessed a substantial spurt in land price.

Is this Real estate boom sustainable or is it just a lot of froth and the bubble is about to burst?

The boom in real estate business in Coimbatore has brought in its wake an influx of builders from other cities and market players indicate that a few from abroad too might pitch their tent here. What has also contributed to the general euphoria in Coimbatore is the expectation that the city is on the threshold of becoming the next IT/ITES destination in Tamil Nadu after Chennai.

All this is good news for buyers, as competition means competitive pricing, top quality construction and the latest in design, specifications and style.

What can go wrong?

-The apartment prices also have recorded a 30-40% per cent jump in the past year and sources in the Real estate portal 99 acres tell me that there are hardly any new apartments quoting below Rs.2800 Sq ft.

The Rental yields, which are usually low in Tier II cities would give only a return of 3-4% which is even lower than current rate of inflation. So, the only way of getting good returns would be to wait for the apartment price to rise from the current 2800 level to say 4500 level per sq ft, which looks very unrealistic.

-There are questions as to whether the city has the capacity to absorb the manifold increase in housing stock and whether any glut in the market would not send the realty prices on a downward spiral

- The IT market is treading cautiously with a downturn in US markets and this may lead to change in development/recruitment plans

All in all, southwards is where prices must go and sanity should prevail. But, correct needs to be gradual.As someone said, "Those who do not learn the lessons of history are bound to repeat them".

CSR Anyone?

2008-01-30T17:13:00.001+03:00

When you think of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India, names like ACC, ITC (e-Choupal Project) come to mind. However, on my stay at Coimbatore, I could see the CSR concept developing amongst SME's too.

Annapoorna hotels has today become synonymous with quality at a reasonable price. Almost everybody who lives in Coimbatore and its vicinity has eaten here at least once as have several thousand of the visitors to the industrial heartland of the south. Annapoorna has become an enduring legacy for the city's residents and generations to come.

This hotel chain has started one outlet in the vicinty of Coimbatore where people can eat to their heart's content good quality food and pay whatever they want. Yes, you heard that right! This outlet is meant to create goodwill amongst people and meet the needs of the poor & needy. Way to go!

Home loan Interest Rates unchanged by Dr.Reddy

2008-01-29T18:41:00.000+03:00

The Reserve Bank today left all key rates unchanged, dashing hopes of a cut in home, personal and other retail loan interest rates. All the news channels today covered the disappointment of home loan seekers on the decision of the RBI governer.

Though am no economist, I fail to understand the implications of a short term interest rate change on the home loan buyer. The buyer would avail a loan of 10-25 years normally on a home. Assuming the buyer avails a floating rate of interest at present, over a period of 10-20 years, the average interest rate would be always different from the interest rate currently.

So, all you people waiting for the right time to avail a loan, guys, any time is the right time :)

No Autos in India anymore?

2008-01-29T08:04:00.000+03:00

When Ratan Tata took the covers off the World's cheapest car, everyone was waiting with bated breath & anticipation had grown to a fever pitch. Apart from the mainstream indian population; the auto drivers are looking forward to saving money to buy the People's car.

Come to think of it, the Nano is cheaper or atleast the same cost of a new Auto rickshaw and with a mileage of 22-24 kms, its definately a good value proposition.

So, are we going to see a new revolution in the making....only time will tell.

Sterling Fernhill

2008-01-28T18:39:00.000+03:00

No Planning is best planning. And my dad wouldnt disagree more :) But here we were, at the Sterling Fernhill Resort @ Ooty for the weekend without any plan.

I have been to sterling resorts many times before in different locales. But, as they say, people make the difference. Fernhill is the second oldest hotel property of Sterling in ooty and the best kept. We were so used to the laidback attitude of the Sterling staff that fernhill was a refreshing change. Proactive, Reactive, all our needs were taken care of, well almost.

Apart from the usual Dodabetta peak, boating and Botanical gardens, we were more experimental this time and visited the wax museam (worth a watch) and thread garden.

The good ol' Nahar hotel has a premium price tag now. We had a heavy breakfast there and were so disappointed with the service, the masala tea outside was better than the special tea in Nahar's.

The minimum temparture was 2*c, ummm romance in the air, where is my girl?:)