As ambassadors of their country, some Saudis do not understand the implications of their nefarious activities when they travel abroad. Whether it is bar room brawls or chasing and harassing reputable women, these travellers bring upon the country an unwarranted stigma. And in the age of instant communication, even their domestic misdemeanours attract wide attention as they are immediately displayed on the global news circuit.
For decades, this land was a closed kingdom with very little in the way of attracting global attention other than the fact that it had vast oil reserves under its beds of sand. But the Desert Storm war and the events of 9/11 suddenly thrust the country and its people under the spotlight. The good, the bad as well as the ugly all came under international scrutiny. Unfortunately, the distinctions between the groups were often blurred by western journalists reporting on the state of affairs in Saudi Arabia.
It was news on the bad and ugly that travelled fast and wide, and continues to this day, albeit on a smaller scale than before. This has created a fair level of apprehension among some foreigners considering coming to the kingdom in search of employment. A recent correspondence from one such applicant from an Asian country reflected some of the fears and misconceptions that foreigners have prior to their assignment in this part of the world.
She wrote: ‘Greetings to you from Malaysia. It would seem I am doomed to come to Saudi Arabia. I would be very grateful for your advice. Since the colour of my skin is not white and I carry the passport of an Asian country, I will probably be designated the rank of a slave. The Saudis indeed have offered me a lower rank and a lower salary than my present rank and salary.
“I am damned if I take it, and damned if I do not. The advantages that I see in the Saudi offer are: Long paid holidays; about 45 days in a year. Intellectually, the work is much less demanding than my present job and will afford me plenty of time for other interests. Well, what would you say? How will the life of a slave be at Sr10k(Dh9,791) per month with a furnished villa?”
She continued, “I have got a ton of music CDs and DVDs that I want to bring with me; nothing naughty. The CDs are just work-related material and some pirated software. I would also like to bring some of my books. As a female, I understand that I would be living a somewhat confined life and these possessions would help me pass the time.”
And in a dig against the existing sponsorship system by which some expatriates accuse the Saudi labour system of slavery, she says, “I am supposed to land in Riyadh and take an onward domestic flight. Can the slaves travel without permission from their master, just in case they keep my stuff and I have to come back days later?
“And what if I am a single woman in a country which has a wide reputation of oppression against women? I have been told that I cannot drive — it is forbidden. But am I expected to lock myself away in the confines of my villa once I leave the work site? Can a single woman get around in a taxi to do her shopping or travel to places of interest? And finally, is it that bad there or is it just my impression. I would appreciate your candid reply…Thanks, M.S.”
Time to consider
This is someone in the 21st century who assumes that all Saudis dwell in medieval times. By her reckoning, lots of Saudis have many issues that she may find offensive and have to contend with. I pondered over her request for a couple of days before I sent her a reply. In my answer, I was brief: “If you feel that way, why on earth would you consider coming out here? You are free to choose your own path today. It seems to me you would be better off staying away if you think it is so bad here. I could not tell you how it truly would be for you if you did decide to take up a job here. But if that’s how you really see it, then you are better off not coming here. There are many other countries you could work in.”
She responded almost immediately, “Thanks for such a prompt reply but I am yet to decide on whether to come to Saudi Arabia or not. Chances are I won’t come, what for? But I got a year to kill, so I just might come, for the hell of it.”
Arabs and Saudis in particular have got a bad rap in the western press over the years, much of it unwarranted. The actions of a few have created a curtain of suspicion and mistrust over our intentions. It quickly became apparent to me that we Saudis ought to do a much better job at exporting goodwill rather than anything else. While abroad, we should carry ourselves in a commendable manner. And at home, we should not forget to take care of the expats among us.
Tariq A. Al Maeena is a Saudi socio-political commentator. He lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@talmaeena
