On his speech in the UNO the Custodian of TWO Holy Mosques has stressed on the needs of interfaith dialogue for the world’s peace, justice & tolerance – all the 3 being the key Islamic values. King Abdullah further said that religions should not be used as “instruments to cause misery”.

“Human beings were created as equals and partners; either they live together in peace and harmony, or they will inevitably be consumed by the flames of misunderstanding, malice and hatred,” he said in a speech to U.N. General Assembly.

King Abdullah, the main initiator of the global dialogs on interfaith, told the gathering of over 60 representatives from around the world, gathered for a dialogs on religions, cultures and common values, that roots of all global crises can be found in human denial of eternal principle of justice.

“Terrorism and criminality are the enemies of every religion and every civilization,” King Abdullah said, attributing it to the “absence of the principle of tolerance.”

The conference on “Peace through Dialogue” is being attended by 17 world leaders including President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, US President George Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines, King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Abdullah of Jordan and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

The conference is focusing on the importance of promoting interfaith dialogue to strengthen world peace and stability. King Abdullah said throughout history, differences between followers of religions and cultures has endangered intolerance, caused devastating wars and bloodshed.

“It is high time for us to learn from the harsh lessons of the past and concur on the ethics and ideals in which we all believe,” he said.

The Custodian of 2 Holy Mosques said the alienation and the sense of being lost, mainly among the young and the use of drugs, was due to the dissolution of the family bonds that infact needed to be strong.

He was optimistic that the dialogue, conducted in a constructive manner, would bring in a glimmer of hope for the future of mankind, where justice and security prevails over injustice, fear and poverty.

In this regard, he suggested constituting a committee of the participants of the Madrid dialogue so as to continue the dialogue in the days ahead.

The Saudi King assured leaders of the world that the desire for the dialogue stemmed from the Islamic faith and values and the compassion to overcome miseries for the mankind.

Concluding his speech King Abdullah quoted a verse from the Holy Quran: “O Mankind! We have created you from a single pair of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know each other.

Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you.”

Source: Daily PK

Interfaith in the Kingdom?

Forget about the days when there would be churches & temples & synagogues! Still there are no visible Imam-BarGaah’s (name given to Shiite’s mosque) in the Kingdom?

Before going to the other religions – It would have been better that if the focus would have been on the 2 main faiths that exists within Islam – The Sunnis (85%) & The Shiites(15%).

It is interesting to note that the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -b two Shiites – are considered to be the most popular of Islamic Leaders.

For most of the past 14 centuries, the two have got along, but often Shiites have been ruthlessly repressed by the Sunni majority. Today, non-Arab Iran is the largest Shiite country (more than 90 percent of its 70 million inhabitants) and the two other important Shiite communities are Iraq (65 percent) and Lebanon (40 percent). India & Pakistan are also home to quite a Shiites as Islam in Indian Sub-Continent is mainly under Non-Wahhabi (Wahhabi is the general term used for the Saudi Islam) influence.

Following is taken from International Herald Tribune

One crucial but under-discussed arena of Sunni-Shiite relations is Saudi Arabia. Approximately 10 percent of the kingdom’s population is estimated to be Shiite. Since the country was established in 1932, Shiite rituals have been subjected to significant constraints and Shiites have been marginalized and intermittently repressed. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group have all pointed out the systematic social, political, religious and economic discrimination of Shiites by the Saudi state institutions and ulema, or clergy. Since 1993, Saudi rulers have attempted some rapprochement, by engaging Shiite leaders, although significant advances have yet to materialize.

Sunni-Shiite relations in Saudi Arabia are important for the rest of the Muslim world. Indeed, the kingdom’s religious establishment holds sway over many radical Muslim circles, thanks to its worldwide network of mosques, and usually adheres to a puritan and intolerant version of Sunni Islam. As a result, the Saudi ulema bear much responsibility in the propagation of anti-Shiite feelings, but they are also in a strategic position to soothe the occasional tensions between the two communities.

Are there any hope of cutting down Anti-Shiite sentiments in the Kingdom that is courtesy to the Wahhabism & that remains the official faith of the Kingdom.?

Challenges

1. Is the youth of Saudi Arabia ready to forget about all those things that have been put into their minds, bodies, souls that Shiites are infidels?
2. Are those radical clerics willing to surrender their thoughts and seal their lips against the Shiites?
3. Are the Arabs in general willing to accept the dominance of Iran in the region?

I don’t know – but I find it is not religious but more historic suppression that arabs have gone through the hands of Iranians in the history? I have some hope – and I can share some actions which suggest that there is going to be a change in the stance.

Inviting comments for a healthy debate.

P.S. I am neither a Shiite neither a Wahhabi.

Lahori Khaabay

It is actually in Hayi al Murraba – but they call it Hayi Al Wazaraat a.k.a Hara – from Khurais Road, take exit of Maather Street, after that skip the traffic light, then take U Turn and take 3rd Right, after 200-300 meters on your right hand side, you’ll find this restaurant. Service at times is very slow and you might tend to get angry – but their Roti is typical Lahori Roti and don’t forget to try their Chicken Chillies and their Lunch Buffet (18 SR per head) – Daily Lunch Buffet with quite a variety of dishes that include Haleem, Nihari, Biryani, Mutton Karahi, Kheer & few other dishes – worth trying.

Toledos

My first experience wasn’t actually my first experience – as I went their with my colleague who was very well acquainted with Riyadh’s Desi Restaurant – but he actually never tried it – We ordered something from ala carte menu – and it took more than 30 minutes of waiting and still there were no signs of food to arrive – so we left without eating. 2nd time we went there and had good service & more than above average food quality – don’t forget to try their Butter Naan with Chaanp (Lamb Ribs). 2 pax meal shall not cost more than 50-70 SR. On the same road as of Lahori Khaabay, take right from the next traffic light and make a U-Turn and on your right hand side is Toledos.

Hayat Restaurant

By far, I would rate this as the best restaurant I’ve eaten Desi Food in Riyadh – Food quality, Service is excellent. Do try their Chicken Green Masala, Special Nihari, Aalu Qeema, Aalu Gosht, Chicken Biryani & personally I didn’t like their naan/Roti/khubas but as per most of my friends – that is excellent. On the same road from Lahori Khaabay, take right from the traffic light, leave the first U-Turn, on the next U-turn, on junction of Dabbab Street, make a U-Turn and on your right hand side would be Hayat Restaurant. A dinner for 2 should not cost more than 60-80 SR.

Khayyam Restaurant

Coming from King Abdul Aziz Road/Khurais Road/Marriot, take left and then take right from the next traffic light – on the road’s end, make a U-turn and on your right hand side is Khayyam Restaurant – I’ve heard that it used to be the top rated restaurant when hotel management was with original persons – but then the sponsor brought other guys and the standard kept on falling with every passing day – yet I would not rate it that bad – it is actually quite good – Their Reshmi Kebabs are yummy! those from Lahore/Pakistan and are dyeing to eat Pathooras – there you go – this is the only place in my knowledge where you can get the Pathooras in Riyadh – Their Shahi Tukras are not bad either – definitely worth giving a try – an average meal for 2 pax would be around 40-50 SR.

There are a few other restaurants in Hayi Al Wazaraat with family dining facilities including Mehraab Restaurant – They are their best during Ramadan’s Sehri – Their Alu Paratha & plain Paratha is worth giving a try – Caution: In singles section, they do not have any toilets – so it could get risky for you O yes – there are a few other Desi Restaurant’s in Olaya District and on Tahliya and few others as well – which requires a little more details and shall be posted soon Inshallah.

Comments Welcomed!

When I used to live in my company provided residence, I had a few Egyptian colleagues living with me, Once on the weekend, we decided to visit some mall by a Limo, when the driver asked that where do we have to go, one of the Egyptian replied “Geant Mall, Inshallah” – “to Geant Mall, God willing”.

It is a Muslim tradition that whenever you aim or plan anything – we say that Inshallah – (God Willing – with the will of the God) – but recently “Inshallah” has been creep, to the extreme. Atleast in the Arabian countries, it is now attached to the answer for any question, almost every question (past, present or future) shall get an answer but not without Inshallah. “Inshallah” is used for future, technically & religiously – If I say, “I plan to take CISA exams, Inshallah” – It means that “If God willing, I’ll take CISA exams” – but now? Here with Saudis or for that matter any Arab national, considers his conversation incomplete, if he/she doesn’t use this word – What’s your name, for example, might be answered, “Muhammad, Inshallah.” I often wonder about the answer and sometimes out of my curiosity ask ‘You are already Muahmmad or you are going to be Muhammad?’

It has become a public display of piety, fashion, culture leaving the religious part aside (which was a symbol of faith) – but now very rarely you see this word being used to show one’s faith in God. It has become a word that has attached itself to nearly every moment, every question, like the word ‘like’ in English. But it is powerful reference, intended or not.

It has also become a very diplomatic phrase, in most of the cases denial or refusal shall also be replied with only one phrase ‘Inshallah’.

For example, if you go to some Arab (Saudi particularly) in your office and if you get the answer, “Inshallah” – then most of the expatriates considers it a refusal.

Inshallah Bukra, Masslam (I.B.M)

Don’t confuse Saudi/Arabic IBM with the International Business Machines – its  a very commonly used sentence, there are very few days when you won’t come across this sentence – whether early morning, noon, afternoon or almost the closing hours of any office – you just go to any of your department which is being run by the locals (courtesy Saudisation) – and if the person is not willing to respond to you (95% of time), you’ll most probably get this answer “Inshallah Bukra, Massalam” (if God willing, Tomorrow, peace be with you). So, whenever you get this answer, just assume that there are rare chances that your task/request or work (no matter how official/important it is) would get done.

So, as I come to end of today’s blog – I invite your comments and Inshallah would respond to them Bukra, till then Massalam

• Al Hamra Compound
  British School
  Tel: 249 0440
• Al Issa Comound
  Tel: 491 8400 (Mr Walid)
• Al Jazeera Badar
  Tel: 492 1135 (Milwah Al-Shammry)
• Al Mohaeya Compound aka Boeing Compound
  Tel # 482 1222 ext # 403, 410, 111, 666
• Al Nakheel Residence
  Tel # 470 4191
  Contact: Peter Howarth-Lees
  Near Dallah Hospital, Takhassusi Street
• Al Ola # 7
  Tel # 460 8095, 460 7704
  Olaya Area, Abdullah Hamdan Street,
  Between Thalateen & Tahliah Street
• Al Romaizon
  Tel # 274 0917, 4880533
  Behind Imam University
• Al Waha Garden Village
  Tel # 278 8418 ext 1149
  Contact: Rashid Khan
  Exit # 10
• Al Yamamah Village
  Tel # 401 2550
  Eastern Ring Road, Exit # 16
• Arab Investment Compound
  Tel # 482 3444 Fax # 482 3131/3169
  Near Diplomatic Quarters
• Arabian Homes
  Tel # 454 1888
  Contact: Martin Shaw
  King Abdullah Street, Al Mursalat,
• Arizona
  Tel # 248 4444
• AsasCo Village
  Tel # 419 9000, 419 0936 ext 423
  Olaya District
• Creators Real Estate (Small compounds / Individual Villas)
  Tel # 478 6708
  Contact: Mr. Mahmood
• Cofras Compound
  Tel # 478 7434
  Exit # 30, Dammam Road
• Cordoba Oasis Village
  Tel # 248 3471
  Near British School
• Delta # 1 & # 2
  Tel # 488 7611 ext 245
  Opposite King Saud University
• Dabbab Gardens Compound
  Tel # 463 1596 – 462 2392 – 462 6762 – 465 0513
• Dabbab Garden Compound
  Tel # 461 1080
• Dywidag Saudi Arabia Limited
  Tel # 246 4144 Ext 153
  Contact: Mr. Joey
  Near Football Stadium
• Eid Compoound
  Tel # 248 3366
  Near British School
• Euro Compound
  Tel # 478 0718 – 478 7381, Mobile- 055 27 28 36
  Near Al Aqariya Building
  Contact: Mr. Nicholas
• Expat Real Estate
  Tel # 454 0404
  ContacT: Mr. Nasser
• Fal Compound
  Tel # 248 5847
  Contact: Larry Heitzman
  Exit # 8, Near Arizona
• Green City Compound
  Tel # 479 8889 ext 411
  Contact: Abdul Karim Al Lahham
  King Abdullah Road, Near Takhassussi / Sheraton
• Kingdom City
  Tel # 275 0 275
  Conact: Chuck Collins
  Next to Kingdom Hospital, Airport Road
• Najd Village
  Tel # 248 1040 ext 513
  Contact: Ali Askar
  Near Eid Villas
• Riyadh Village aka Phillips Ericcson
  Tel # 246 4900
  Near Football Stadium
• Rabwa Compound
  Tel # 493 1741
  Conact: B Lewis
  Exit # 13, Eastern Ring Road / Khurais Road
• Ranco Village
  Tel # 492 4411
  Contact: Med Rowlands
• Roc Compound
  Tel # 241 2800
  Contact: Colin
  Al-Sulai, Exit # 16
• Sahara Towers
  Tel # 462 5666
  Olaya
• Saudi British Bank
  Tel # 405 0677
  Behind Al Jazeera Supermarket
• Summerland Compound
  Tel # 454 9152
  Old Airport Road, Al-Malik Fahad
• Villas RosasTel: 482 4417
  (Nr Diplomatic Quarter)

Check from the friends in the Kingdom about the medicines that you are using if these are available here or not? You can also check that from the Pharmaceutical company as well if they have distribution to the Saudi Arabia or not – as none of the multinational pharmaceuticals have production facilities in Saudi Arabia (courtesy “Very Liberal” Saudi policy for foreign investment) – most of them have the distribution setups here – so you better check that.

As such there is no need of bringing in the prescription with the medicines if you are bringing any to the Kingdom – except might be required for the Narcotics / Hypnotics – Valium etc.

• Do NOT bring any food that contains poppy seeds – yes, not only poppy products but even the harmless poppy seeds which we often gets on donuts etc. are forbidden in the Kingdom – People of Asian Sub-continent use poppy seed to spice their meals – they are WARNED that do not even think of bringing Khaskhash to the Kingdom.
• Bring some extra pair of shoes if you are going to work in Riyadh/Central Province – Shoes here generally are not that good and those which are acceptable are very highly overpriced – except the Clarks but they have very limited variety.
• Bring in a lots of shirts/trousers/suits to meet your needs (if you do need to wear formal) – otherwise Jeans/T-Shirts would be sufficient if you are working into production environment.
• Try to avoid bringing Software CD(s) as they might suspect them as movies and you might have to wait at the airport for them to go through the CD(s) one by one – similarly same goes for the movies, try not to bring them with you in DVD covers – if you really want to bring some movies – better idea would be to throw away the covers and bring them loose – the best way to bring movies is to copy them on to an external hard drive and then you should be safe (not 100%).
• No Alcohol in any form
• No Drugs – Kingdom has the death penalty for the Drug Traffickers
• Summers are extremely HOT & winters are Hot in day but bone freezing in nights – so you might consider bringing Sun Glasses with UV Protection.
• Traffic Radar Detector could be worth considering if you are fond of driving at high speeds so that you can save yourself from “Mukhaalfaas”/Challans/Tickets.
• If you are a female – try to find an abaya from your local market – otherwise ask someone in kingdom to arrange one for you so that you can wear it when you come out of the airport/plane. Otherwise a shawl that could cover whole of your body (and preferably face) would do the trick (just for the time being).
• Your Driving License – International Driving License would also be acceptable for the period of 1 to 2 months (only if you are on a visit visa or after getting Iqama (Residential Permit) – Ladies!, you are not, not, not allowed to drive in the Kingdom, hence there would probably be no use of bringing your License.
• O yes – do bring your attested Degree from foreign ministry of your country, Saudi Cultural Center (if applicable) & Saudi Embassy in your country – you marriage certificate (attested) one – these are the minimum required things that you need to bring with you, in case you want to bring your family here.
• 12 Passport Size Pictures (white background) – so that you do not have to go around for getting photographed

That’s about it for the time being – would keep on adding things as and when I get some time.

Lets start the beginning!

Hold! Before we start the fun - before you start thinking about getting in Saudi Kingdom, let’s read a saying by King Abdul Aziz bin Saud

“My Kingdom will survive only insofar as it remains a country difficult to access, where the foreigner will have no other aim, with his task fullfilled, but to get out.”

No wonder why Saudi Arabia (will always be reffered as Saudia) has one of the most restrictive travel policies in the world and you need to have visas in advance in order to enter the Kingdom. Only exception being the nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council. Citizens of Israel are not allowed to enter the Kingdom, Period. Saudis prefer not to grant visa to unaccompanied women, but work-permits (work-visas/aqamas) are common in some fields like nursing, teaching, maids etc.

Usually once you get an employment offer from Saudia, most of the difficult tasks are handeled by your employer and usually they take most of the pain for you. Normally, the Saudis have agents in all part of the world – these agents are paid by the Saudi Employer for facilitating you. For me, this has been the easiest task to get a work-visa of Saudia. Trust me, for me getting a visa of Singapore was much more difficult, much more time & pain staking than getting a work-visa of Saudi Arabia. My agent did a wonderful job. Though I have been a bit lazy on my side, but there was no lack of commitment on agent’s part.

Medical Examination 

You need to have a medical examination by the appointed medical centres of Saudi Embassy in your country/city. For residents of Karachi, Saudi Embassy in Karachi have such medical centre “Taj Medical Centre” on Khayban e Shahbaz, D.H.A. Karachi. It would take roughly around 2 hours to get all the process done. This will include blood tests, urine test, x-rays & physical examination like eye-sight, chest & could be something related to private parts. If you are woman who have conceived before the medical test, make sure that you inform them about your pregnancy so that you could avoid the x-ray test which could turn fetal for your baby in progress. Make sure that before going to the medical centre, you take a lots of liquids so that you don’t have issues while they give you plastic bottle for taking sample of urine, this is what happened with me, I had to take atleast 4-5 glasses of water to get the sample out . There are 2 types of reports, ordinary & urgent. In case of Ordinary/normal you’ll get the report on next working day and in case of urgent, you’ll get report sameday. Yes, charges are little different. But not very different. I opted for the urgent one. Before going to Medical Centre, consult with your agent, he’ll take time for you from medical centre + he’ll give you a form stamped by the agent that you’ll present to medical centre. Make sure that you have atleast 4 passport size photographs with white/off-white background, your passport & your national ID card before you go to Medical Centre.

Yes, once you get a call from your agent, make sure that you have all the necessary documents, a valid passport (valid atleast for next 6 months), CNIC (for Pakistanis), Educational Degrees, work experience certificates (though not required) and your agent would give you the sizes of photographs that you need to provide him with other documents.

Enough for getting started. Wait for the next episode.