Look them in the eye and tell them to buzz off !!
The menace of beggary has always plagued Jeddah. In a city which is the gateway to Makkah and Madinah with visitors from both inside and outside the country, this practice is truly nauseating and…
Articles
Columns and opinion pieces, in English and Arabic.
Showing 41–60 of 114
Will the spirit of Ramadan prevail?
Ramadan, one of the pillars of Islam, has a distinct flavor. It is not the same as other Hijri months. It is a time when a different lifestyle, albeit temporary, is practiced. And for…
Ramadan is the month of charity for all
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is incumbent upon all those who have the physical and mental capacity to do so. It involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn…
India belongs to all!
Truly there has been a change in India over the past couple of years. The language of hatred and intolerance is on the rise. The minorities feel they are no longer a part of…
The Saudi Binladin Group deserves support
Three headlines appeared in three different newspapers last week: “Ministry to ensure fair deal for Binladin staff”; “Quit or wait, Binladin tells 17,000 Saudi staff” and “Saudi Arabia lifts project bidding ban on crisis-hit…
The dilemma of the Arab policymaker
The Obama doctrine expressed through an interview with Jeffrey Goldberg in the April issue of The Atlantic caused consternation and alarm to many in the Arab world. Many commentators, writers and those wielding political…
Are we a happy people?
Sitting after the Friday congregation, sipping mint tea, a neighbor posed a question: “Are we a happy people?” Before I could reflect on the full effect of the question, a friend replied that “happiness…
Is there an Arab world?
Is there an Arab world? That was the question posed by an American college professor as we sat across a table in an Egyptian seaside resort. My mind traversed the history books I have…
‘Green Card’ for expats a strategic plan
THE “green card” plan disclosed by Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, in an interview with Bloomberg, has been welcomed by many expatriates. The plan will help…
Is civility dead?
Are civility, good behavior and manners relics of the past? I read occasionally in some London papers and even American ones of the distributing decline in social graces and correctness. Well, I got a…
Misuse of social media is a threat to our society
The advent of social media in the region has had several positive effects. No longer can the guardians of media suppress information, incidents or narratives that previously could not see the light of day.…
MOL finally addresses sponsorship system
The Minister of Labor followed up this statement on the transfer of sponsorship by launching last Monday an online legal labor consultation service called “Your Labor Consultant” as part of MOL’s obligation to ensure…
Saudi media finally appreciates expats!
“We and the expats” was the title of an article written by Abdulaziz Al-Dhukair in Al-Riyadh and published by this paper. The moment I saw the headline I said: “Oh no, not again!” thinking…
India and Pakistan must unite against terror
The terror attack at the Pathankot Air Force Base, the second in the Punjab within a span of six months, once again gave cause for alarm. It came very shortly after the surprise visit…
Letter from Hyderabad
I was recently invited to speak at the Youm-e-Rahmatul-lil Alameen by Maulana Abdul Raheem Qureshi of the All India Tameer-e-Millat in Hyderabad. This is an annual commemoration of the life of the Holy Prophet…
Saudi women have spoken!
The municipal elections that resulted in 21 Saudi women winning municipal council seats may seem trivial to some abroad, but it has a historic significance for the future of this country. When women’s participation…
Is anyone listening?
Usually after Friday prayers, people in different localities get together and share a cup of tea before dispersing to their homes. They discuss various subjects and focus either on the topic of the day…
Stop insulting expat workers!
An article in a local Arabic daily focused on the increasing control which expatriate workers have over the Saudi retail sector. The writer Saad Al-Dosari “laments the fact” that retail markets are controlled by…
Secularism: The beauty of India
The rains that poured across Tamil Nadu and especially in Chennai brought unprecedented hardship to the city. However, as the skies opened up, the deluge caused another opening which was that of people’s hearts.…
Can you imagine Saudi hospitals without Filipino nurses?
A few months ago at a local hospital, I observed how some Saudi patients were behaving with the nurses, ordering them around and using language which can only be described as foul. I happened…