Social challenges of being a Pakistani in Saudi Arabia

[gkb101277867]

Recently I've been looking into the changes that Saudi Arabia has been going through and especially how it affects Pakistanis as I have few family members who still live there as well as some who have recently had to return.

Upon speaking to my cousins I was completely shocked about the way they described their experiences to me.

They explained how they felt like second class citizens in Suadi and how they felt arabs looked down upon them for being Pakistani.

The thing that shocked me the most was that none of my cousins had any saudi friends at all despite living their whole lives in Saudi and growing up there. For example they went to Pakistani only schools and only had Pakistani friends. Even out of school they would only interact and visit the houses of other Pakistanis. None of my cousins even had a single Saudi friend and apart from a few words here and there they didn't know how to speak Arabic despite being born there and living there until university age!!!! Furthermore when it came to going to university they had to go back to Pakistan in order to do so!!
It seems the Pakistani society is very segregated from the Arabs in Saudi.

Having grown up in the UK this concept is completely alien to me. I am interested in finding out the views of other Pakistanis who grew up in Saudi and their experiences. Any responses would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Pakistanian]

That's contrary to my experience with Saudi students here. They aren't more or less racist than desis, it's just that desis there are are temporary economic migrants.

 

[waleed88]

Recently I've been looking into the changes that Saudi Arabia has been going through and especially how it affects Pakistanis as I have few family members who still live there as well as some who have recently had to return.

Upon speaking to my cousins I was completely shocked about the way they described their experiences to me.

They explained how they felt like second class citizens in Suadi and how they felt arabs looked down upon them for being Pakistani.

The thing that shocked me the most was that none of my cousins had any saudi friends at all despite living their whole lives in Saudi and growing up there. For example they went to Pakistani only schools and only had Pakistani friends. Even out of school they would only interact and visit the houses of other Pakistanis. None of my cousins even had a single Saudi friend and apart from a few words here and there they didn't know how to speak Arabic despite being born there and living there until university age!!!! Furthermore when it came to going to university they had to go back to Pakistan in order to do so!!����
It seems the Pakistani society is very segregated from the Arabs in Saudi.

Having grown up in the UK this concept is completely alien to me. I am interested in finding out the views of other Pakistanis who grew up in Saudi and their experiences. Any responses would be much appreciated. Thanks

Lived in Saudi Arabia for 5 years in AlJubail, and to be honest they are least friendly people of all... extreme biases and hate towards anyone else who doesn't belong to their community, atleast 70% of them think Pakistanis, Indians and Bengalis are inferior to them... but they need them to do all of their leg work.

I also came back to Pakistan to study in a medical university here, university education is zero and all of it in Arabic

Will do anything to please a caucasian western background... will pay him twice his salary just to have him working in his company... but will talk bad behind their backs about him..

 

[Slog]

Arabs worship white skin so no surprise if a desi isnt treated well...

 

[Yossarian]

As someone of Pakistani origin, but in SA as a 'Westerner', I experienced being 'a Westerner' as well as being 'a Pakistani'. I lived in a 'Western' compound and as such had very little contact outside work with the 'average' Saudi. In contrast, in my professional capacity I came into contact with highly educated Saudis as well as junior Saudi staff. The only other contact with Saudis was when out shopping etc., or when I went to Makkah to visit the Masjid al-Haram.

Amongst my work colleague, I was treated as a 'Westerner Muslim'. I became very close friends with a couple of Saudis, to such an extent that they invited me to their homes, and even mixed with their families as a member of the family, meaning that the females of the house (mother, wife, sisters, cousins ..) interacted with me as if I was a brother or son. After the first few occasions when I slept in the guest house, I slept in the main house as a family member whenever I visited.

The only time I experienced an element of racism from Saudis was on one or two occasions from some young idiots in the car parks etc. when they felt that, as Saudis, they have the right-of-way over a Pakistani for a parking slot, and other similar instances.

The only time I suffered serious racism for being 'a Pakistani', was from ....a redneck American ... from another department of the organisation I worked for, who felt he could treat me with contempt and disdain, because I was a Pakistani! He soon realised where he stood when it was pointed out to him who I was (in terms of my position/role, and not my appearance).

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Recently I've been looking into the changes that Saudi Arabia has been going through and especially how it affects Pakistanis as I have few family members who still live there as well as some who have recently had to return.

Upon speaking to my cousins I was completely shocked about the way they described their experiences to me.

They explained how they felt like second class citizens in Suadi and how they felt arabs looked down upon them for being Pakistani.

The thing that shocked me the most was that none of my cousins had any saudi friends at all despite living their whole lives in Saudi and growing up there. For example they went to Pakistani only schools and only had Pakistani friends. Even out of school they would only interact and visit the houses of other Pakistanis. None of my cousins even had a single Saudi friend and apart from a few words here and there they didn't know how to speak Arabic despite being born there and living there until university age!!!! Furthermore when it came to going to university they had to go back to Pakistan in order to do so!!����
It seems the Pakistani society is very segregated from the Arabs in Saudi.

Having grown up in the UK this concept is completely alien to me. I am interested in finding out the views of other Pakistanis who grew up in Saudi and their experiences. Any responses would be much appreciated. Thanks

Your family must be really pleased to be going back home to Pakistan then. Like I said in the other thread, this is win-win all round.

I don't have any family in Saudi but I do have a cousin in Dubai, she seems happy enough, but then she came from a well educated background and her husband has a good career there. I suspect it will be the lower class/manual workers who get treated like slaves in these countries, just a shame they can't find a better living in their own countries.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Lived in Saudi Arabia for 5 years in AlJubail, and to be honest they are least friendly people of all... extreme biases and hate towards anyone else who doesn't belong to their community, atleast 70% of them think Pakistanis, Indians and Bengalis are inferior to them... but they need them to do all of their leg work.

I also came back to Pakistan to study in a medical university here, university education is zero and all of it in Arabic

Will do anything to please a caucasian western background... will pay him twice his salary just to have him working in his company... but will talk bad behind their backs about him..

Spot on. I lived in Jubail for 10 years and I share a similar experience to you. Saudis inherently have some sort of superiority complex that's been drilled into their heads over the years. I certainly miss some things about life in ksa but definitely don't want to live there again.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[faraz39]

Another question would how does knowing Arabic change the social perception of the Saudis? Language is a great leveler and often opens up people to one another. Anyone on this forum who lived in SA and speaks Arabic? What has your experience been with Saudis.

 

[DeadBall]

All the Gulf countries are the same. Pakistani, Indian etc are second class citizens unless one is extremely well off and even then one is not totally allowed to assimilate as the locals hold their traditions very dearly and one cannot learn the small yet complicated intricacies unless one is born into a local Arab family.

 

[Pakistanian]

Arabs worship white skin so no surprise if a desi isnt treated well...

Uh...most cultures worship white skin, whether it's latinos, orientals or even africans. South Asians are looked down uponnand made fun of by almost every race and I think it's do with appearance/facial features. Even many of brown golk try to didtance ourselves and look less desi. People take it as a compliment to pass fot a whiter race, it's cause internalized racism.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Uh...most cultures worship white skin, whether it's latinos, orientals or even africans. South Asians are looked down uponnand made fun of by almost every race and I think it's do with appearance/facial features. Even many of brown golk try to didtance ourselves and look less desi. People take it as a compliment to pass fot a whiter race, it's cause internalized racism.

Absolutely correct. Please watch the following sketch produced by desis themselves to show this mentality.

 

[srh]

Recently I've been looking into the changes that Saudi Arabia has been going through and especially how it affects Pakistanis as I have few family members who still live there as well as some who have recently had to return.

Upon speaking to my cousins I was completely shocked about the way they described their experiences to me.

They explained how they felt like second class citizens in Suadi and how they felt arabs looked down upon them for being Pakistani.

The thing that shocked me the most was that none of my cousins had any saudi friends at all despite living their whole lives in Saudi and growing up there. For example they went to Pakistani only schools and only had Pakistani friends. Even out of school they would only interact and visit the houses of other Pakistanis. None of my cousins even had a single Saudi friend and apart from a few words here and there they didn't know how to speak Arabic despite being born there and living there until university age!!!! Furthermore when it came to going to university they had to go back to Pakistan in order to do so!!����
It seems the Pakistani society is very segregated from the Arabs in Saudi.

Having grown up in the UK this concept is completely alien to me. I am interested in finding out the views of other Pakistanis who grew up in Saudi and their experiences. Any responses would be much appreciated. Thanks

so basically your cousins live in a Pakistani ghetto in Saudi Arabia and live their life as a typical ghetto person (xenophobians) how can they complain now?

 

[DeadBall]

so basically your cousins live in a Pakistani ghetto in Saudi Arabia and live their life as a typical ghetto person (xenophobians) how can they complain now?

Its not a ghetto, expats are totally segregated from the Arabs in all Gulf countries. The locals have their own areas with bigger houses and villas while most expats live in apartment buildings and the more well off have villas in mostly expat zones too. Expats aren't allowed to study in the free local schools and thus cannot inegrate with the locals from a young age. The Arabic in school which is compulsory is restricted till Hi, how are yous, My name is Ahmed and this is my sister Hind.

All in all the local populace DO NOT want to mingle with the expats (SC Asians) and see them as second class citizens.

 

[TQ89]

So many challenges bro. I share the same sentiment just like your cousin although working with locals has had positive change in my opinion about them. Never the less, our situation as pak expatriates poses so many limitations to us that it is hard to explain it to anybody who hasn't lived here.

 

[ManFan]

Arabs see SC people as “dirty” and servants. The first part I can partially agree that some of them lack in overall hygiene but the second is derived from all the chauffeurs and drivers they see there. My uncle is a cabbie in Manchester and he picked up an Arab once. The guy told my uncle to pick up his luggage and he told him to do it himself, along with some very inspiring words. Safe to say, he was very shocked that a brown man could talk to him like that.

 

[sshakir411]

All what your cousins said is true. Few reasons for it:

1) Arabs in the Middle East communicate in Arabic regardless of how well educated they are. It's the language business is done in and it's next to impossible to mix with majority of Arabs if you don't get the language and don't understand their culture (most Pakistanis moving from Pakistan don't).

2) Schooling is another big reason why Saudis and expats don't mix. Up until 7 years ago Saudis required a special approval from the Ministry of Education to attend an English School. So Saudis have always been the minority in English schools where majority of the expats go to.

3) Pakistanis hanging mainly with their own kind isn't unique to Pakistanis. All expat communities are the same unless as Yossarian pointed out you live in a 'westernized' compound where you have a mixed bag but mainly there are more Arabs (Jordanians, Lebanese, Palestinians) and then Desis and some white people.

 

[Yossarian]

The thing that shocked me the most was that none of my cousins had any saudi friends at all despite living their whole lives in Saudi and growing up there. For example they went to Pakistani only schools and only had Pakistani friends. Even out of school they would only interact and visit the houses of other Pakistanis. None of my cousins even had a single Saudi friend and apart from a few words here and there they didn't know how to speak Arabic despite being born there and living there until university age!!!!

Replace "Saudi" with "English" and "Arabic" with "english", and you'll be describing some of the English northern towns inner city areas with large Pakistani/Bangladeshi populations! And I'm not joking.

 

[Yossarian]

Good sweet lord, how many times I have harped this point here to the UMMAH Brigade.. All the talk about Zionist, Arabs, yada yada yada, Arabs in general look down on ppl from the subcontinent, yet the Ummah brigade wants to be part of the Arab conflict with the Jews... NEWSFLASH to those wannabe arab tail lickers, sorry you will always be a sub continentite to them, no matter how many times you pray or have arabic names....................

The expats in SA are effectively there as paid servants or contractors. It's just that some are paid more than others depending upon their nationality and profession. The expats in Saudi are not like normal company employees in Western countries (or even in India / Pakistan). Everyone is effectively a contractor on a fixed term contract, which gets renewed at the same time as their work visa (and vice versa). You cant have one without the other.

Hence the Arabs look down upon expats, all expats, but some more than others based upon nationality / profession / salary package. Hence why Westerners are looked down upon the least, cause they are usually the best paid due to the fact that they are recruited for the high paying jobs. Saudis are not going to recruit Americans and Europeans to drive taxis, work in fast food outlets or do car oil changes at the local garages.

 

[TQ89]

Another question would how does knowing Arabic change the social perception of the Saudis? Language is a great leveler and often opens up people to one another. Anyone on this forum who lived in SA and speaks Arabic? What has your experience been with Saudis.

It is not the arabic but the accent that makes a lot of difference. If a subcontinent guy speaks with bit of local touch, he gets treated much better and can haggle his way out of situations like dealing with government officials/cops & would be friends with saudi boys. Still he wont get to integrate in the society like you would in the west and will be referred as the "ajnabi" but still way way better than guys like us.

If you are the usual "Ana mafi malum arabi, kam hazaa ya sheikh", then be prepared for being looked at like an alien and the rest of the things OP's cousin described.

 

[gkb101277867]

Replace "Saudi" with "English" and "Arabic" with "english", and you'll be describing some of the English northern towns inner city areas with large Pakistani/Bangladeshi populations! And I'm not joking.

C'mon dude you are desperately reaching here. Are you saying the youth in these populations don't speak English or have white people in their schools?

I know there are certain integration issues in places like Bradford but even in the worst case scenarios it's nothing like the integration in Saudi

 

[gkb101277867]

If for example you were born to Pakistani parents in Saudi would you be allowed to go to a normal Saudi school or is it compulsory to go to a Pakistani only school?

Are pakistanis allowed to go to saudi universities? If they are allowed then I can only assume it's the language barrier which forces pakistani students to return to pak for uni.

 

[waleed88]

Spot on. I lived in Jubail for 10 years and I share a similar experience to you. Saudis inherently have some sort of superiority complex that's been drilled into their heads over the years. I certainly miss some things about life in ksa but definitely don't want to live there again.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Some bad experiences including Saudi teenagers driving a Chevrolet Caprice, 4-5 sitting in one car, checking out the women in your family despite them being fully covered in abayas, making weird noises while they go pass by and laughing loudly, flipping the finger at you when they see you walking towards a grocery stores... stuff like that was a norm... you just ignore it after a while...

Plus point is you are earning 3-4 times the money he would earn in Pakistan for the same job description.. so you just accept that as a fact and don't bother too much about it...

 

[waleed88]

If for example you were born to Pakistani parents in Saudi would you be allowed to go to a normal Saudi school or is it compulsory to go to a Pakistani only school?

Are pakistanis allowed to go to saudi universities? If they are allowed then I can only assume it's the language barrier which forces pakistani students to return to pak for uni.

Pakistanis most likely goto Pakistan embassy schools if they are good, or International schools... Saudi schools only if you want your kid to be an aalim.. like I knew one family who's priorities were to make him into an aalim, so he went to do an aalim course in a Saudi University..

99% of the Pakistanis I knew either went for higher studies to Canada, America or Pakistan

 

[DeadBall]

If for example you were born to Pakistani parents in Saudi would you be allowed to go to a normal Saudi school or is it compulsory to go to a Pakistani only school?

Are pakistanis allowed to go to saudi universities? If they are allowed then I can only assume it's the language barrier which forces pakistani students to return to pak for uni.

Saudi schools and most government schools in the Gulf states are just for the locals as it is free along with free medical insurance, housing etc. There are some private schools where locals and expats may mingle but that is quite rare.

 

[waleed88]

Arabs see SC people as “dirty” and servants. The first part I can partially agree that some of them lack in overall hygiene but the second is derived from all the chauffeurs and drivers they see there. My uncle is a cabbie in Manchester and he picked up an Arab once. The guy told my uncle to pick up his luggage and he told him to do it himself, along with some very inspiring words. Safe to say, he was very shocked that a brown man could talk to him like that.

Serves that guy right, Saudi's sense of entitlement knows no bounds..

 

[Yossarian]

C'mon dude you are desperately reaching here. Are you saying the youth in these populations don't speak English or have white people in their schools?

When virtually every child in the infant and junior schools is Asian because the whole neighbourhood is Asian, when the only tv watched in the house is star+, Hum tv etc, when all the local shops are Asian, when all the kids in the local playground are Asian, resulting in these kids hardly hearing english being spoken other than by school teachers, where/how do you think the kids will develop half-decent english speaking/communication skills? As for having non-Asian friends, especially those who invite these Asian kids to their homes, how are these close friendships going to come about?

Isn't that similar to the (non)interactions between the Saudi kids and kids of Pakistani expats mentioned earlier?

Of course it's not going to be exactly the same as in Saudi. For a start, unlike the Pakistani kids in Saudi, the Pakistani origin kids in the areas mentioned are UK citizens, and not temporary expats who need to renew visas on a regular basis. Secondly, unlike Saudi, there is no segregation under the law similar to Saudi where Pakistani expat kids are not allowed to attend state schools. The segregation is purely down to ghettoisation of neighbourhoods, and the resultant demographics affects on local schooling.

But the similarities are still there, which was the point of my post.

The reality my friend is that in certain sections of towns and cities like Birmingham, Rochdale, Oldham, Blackburn, Bradford, etc. such areas do exist.

[quite]I know there are certain integration issues in places like Bradford but even in the worst case scenarios it's nothing like the integration in Saudi[/QUOTE]Read above.

 

[gkb101277867]

When virtually every child in the infant and junior schools is Asian because the whole neighbourhood is Asian, when the only tv watched in the house is star+, Hum tv etc, when all the local shops are Asian, when all the kids in the local playground are Asian, resulting in these kids hardly hearing english being spoken other than by school teachers, where/how do you think the kids will develop half-decent english speaking/communication skills? As for having non-Asian friends, especially those who invite these Asian kids to their homes, how are these close friendships going to come about?

Isn't that similar to the (non)interactions between the Saudi kids and kids of Pakistani expats mentioned earlier?

Of course it's not going to be exactly the same as in Saudi. For a start, unlike the Pakistani kids in Saudi, the Pakistani origin kids in the areas mentioned are UK citizens, and not temporary expats who need to renew visas on a regular basis. Secondly, unlike Saudi, there is no segregation under the law similar to Saudi where Pakistani expat kids are not allowed to attend state schools. The segregation is purely down to ghettoisation of neighbourhoods, and the resultant demographics affects on local schooling.

But the similarities are still there, which was the point of my post.

The reality my friend is that in certain sections of towns and cities like Birmingham, Rochdale, Oldham, Blackburn, Bradford, etc. such areas do exist.

[quite]I know there are certain integration issues in places like Bradford but even in the worst case scenarios it's nothing like the integration in Saudi

Read above.[/QUOTE]

C'mon you are desperately reaching. It's not as bad as you are making out. I actually lived in Oldham for 1 year to do a training course and kids can speak English fine.

How will they not have half decent English communication skills when they have to communicate everyday in English at school?

Like I said there are a few minor issues with integration but nowhere near the extent to which you are making out

 

[Yossarian]

C'mon you are desperately reaching. It's not as bad as you are making out. I actually lived in Oldham for 1 year to do a training course and kids can speak English fine.

How will they not have half decent English communication skills when they have to communicate everyday in English at school?

Like I said there are a few minor issues with integration but nowhere near the extent to which you are making out

So you think these kids who's initial school years, nursery, infant and junior, are spent in schools, homes and communities entirely consisting of Asians where even watching english language tv programs is limited 'cause the tv is constantly tuned to desi channels, and the only english they hear is when the teacher speaks, these kids are suddenly going to start speaking BBC english as soon as they hit high school? Heck everyone picks up a certain amount of english, just like every Pakistani in Saudi picks up a certain amount of Arabic. But just (as mentioned earlier) Pakistani kids in Saudi don't become fluent in Arabic, similarly many kids (of course not all) in the Asian ghettos mentioned don't really become fluent in english in terms of accent, vocabulary and grammar.

Anyway, you appear to be nitpicking as opposed to trying to understand the general gist of post in terms of similarities, which doesn't necessarily mean exactly the same to the same degree.

Incidentally, have you recovered yet after your year spent in Oldham.

 

[gkb101277867]

So you think these kids who's initial school years, nursery, infant and junior, are spent in schools, homes and communities entirely consisting of Asians where even watching english language tv programs is limited 'cause the tv is constantly tuned to desi channels, and the only english they hear is when the teacher speaks, these kids are suddenly going to start speaking BBC english as soon as they hit high school? Heck everyone picks up a certain amount of english, just like every Pakistani in Saudi picks up a certain amount of Arabic. But just (as mentioned earlier) Pakistani kids in Saudi don't become fluent in Arabic, similarly many kids (of course not all) in the Asian ghettos mentioned don't really become fluent in english in terms of accent, vocabulary and grammar.

Anyway, you appear to be nitpicking as opposed to trying to understand the general gist of post in terms of similarities, which doesn't necessarily mean exactly the same to the same degree.

Incidentally, have you recovered yet after your year spent in Oldham.

Mate you are entitled to your opinion but you are grossly over exaggerating. Its understandable in saudi as pakistanis go to pakistani only schools but this can't happen in the UK. The worst case scenario is that the exposure of these kids to English will be a couple of years later compared to English kids. I mean I started nursery at the age of 4 and so I'm guessing thats similar to most kids.

Come to think of it, I probably wasn't exposed to English until I went to nursery either. Although I speak English with my dad now (but not my mum) but as a toddler I am told I was spoken to in punjabi as my mum and grandparents all spoke punjabi. It's probably changed now as people of my generation (mid-20s) are having kids and will probably speak to them in English and this will become the norm in future probably. But I am pretty sure 20 years ago kids had barely any exposure to English before the age of 4.

And yeah I just about survived Oldham lol

 

[DeadBall]

Mate you are entitled to your opinion but you are grossly over exaggerating. Its understandable in saudi as pakistanis go to pakistani only schools but this can't happen in the UK. The worst case scenario is that the exposure of these kids to English will be a couple of years later compared to English kids. I mean I started nursery at the age of 4 and so I'm guessing thats similar to most kids.

Come to think of it, I probably wasn't exposed to English until I went to nursery either. Although I speak English with my dad now (but not my mum) but as a toddler I am told I was spoken to in punjabi as my mum and grandparents all spoke punjabi. It's probably changed now as people of my generation (mid-20s) are having kids and will probably speak to them in English and this will become the norm in future probably. But I am pretty sure 20 years ago kids had barely any exposure to English before the age of 4.

And yeah I just about survived Oldham lol

Agree, the SA and UK situations aren't comparable. One actually wants the populace to integrate and the other couldn't give two hoots.

 

[Josh]

Arabs see SC people as “dirty” and servants. The first part I can partially agree that some of them lack in overall hygiene but the second is derived from all the chauffeurs and drivers they see there. My uncle is a cabbie in Manchester and he picked up an Arab once. The guy told my uncle to pick up his luggage and he told him to do it himself, along with some very inspiring words. Safe to say, he was very shocked that a brown man could talk to him like that.

Arabs are brown too. Brown people with some money

 

[Napa]

Given that SA is the birthplace of Islam, and the Saudis are thoroughly inculcated into the religion from an early age, what does their racist behavior say about the religion?

 

[ManFan]

Arabs are brown too. Brown people with some money

I don't want to generalize all Arabs as looking down at brown people but the ones in the Gulf Region are particularly snobbish.

At the end of the day, it comes down to respect for your fellow human beings and the unfortunate misconception that money somehow elevates your status when interacting with others.

 

[ManFan]

Given that SA is the birthplace of Islam, and the Saudis are thoroughly inculcated into the religion from an early age, what does their racist behavior say about the religion?

If you want the answer, perhaps start with the founder. Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud. Who fathered a hundred children with over 120+ concubines.

That's well beyond the 4 wives you are allowed, if you can treat them equally.

Realize that regions in the world whose general public place heavy emphasis on religion, ultimately have their nation's political, economic and social actions taken out of context for that religion.

Let's not concentrate religious beliefs with the actions of countries that pretend to follow them in their bureaucratic principles.

Examples include the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" and the "Republic of India".

 

[sshakir411]

Given that SA is the birthplace of Islam, and the Saudis are thoroughly inculcated into the religion from an early age, what does their racist behavior say about the religion?

Read up Saudi history and how the ruling family took control from the ottomans. Nice try on tying racism to religion. You'd expect better from so called Ivy League grads....

 

[Napa]

Realize that regions in the world whose general public place heavy emphasis on religion, ultimately have their nation's political, economic and social actions taken out of context for that religion.

If I understand you right, you are saying that Saudis do not derive their "political, economic and social actions" from Islam.

Let's not concentrate religious beliefs with the actions of countries that pretend to follow them in their bureaucratic principles.

Examples include the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" and the "Republic of India".

It is a matter of degree. There are many racist and rude people in the subcontinent, but that behavior doesn't seem to be the norm as it is in SA.

 

[Yossarian]

If I understand you right, you are saying that Saudis do not derive their "political, economic and social actions" from Islam.

Correct. They derive them from the fact that they suddenly had black gold gushing from the ground, with the government doling out money like confetti to it's own citizens, who in turn realised they could employ brown desis and philipinos to do their manual work, drive their taxis, dig their roads, and fix their cars, and Westerners to design and manage/run their newly built hospitals, airports, and even their Armed Forces, with all this free money whilst they trotted around the hotspots of the world having fun.

In contrast, the desert Beduins, who preferred to keep on living their simple nomadic lives, are still warm, honest people without an iota of racism in them.

It is a matter of degree. There are many racist and rude people in the subcontinent, but that behavior doesn't seem to be the norm as it is in SA.

You'll find that rudeness and racism, contrary to popular belief, is much more common amonst the educated and/or the wealthy elite, as that enables them to look down upon the rest of society and the lowly masses. And this is the case the world over, from India, Pakistan, to Europe and America. The Saudis are not unique in this regard.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I can imagine. Would never wanna spend a day in this country unless for umrah or hajj.

 

[Sidilicious]

Arabs worship white skin so no surprise if a desi isnt treated well...

Not very different from a desi then!

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

I think almost all posters have mentioned how life is for a Pakistani in KSA.

However I noticed that no one's mentioned the extremely slow paced and boring lifestyle there.

Somedays I would just wonder what to do with my time.
Waking up early in the morning on weekends was the worst as there was nothing to do but watch TV or play console games.

Whether it was New Year's Eve, Eid, 12th(or 17th) Rabil Awwal........it just didn't matter. Each of 365 days were exactly the same in every way except during Ramzan when shops remained open till 2:30 - 3 AM.

 

[mankuTimma]

I think almost all posters have mentioned how life is for a Pakistani in KSA.

However I noticed that no one's mentioned the extremely slow paced and boring lifestyle there.

Somedays I would just wonder what to do with my time.
Waking up early in the morning on weekends was the worst as there was nothing to do but watch TV or play console games.

Whether it was New Year's Eve, Eid, 12th(or 17th) Rabil Awwal........it just didn't matter. Each of 365 days were exactly the same in every way except during Ramzan when shops remained open till 2:30 - 3 AM.

You can go to theatres from next month.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If I understand you right, you are saying that Saudis do not derive their "political, economic and social actions" from Islam.



It is a matter of degree. There are many racist and rude people in the subcontinent, but that behavior doesn't seem to be the norm as it is in SA.

I would say it's even worse in the subcontinent, especially India where dark skin shouldn't really be a negative considering the population's skin tone is generally dark.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Given that SA is the birthplace of Islam, and the Saudis are thoroughly inculcated into the religion from an early age, what does their racist behavior say about the religion?

Might have something to do with their interpretation of religion and the lifestyle that they choose to adapt due to different factors rather than them being the standard flag-bearers of the religion. Saudis aren't the gate-kepers of the religion. 12 year old Mohammed al Qahtani treating his Indian buttler with disrespect has nothing to do with what values his religion aims to instill in him.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Some bad experiences including Saudi teenagers driving a Chevrolet Caprice, 4-5 sitting in one car, checking out the women in your family despite them being fully covered in abayas, making weird noises while they go pass by and laughing loudly, flipping the finger at you when they see you walking towards a grocery stores... stuff like that was a norm... you just ignore it after a while...

Plus point is you are earning 3-4 times the money he would earn in Pakistan for the same job description.. so you just accept that as a fact and don't bother too much about it...

Yes I know plenty of people who have gone through similiar experiences with such idiots. Luckily it never happened to me.

I ultimately believe that money is the reason that most people move to KSA to begin with, especially people from the subcontinent. Not many other reasons to want to live their permanently. Umrah and Hajj are the only other attractions i can think of.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

You can go to theatres from next month.

Hopefully they are received positively and the ummah brigade doesn't shut them down.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Might have something to do with their interpretation of religion and the lifestyle that they choose to adapt due to different factors rather than them being the standard flag-bearers of the religion. Saudis aren't the gate-kepers of the religion. 12 year old Mohammed al Qahtani treating his Indian buttler with disrespect has nothing to do with what values his religion aims to instill in him.

You have to ask yourself, if any undeveloped country got so wealthy the whole population basically didn't have to work, would they be any different? Look at how the poor are treated in the subcontinent, and that should give the answer.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

I think almost all posters have mentioned how life is for a Pakistani in KSA.

However I noticed that no one's mentioned the extremely slow paced and boring lifestyle there.

Somedays I would just wonder what to do with my time.
Waking up early in the morning on weekends was the worst as there was nothing to do but watch TV or play console games.

Whether it was New Year's Eve, Eid, 12th(or 17th) Rabil Awwal........it just didn't matter. Each of 365 days were exactly the same in every way except during Ramzan when shops remained open till 2:30 - 3 AM.

Spot on. Life there is very boring but this monotonous lifestyle is one of the reasons I miss it from time to time. Life there is much simpler. It's very calculated and spending most of your time at home means you get closer and closer to family, something that life in the west doesn't always allow due to the hustle and bustle in these places.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

You have to ask yourself, if any undeveloped country got so wealthy the whole population basically didn't have to work, would they be any different? Look at how the poor are treated in the subcontinent, and that should give the answer.

I see your point but struggling to understand your analogy. People in KSA definitely have to work, it's just that they have to work far less to earn the same amount of money when compared to people in the west and subcontinent.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I see your point but struggling to understand your analogy. People in KSA definitely have to work, it's just that they have to work far less to earn the same amount of money when compared to people in the west and subcontinent.

I was just commenting that the Gulf arab countries are unique in that they went from being relatively poor to being filthy rich in the space of a generation. Suddenly everyone is driving around in a Mercedes Benz with more money than sense, you could see how it might go to their heads, and I think that might happen in a similar situation in other poor countries as well. You just have to see how in the subcontinent the servant classes are treated, especially those who are considered low caste.

 

[Napa]

Might have something to do with their interpretation of religion and the lifestyle that they choose to adapt due to different factors rather than them being the standard flag-bearers of the religion. Saudis aren't the gate-kepers of the religion. 12 year old Mohammed al Qahtani treating his Indian buttler with disrespect has nothing to do with what values his religion aims to instill in him.

I would say that a 12 year old behaves in a manner he has been taught by his parents, who themselves are products of their religion.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I would say that a 12 year old behaves in a manner he has been taught by his parents, who themselves are products of their religion.

Religion is only one factor of influence in today's world, probably a decreasing one at that.

 

[Napa]

Religion is only one factor of influence in today's world, probably a decreasing one at that.

Yes, I agree. I would however say given the social and governmental enforcement, religion is still a major influence in SA.

 

[Yossarian]

I think almost all posters have mentioned how life is for a Pakistani in KSA.

However I noticed that no one's mentioned the extremely slow paced and boring lifestyle there.

Somedays I would just wonder what to do with my time.
Waking up early in the morning on weekends was the worst as there was nothing to do but watch TV or play console games.

Whether it was New Year's Eve, Eid, 12th(or 17th) Rabil Awwal........it just didn't matter. Each of 365 days were exactly the same in every way except during Ramzan when shops remained open till 2:30 - 3 AM.

That says more about you and all those others who found life 'boring'.

Most weekends myself and my colleagues took a two or three hours drive to deserted sections of the coast many miles from the nearest villages or towns, and went diving and fishing, or went camping in the desert and spent the time dune buggying, desert windsurfing, exploring and such like. Other times we organised social events that revolved around playing tennis, squash, basketball, quiz nights, etc. followed by barbecues and such like. The point being that don't sit around expecting everything to be handed on a plate. If one made the effort, there were plenty of ways one could enjoy the available free time.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

I would say that a 12 year old behaves in a manner he has been taught by his parents, who themselves are products of their religion.

So you are ready to make wild assumptions about an enitre religion based on how certain subsets of the population in a country behave? What's to say the parents of a certain disrespectful child are even religious by heart, or that they fulfilled their duties as a parent? What if no religious principles were taught to the kid by his/her parents? There are too many factors at play that make any of your "what does it say about the religion" arguement irrelevant. I've persoanlly met hundreds of Saudis who are religious and view people from the subcontinent as equals, but I've also met other Saudis who were religious and viewed Indians and Pakistanis as nothing more than servants and slaves. The same goes for Saudis who aren't religious. The world isn't black or white and there are many more factors at play that determine a person's worldview aside from just religion.

Aside from your not-so hidden agenda about bashing the religion, do you have anything else to say?

 

[Napa]

So you are ready to make wild assumptions about an enitre religion based on how certain subsets of the population in a country behave?

"certain subsets of the population in a country behave"? I thought the bad behavior was the norm rather than the exception.

 

[Varun]

It's a social challenge being anybody in Saudi frikkin' Arabia.

Most people just go to the Gulf states for the moolah. Get yours too and head home.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

It's a social challenge being anybody in Saudi frikkin' Arabia.

Most people just go to the Gulf states for the moolah. Get yours too and head home.

Exactly. Or don't take the money and stay home. No one forces you to go anywhere, it's not like the 19th century when people were shipped across continents to work as slaves.

 

[big_gamer007]

Exactly. Or don't take the money and stay home. No one forces you to go anywhere, it's not like the 19th century when people were shipped across continents to work as slaves.

The labourers who go to gulf are probably treated far worse back home in sub continent so it’s probably better for them to go in gulf countries atleast they will make some money to give their families a somewhat decent life..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The labourers who go to gulf are probably treated far worse back home in sub continent so it’s probably better for them to go in gulf countries atleast they will make some money to give their families a somewhat decent life..

Said the same thing every time these threads resurface. Most of those people are treated like dirt in their own countries where they get paid a lot less money for the privilege. If you want respect abroad, raise standards at home and it will come without asking for it.

 

[big_gamer007]

Said the same thing every time these threads resurface. Most of those people are treated like dirt in their own countries where they get paid a lot less money for the privilege. If you want respect abroad, raise standards at home and it will come without asking for it.

Exactly, Arabs are atleast disrespecting others sub continent folks disrespect their own kind and then when they go out they expect respect from others..

Doesn’t work like that..

 

[HussainRx8]

Does it matter what a few ostentatious and perhaps the most backward people in the world think of us? Don’t think so.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

That says more about you and all those others who found life 'boring'.

Most weekends myself and my colleagues took a two or three hours drive to deserted sections of the coast many miles from the nearest villages or towns, and went diving and fishing, or went camping in the desert and spent the time dune buggying, desert windsurfing, exploring and such like. Other times we organised social events that revolved around playing tennis, squash, basketball, quiz nights, etc. followed by barbecues and such like. The point being that don't sit around expecting everything to be handed on a plate. If one made the effort, there were plenty of ways one could enjoy the available free time.

I think I forgot to mention that I spent my childhood over there (like till I was 18)

Even then, sports activities require huge memberships and I wouldn't waste my money on them just for using those memberships only on the weekend. Plus, such activities can be arranged all over the world, no matter the location. The activities you mentioned above isn't something exclusive to the KSA therefore I see your post as a lame defense of the snail paced lifestyle in the KSA. Its also about personal preferences e.g. I don't have any fascination with desert and I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't.

Just because you've been treated as a "Western Muslim" and enjoyed the respective privileges (and you know exactly what I'm talking about here) doesn't mean that every random expat could afford such events. I'm not talking abt BBQs/camping. I'm talking about having enough TIME AND MONEY to get to such places and not worry about work/school/college all the time. There's no celebration in KSA on any occasion except independence day, no World Events (except maybe a rare friendly football match with Argentine or a WWE event), no good quality sports matches, no stage shows, no concerts, no cinemas but they do have pathetic grounds to play football/basketball (idk about compounds that only locals/"Western Muslims" could afford) and don't even get me started with regards to the road ethics of the locals.

If I get my OZ nationality and get back to KSA, I won't be complaining about anything because everyone knows Western nationalities are paid 3-4 times the salary of a normal desi guy in the Middle East and more so in the KSA.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

"certain subsets of the population in a country behave"? I thought the bad behavior was the norm rather than the exception.

As i said, it depends on a case by case basis. Alot of the uneducated Saudis will treat you like filth. But the more educated, upper-class Saudis are likely to acknowledge your worth to their country and treat you with respect. Outliers will always be there.

 

[Yossarian]

I think I forgot to mention that I spent my childhood over there (like till I was 18)

Even then, sports activities require huge memberships and I wouldn't waste my money on them just for using those memberships only on the weekend. Plus, such activities can be arranged all over the world, no matter the location. The activities you mentioned above isn't something exclusive to the KSA therefore I see your post as a lame defense of the snail paced lifestyle in the KSA. Its also about personal preferences e.g. I don't have any fascination with desert and I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't.

Just because you've been treated as a "Western Muslim" and enjoyed the respective privileges (and you know exactly what I'm talking about here) doesn't mean that every random expat could afford such events. I'm not talking abt BBQs/camping. I'm talking about having enough TIME AND MONEY to get to such places and not worry about work/school/college all the time. There's no celebration in KSA on any occasion except independence day, no World Events (except maybe a rare friendly football match with Argentine or a WWE event), no good quality sports matches, no stage shows, no concerts, no cinemas but they do have pathetic grounds to play football/basketball (idk about compounds that only locals/"Western Muslims" could afford) and don't even get me started with regards to the road ethics of the locals.

If I get my OZ nationality and get back to KSA, I won't be complaining about anything because everyone knows Western nationalities are paid 3-4 times the salary of a normal desi guy in the Middle East and more so in the KSA.

One's heart bleeds! First of all, I don't see what the 'road ethics of the locals' has anything to do with a place 'being slow paced and boring lifestyle there'

Secondly, if teenagers (- you mentioned you were there 'till you were 18), no matter what their backgrounds, feel that a place is 'slow paced' and 'boring' because there's 'no stage shows, no concerts, no cinemas' then that is truly sad. I guess the concept of organising activities with friends that don't revolve around going to ' stage shows, concerts and cinemas' must be an alien concept.

If I get my OZ nationality and get back to KSA, I won't be complaining about anything because everyone knows Western nationalities are paid 3-4 times the salary of a normal desi guy in the Middle East and more so in the KSA

So all this talk of the place being boring because it had 'no good quality sports matches, no stage shows, no concerts, no cinemas ' was all a load of 'tosh, and it's all about the money (or lack of), and you'll be quite happy to get back there if they paid you as an OZ national, despite the fact that the place will still be fairly restricted in the areas you said were lacking.

Explains it all.

 

[Yossarian]

So you are ready to make wild assumptions about an enitre religion based on how certain subsets of the population in a country behave? What's to say the parents of a certain disrespectful child are even religious by heart, or that they fulfilled their duties as a parent? What if no religious principles were taught to the kid by his/her parents? There are too many factors at play that make any of your "what does it say about the religion" arguement irrelevant. I've persoanlly met hundreds of Saudis who are religious and view people from the subcontinent as equals, but I've also met other Saudis who were religious and viewed Indians and Pakistanis as nothing more than servants and slaves. The same goes for Saudis who aren't religious. The world isn't black or white and there are many more factors at play that determine a person's worldview aside from just religion.

Aside from your not-so hidden agenda about bashing the religion, do you have anything else to say?

This!

 

[Yossarian]

.

I suggest you go back and re-read the dross you have written in your post. Criticising a place your parents were happy to bring you up in until you were 18, because it didn't cater for the social needs of foreigners, and the little entertainment that did exist was only in the local Arabic language of the natives, despite the fact that some of these expat foreigners couldn't be bothered to get off their backsides and make their own entertainment (within the laws of the land), is laughable.
And yet you accuse those expat foreigners like myself who state that they enjoyed their stay, whilst also making a load of $dosh (the only purpose of being there in the first place), because they went out and made the effort to make the best of what was available, as somehow saying that the place is a paradise? Gee whiz, there's no answer to logic like that.

For foreigners living/working in another country, there is a simple answer to logic like that: If you don't like it there, leave!

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

I suggest you go back and re-read the dross you have written in your post. Criticising a place your parents were happy to bring you up in until you were 18, because it didn't cater for the social needs of foreigners, and the little entertainment that did exist was only in the local Arabic language of the natives, despite the fact that some of these expat foreigners couldn't be bothered to get off their backsides and make their own entertainment (within the laws of the land), is laughable.
And yet you accuse those expat foreigners like myself who state that they enjoyed their stay, whilst also making a load of $dosh (the only purpose of being there in the first place), because they went out and made the effort to make the best of what was available, as somehow saying that the place is a paradise? Gee whiz, there's no answer to logic like that.

For foreigners living/working in another country, there is a simple answer to logic like that: If you don't like it there, leave!

Sir I suggest you recall what I've written and please please tell me where I've mentioned that my parents were happy over there.

And gee whiz if there's no answer to that logic then don't try to explain to me how wonderful the lifestyle is. Everyone knows how "active" it is. The activities you mentioned can be done ANYWHERE in the world.

Kindly don't make me open a pandora box here. I've gone into enough detail to elaborate my points but if you conveniently choose to ignore it and label the rest as "laughable" then I don't think there's any point of arguing with you.

Post a logical argument or don't quote me!!!

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

For foreigners living/working in another country, there is a simple answer to logic like that: If you don't like it there, leave!

Yeah, tell that to the millions of desi laborers working their backsides off in the Middle East.

People like you don't understand basic human sentiments.

 

[LongHorn]

Yeah, tell that to the millions of desi laborers working their backsides off in the Middle East.

People like you don't understand basic human sentiments.

There is a huge difference between a western (or well paid) expat and a third world bonded worker, and you cannot expect the former to truly understand the latter (or vice versa)

That's why you hear stuff like "they can always leave".

There are thousands of cases of laborers not being paid their salary for months, though there are laws against it.

Now your average well-paid expat will naively say "why don't the laborers just complain, they are not being proactive and filing a case, as there are laws against non-payment of salaries"

What they will never realize is the sort of situation the workers are in, if they complain, and their employer or business owner is "influential" enough, not only will they never get a single riyal from their unpaid salaries, they may even find a false case of "absconding" or "theft" filed against them for daring to complain.

That's why tens of thousands of workers were waiting for months and months without getting their salaries. Police will rarely investigate a fake case against a worker, they will just lock them up in a jail until things are cleared up.

 

[Yossarian]

Sir I suggest you recall what I've written and please please tell me where I've mentioned that my parents were happy over there.

That makes my answer even more apt considering that your parents and their child was not happy over there!

For foreigners living/working in another country, there is a simple answer to logic like that: If you don't like it there, leave!

 

[Yossarian]

There is a huge difference between a western (or well paid) expat and a third world bonded worker, and you cannot expect the former to truly understand the latter (or vice versa)

That's why you hear stuff like "they can always leave".

There are thousands of cases of laborers not being paid their salary for months, though there are laws against it.

Now your average well-paid expat will naively say "why don't the laborers just complain, they are not being proactive and filing a case, as there are laws against non-payment of salaries"

What they will never realize is the sort of situation the workers are in, if they complain, and their employer or business owner is "influential" enough, not only will they never get a single riyal from their unpaid salaries, they may even find a false case of "absconding" or "theft" filed against them for daring to complain.

That's why tens of thousands of workers were waiting for months and months without getting their salaries. Police will rarely investigate a fake case against a worker, they will just lock them up in a jail until things are cleared up.

Dont equate expat workers being forced (illegally) against their will to stay there and unable to leave, with those willingly staying there for the $dosh even though staying there makes them, and their children (If applicable) unhappy. The latter can leave any time they wish.

As [MENTION=48620]Cpt. Rishwat[/MENTION] posted

........ No one forces you to go anywhere, it's not like the 19th century when people were shipped across continents to work as slaves.

 

[LongHorn]

The dynamic of a single man and a man with a dependent wife and children wrt deciding to leave or stay are vastly different.

A single guy can just wake up and decide to leave, the latter cannot, and that's why many people stay put just to earn money for their responsibilities.

Its very easy to say "they can leave anytime", but reality is tougher when you are a man with responsibilities.

And on top of that there is the citizenship issue. If you were a western passport holder, you will never understand what it is like for a third world national.

I liked my time in the UAE, but back then (I am talking about 2005), even for something as basic as an ambulance request[/U], you were asked your nationality. And the one time, I called for an ambulance and gave my country of citizenship, the man actually changed his tone, though I speak good Arabic, and said "cant you just take him to the hospital yourself ?"....


If you are a western passport holder, this is stuff you never have to deal with in general.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The dynamic of a single man and a man with a dependent wife and children wrt deciding to leave or stay are vastly different.

A single guy can just wake up and decide to leave, the latter cannot, and that's why many people stay put just to earn money for their responsibilities.

Its very easy to say "they can leave anytime", but reality is tougher when you are a man with responsibilities.

And on top of that there is the citizenship issue. If you were a western passport holder, you will never understand what it is like for a third world national.

I liked my time in the UAE, but back then (I am talking about 2005), even for something as basic as an ambulance request[/U], you were asked your nationality. And the one time, I called for an ambulance and gave my country of citizenship, the man actually changed his tone, though I speak good Arabic, and said "cant you just take him to the hospital yourself ?"....


If you are a western passport holder, this is stuff you never have to deal with in general.

Don't go there in the first place would be the solution. You wouldn't get westerners working in such conditions, the reason being their standards are far higher. The problem with desis is they come from really awful conditions in their own country so will put up with it. I reiterate - raise your standards at home then you will get better standards abroad automatically.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

There is a huge difference between a western (or well paid) expat and a third world bonded worker, and you cannot expect the former to truly understand the latter (or vice versa)

That's why you hear stuff like "they can always leave".

There are thousands of cases of laborers not being paid their salary for months, though there are laws against it.

Now your average well-paid expat will naively say "why don't the laborers just complain, they are not being proactive and filing a case, as there are laws against non-payment of salaries"

What they will never realize is the sort of situation the workers are in, if they complain, and their employer or business owner is "influential" enough, not only will they never get a single riyal from their unpaid salaries, they may even find a false case of "absconding" or "theft" filed against them for daring to complain.

That's why tens of thousands of workers were waiting for months and months without getting their salaries. Police will rarely investigate a fake case against a worker, they will just lock them up in a jail until things are cleared up.

Thank you.

However, silver spoon fed awaam will find it difficult to understand.

 

[DRsohail]

As far as ,laboureres are concerned i always hear negative things about Saudi arabia.

 

[DeadBall]

The dynamic of a single man and a man with a dependent wife and children wrt deciding to leave or stay are vastly different.

A single guy can just wake up and decide to leave, the latter cannot, and that's why many people stay put just to earn money for their responsibilities.

Its very easy to say "they can leave anytime", but reality is tougher when you are a man with responsibilities.

And on top of that there is the citizenship issue. If you were a western passport holder, you will never understand what it is like for a third world national.

I liked my time in the UAE, but back then (I am talking about 2005), even for something as basic as an ambulance request[/U], you were asked your nationality. And the one time, I called for an ambulance and gave my country of citizenship, the man actually changed his tone, though I speak good Arabic, and said "cant you just take him to the hospital yourself ?"....


If you are a western passport holder, this is stuff you never have to deal with in general.

All true, quite ironic how all the foreign born desis have the haughty "if you don't like it, then leave" attitude. It would change in a second if they actually had been born and raised and had the passports of their origin country (or in foreign ones with little to no rights) and had to go through everything one has to go through in that situation.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

All true, quite ironic how all the foreign born desis have the haughty "if you don't like it, then leave" attitude. It would change in a second if they actually had been born and raised and had the passports of their origin country (or in foreign ones with little to no rights) and had to go through everything one has to go through in that situation.

It's quite natural to have that attitude, we are reflecting the attitude of the country we grew up in. I would never go work in those conditions, if you do, then I can only assume that either the money is so good you can put up with it, or the conditions at home are no better.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Don't go there in the first place would be the solution. You wouldn't get westerners working in such conditions, the reason being their standards are far higher. The problem with desis is they come from really awful conditions in their own country so will put up with it. I reiterate - raise your standards at home then you will get better standards abroad automatically.

100 times easier said than done.

Very easy to give such moral speeches from the comforts of your OWN home.

Ask hard-working expats in Middle East and they'll enlighten you as to how they are COMPELLED to work in Middle East due to their economic situations (and financial insecurity in their respective homelands).

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

I don't know why but I feel like some posters here either don't know or are acting as if they don't know the following words:

1) "Majboori" (Helplessness)

2) Family Responsibilities

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

100 times easier said than done.

Very easy to give such moral speeches from the comforts of your OWN home.

Ask hard-working expats in Middle East and they'll enlighten you as to how they are COMPELLED to work in Middle East due to their economic situations (and financial insecurity in their respective homelands).

Why not go somewhere else rather than somewhere you don't like, and where you won't be treated well? Come to the UK, or go to Australia or Germany. It seems a sad situation where you can be at the two places you don't want to be, at home or Saudi Arabia.