Saudi: Retail sector next Nitaqat target

[email protected] (Arab News)
June 24, 2013

Retail_sector

Jeddah, Jun 24: The Ministry of Labor is currently devising a new initiative to nationalize the Kingdom's retail sector. The move is expected to generate 600,000 job opportunities for Saudi nationals, and is therefore set to pose a considerable threat to the current foreign manpower working in the sector.

Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor Ahmed Al-Humaidan said the objective of the initiative is to create real opportunities for Saudi youth in small and medium enterprises including restaurants, bookstores, supermarkets, shops selling food, auto parts, furniture, toiletry, industrial materials and electrical supplies. He added that this step is just the beginning of the initiative, which aims to completely resettle the whole sector with Saudi nationals.

The new plan, however, has disappointed many expatriates currently working in the retail sector.

“Saudis are not willing to work like we do,” says Eijaz Baasit, an Indian national who runs a small grocery shop. “The right way to tackle employment problems among the Saudi youth is not to get rid of expatriates but to create new jobs that fit their needs and educational experiences.”

Nepalese national Khaldoon Ahmed who owns a watch shop in Kandara says the Ministry of Labor needs to limit the process of Saudization to managerial and upper echelon jobs, which Saudis are willing to accept and not to target menial job positions.

“We work in relatively low-paying jobs that no Saudi is prepared to do.”

A retail sector report by Al Rajhi Capital early this year, said that small convenience stores called “bakalas” currently dominate the retail sector with around 59 percent of the market share.

The Ministry of Labor's data shows that nearly 1 million Saudi nationals are unemployed. Companies in the retail sector find it increasingly difficult and expensive to employ Saudi nationals to work in labor-intensive jobs that are currently done by low paid foreigners. As a result, these companies will have to incur higher costs for recruitment, training and retention, which would squeeze their profit margins.

According to a report by AFP, Group Chief Economist at the National Commercial Bank Said Al-Shaikh confirmed that the retail sector employs 1.7 million non-Saudis, while 2.8 million foreigners work in construction. Approximately 700,000 people are employed in the industrial sector of which only 20 percent are Saudis.

Collated statistics from the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry shows that the Kingdom has the second largest retail sector after the United Arab Emirates.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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