Middle East

Dubai, Nov 7: Three Indians have been accused of confining 19 Filipinas hotel workers inside a villa for over a month, not allowing them to go out even during their free time or holidays. The three men - 41-year-old electrician SS, 61-year-old supervisor KM and 54-year-old cook KA - who were identified with their initials only, were said to have unlawfully locked up the Filipinas from sunset to

Jeddah, Nov 7: The Kingdom’s commercial districts and farm areas have taken a beating as businesses continued to struggle to staff shops, supply vendor operations and produce farms in the wake of the Labor Ministry’s relentless crackdown on illegal workers. Jeddah’s central vegetable market (Halaga), a key commercial hub that supplies the city’s markets with fresh produce, was hit Wednesday by two

Jeddah, Nov 5: Labor inspectors on Monday swept up thousands of illegal workers in a series of raids across the Kingdom as the amnesty period for expatriates to legalize work status expired on Sunday. According to Jeddah police spokesman, Nawaf Al-Bouq, 3,918 undocumented expats were arrested in and around Jeddah on Monday. In Madinah, police raids netted 300 illegals. Anticipating the sweeps

Jeddah, Nov 4: The revamped national curriculum in the Saudi public education system has rattled schools, with significant changes taking place over the past few years. These reforms are the biggest in education since the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia. The changes have affected over five million students across the country. The re-written national curriculum addresses the long-held

Riyadh, Nov 3: Thousands of illegal foreigners, mostly unskilled workers from Asia, are rushing to leave Saudi Arabia before an amnesty expires on Sunday as they risk being fined or even jailed. Nearly a million Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis, among others, have taken advantage of the three-month amnesty announced on April 3 and then extended for four months and

Jeddah, Nov 1: With the Nov. 3 deadline for work status correction rapidly approaching, many expats are now being told that they are required to report to the Passport Department with their previous sponsors to finalize procedures. “I’ve taken the steps to correct my status with the Labor Ministry well within the window of time provided by the ministry. Yet I am now faced with the new requirement

Jeddah, Oct 29: The Ministry of Labor has warned establishments against falling prey to illegal practices by registering Saudi nationals in the facility without really assigning them jobs. The ministry said establishments that resort to this practice will be subjected to harsh punishment. The ministry pointed out that the countdown had begun for the end of the grace period. Inspection campaigns

Makkah, Oct 27: Experts have called on the government to protect various ancient sites and mosques in Makkah because of their religious and historical importance. Talal Al-Sharif, an Islamic antiquities expert, said the buildings include mosques built during the Ummayyad period and the house of Khadeeja, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This site is thought to be on the

Jeddah, Oct 26: Taxi operators here say they would lose 60 percent of their revenue and may even have to close shop if women are allowed to drive in the city. Saudi women have been pushing for the right to drive and many plan to get behind the wheel today to highlight their cause. Ali Sayed, an Egyptian taxi supervisor in Jeddah, told Arab News that his firm would likely lose 60 percent of its

Jeddah, Oct 26: Organizers of the women’s “Oct. 26 Driving Campaign” abandoned their plans late Friday by canceling Saturday’s driving demonstration throughout Saudi Arabia following intense pressure from the Ministry of Interior that said it will arrest participants. “Out of caution and respect for the Interior Ministry’s warnings ... we are asking women not to drive tomorrow and to change the