Middle East

Geneva, May 25: The World Health Organization said yesterday it would help Saudi Arabia dig deeper into deadly outbreaks of a new SARS-like virus to draw up advice ahead of the annual Haj. The UN agency, which is not currently recommending any restrictions on travel to the Kingdom or screening of passengers at airports or entry points, will send a second team of experts in the coming weeks, WHO

Jeddah, May 24: A labor shortage caused by the departure of thousands of illegal foreign workers, along with increasing commercial activity in the Kingdom, is likely to see a rise in the salaries of expatriates, according to analysts and business leaders.Housemaids and drivers who have corrected their residential status are already demanding monthly salaries of SR 2,000 instead of SR 800, to the

Riyadh, May 22: Twenty percent of private sector companies in Saudi Arabia are not meeting quotas for the employment of nationals, despite a program aimed at boosting recruitment that launched two years ago, a labor official was quoted as saying on Monday. Nitaqat, a government-led Saudization program, was launched with the aim of increasing the number of nationals employed in private sector

Jeddah, May 21: Chaos prevailed yesterday across deportation centers in Jeddah as expatriates rush to register for repatriation. Thousands returned unsuccessfully after waiting the entire day to scan their fingerprints. Existing resources cannot match the huge crowd of expatriates. According to sources, only three counters with a capacity of 200 people were operating. Officials are currently able

Jeddah, May 20: Thirteen Saudi women have been trained to assemble trucks for Mercedes-Benz and its Jeddah partner, marking a breakthrough in having women work in a male-dominated job in the Kingdom. Khaled Juffali, chairman of the Juffali Automotive Company, made the announcement during a visit by Commerce & Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. The company produces 5,000 trucks annually in Jeddah

Dubai, May 19: Financial crime that was detected in Dubai topped Dh200 million during last year and the first quarter of this year, according to Dubai Police’s General Department of Anti-Economic crime. Department Director Major Salah Bu Osaiba said the police had arrested 371 suspects for involvement in those crimes — which relate to selling thousands of fake electronics and counterfeit products

Jeddah, May 17: Prisons are experiencing overcrowding due to an increase in the number of inmates and a delay in releasing inmates who have completed their sentences, the Kingdom’s prisons department chief has said. The number of prisoners in central jails in Riyadh, Makkah and Jeddah is now nearly three times their capacity, local media reported quoting Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Harthi. “The problem has

Madinah, May 17: Illegal workers here are trying to make as much money as possible before July 3, the end of the three-month grace period, which requires them to either rectify their status or go home. In Al-Salam district in Madinah, Arab News found dozens of illegal workers looking for work. Ghulam Afdal, an iqama violator, said that the city needs workers because of the massive developments

Jeddah, May 16: Saudi Passport authorities will begin Saturday the exit process of all expatriates who want to leave the country, announced Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. Addressing a community meeting at the Indian consulate last night, he said travel documents issued by the consulate will be accepted by Passport authorities for stamping of exit process for all individuals who do not

Dubai, May 15: Arab media is far from objective and is being torn apart by vested interests. It must be freed from corruption, nepotism and political, commercial and vested interests. It must play a neutral and fair role in reforming the Arab world and its societies in transition, media experts said at the 12th Arab Media Forum that commenced on Tuesday. One expert even went to the extent of