1. Home
  2. NRI Digest
  3. A memorable annual picnic by Ramakshatriya Sangha

A memorable annual picnic by Ramakshatriya Sangha

naeem@coastaldigest.com (S M Farooq)
February 13, 2012

It was a community picnic of Ramakshatriya Sangha. The day started early and everyone assembled at 8 am at two locations i.e. Sharjah and Dubai which were chosen as the most convenient starting point of the onwards journey.

It was a complete day outing as planned to cover three places. Al Ain is located about 130 km from Dubai and our place of interest, Al Ain Zoo, Jebel Hafeet and Green Mubazzarah.

People were enthusiastic to reach the location of pick up. With some initial discussions and group formations, we finally managed to leave at 8:30 am. After an hour of driving we halted for the snacks break. The delicious breakfast was enjoyed by all. Finally we reached Al Ain Zoo at 11.45am and had photo session outside the Zoo. Spot games were arranged for the members. Members were busy photo shooting. After our venturing and exploration was complete we descended for Lunch arranged at a hotel. The Lunch was a Buffet type; the food was served on Banana leaf. It was difficult to accommodate all the 60 people together. Once we were done with eating, we proceeded towards second destination of picnic, Jebel Hafeet, which is 1180 metres, another 35 km ahead on a hill top the UAE’s highest mountain.

The views from the top are stunning. The landscape of road and the turns it formed to reach the hilltop is quite amazing. It is a single naturally created mountain with flat areas around it. Members explored all the different directions from the top capturing many photos.

Then we left Jebel Hafeet at 3:30pm towards Green Mubazzarah. When we reached, the time was set for a hot cup of tea, which was prepared at the spot. Snacks were served with the tea. We played game of Tambola aka Housie and everyone were really having a great time. I would say that this is one game which can easily be played by a group of any size and will keep them engrossed. All of us had a good time and we played 2 rounds. Some members ventured for a hot spring. New members were introduced. Spot prizes were distributed to the winners. We started heading back at 6.45pm and on the way all were served with Dinner. We reached back home by 11.30 pm. It was a picnic to remember for everyone.

Thanks to Suresh Koteyar, Manjunath Kasargod, Sugandhraj Bekal, G. K. Rao, Rajesh Bekal, Shashi Uppoor, Taresh Rao, Praveen Uppoor and all other executive members for their kind support in organizing a smooth picnic.

RMK_Feb13__1

RMK_Feb13__2

RMK_Feb13__3


Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 12,2025

Riyadh, April 12: In a welcome move for Indian expatriates and other foreign residents in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom has introduced a new online service that allows residents to update their passport information without visiting the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). The service is available through the widely used Absher platform.

This initiative comes as a major time-saver for Indian expats, especially those renewing their passports, as it eliminates the need for lengthy in-person appointments and physical document submissions at Jawazat offices.

Who Can Use the Service?

The online update feature is available to expatriates aged 18 and above. Once a passport is renewed, Indian expats can log in to Absher (via their employers account), navigate to My Services, select Passport, and then access Resident Identity Services to update the relevant information.

A clear photo of the new passport must be uploaded. The system automatically extracts the passport number and expiry date using advanced digital recognition tools.

Before submitting, users are required to pledge that:

  • The old passport has not been lost.
  • There are no reports of absence from work.
  • There are no pending traffic violations linked to the resident's Iqama.
  • There are no security-related restrictions on the expat or the employer.

Important for Indian Families

If family members previously listed on the old passport have been issued individual passports, the online service cannot be used. In such cases, a personal visit to Jawazat is necessary to complete the update.

Likewise, if the passport is lost, the expat must report the loss and update information directly at the Jawazat office. Any misuse or incorrect submission will result in accountability under Saudi law, including potential charges of forgery.

Fee Details

To avail this convenience, a nominal fee of SR69 (including VAT) is applicable for each passport update request.

Why It Matters

With over 2 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, this digital service is expected to ease the bureaucratic burden and save time for thousands of individuals who previously had to navigate crowded offices and long wait times. It also enhances accuracy and ensures smoother processing for both employees and employers.

Indian community associations have welcomed the move, calling it a step forward in digital convenience and administrative efficiency for expatriates.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.