Saudi’s Population

The Saudi General Statistics Department of the Ministry of Economy and Planning has released the latest  population statistics (conducted in April 2010)

Saudi Arabia total population reached 27,136,977.

a- Saudi Nationals: 18,707,576

Male: 9,527,173

Females : 9,180,403.

Men make up 50.9 percent.

b- Expatriate workers: 8,429,401,

Male: 5,932,974

Females: 2,496,427

Men make up 70.4 percent

The last general census was conducted in September 2004. The total population was at 22,673,538 (including 6,144,236 expatriates)

Source: www.zawya.com

Forgot to Tell you Honey we’re Divorced.

A man was sentenced to 5 days in jail because he did not tell his wife, who lives with him in the same house, that he had divorced her 5 months ago… The divorce was official and documented in the court…

 This is not the first time that a man “fails” to notify his wife’s that they were divorced, but thankfully this one made it to the media… and hopefully, it will not be left unnoticed. Readers in all local newspapers have expressed an outrage over the sentencing

Daytime Marriages

According to a marriage officiant, Dr. Ahmed AlMa’abi, two new types of marriage has surfaced in Jeddah. It’s becoming a trend for widows and divorcees over 45 to marry men in their early twenties. Older women are seeking physically built men who can satisfy their emotional needs.  AlMa’abi has high hopes that such marriages will bring down the divorce rate in the Kingdom, which has reached to 60 percent among couple from the same age group.

The second NEW type of marriage is referred to as “daytime marriage”, where the couple meets during the day time.  The husbands are usually business men or high rank officials, who want to keep the marriage a secret from the first wife, while the brides have night-time jobs.  This type of marriages, according to the officiant, is legal and Islamic.

A.M or P.M?

I went to the dentist yesterday. It was the second visit of many to come.  I will spare you the details.

 On my way out, I was given the appointment slip for my next visit. It had a date for next week and:

9:45 PM

I pointed out the time period error to the receptionist, who simply said “that’s not an error. Your appointment is in the evening”

It really shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me, especially after I heard that a judge had granted a father weekly visitation rights to see his children, who live with their mother, from 2 in the afternoon to 2 in the morning … the children are under 10 years old.  

During Ramadan, the month of fasting, one can schedule a doctor’s appointments for 1:00 am.

So, if you are in Saudi, especially in Jeddah, always confirm if the appointment is am or pm!

Saudi Woman in Scrubs

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Add to the caption: Saudi nurse, and you have another few hundred words.

Though this is not a piece of news, nor is it the first time that a local Saudi newspaper features a cover  story or photo of a Saudi nurse, but it’s refreshing to  be reminded that society is moving , even if one step at a time..

The story also becomes more valuable when it is about  a Saudi female in a field that is still looked down on in Saudi Arabia.

Today’s  headline reads:  Saudi Nurse’s 15 Year Old Dream Comes True and Scrubs in the Conjoined Twin Operation.

The above photo is of Nurse Muslaha AlShareef  with Dr. AlRabia’a in the OR at King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh. Nurse, AlShareef , however, works at King Abdulaziz Hospital & Oncology Centre in Jeddah.

Unfortunately, aside from the name, city, hospital, and the occupation nothing else is mentioned about the nurse.

In case you are wondering: the operation was a success and the Iraqi twins, Roqaya and Zainab are doing great.

http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/07/20/article545206.html

Misyar com: A New Step for Women in Saudi Arts.

 This is a unique piece of news.

Last night, in the city of Najran, a new mark was achieved for women in Saudi Arabia.

An all female cast, for an all female audience, took the stage at the chamber of commerce’s auditorium to perform the play: Misyar com.

The main theme of the hour and a half long comedy is to expose the modern type of marriages, such as misyar and misyaf, in the Kingdom and blames both men and women for the spread of these marriages .

The play is part of a program organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information to celebrate the week of culture.

Before Najran, the play had two night in Riyadh and one in Abha.

Officially, this is the first recognized play by women and for women.  However,  there have been previous plays such as the one woman  play in Jeddah: Head Over Heals in Saudi Arabia. It also dealt with issues of marriage in divorce in the Kingdom.

Very short background about Misyar marriage: It is a marriage contract whereby the wife gives up many of her rights. The couple lives in separate houses and the husband does not have to support his wife. The name Misyaf Marriage suggests marriage during the summer time.  Many belive such marriage are degrading to women and thus should be stopped from spreading any further.

The play is directed by Amal Al Hussein and the main cast members are: Sarah A- Jabir, Nadeen Halawni, Raja Al-Hadi, Rivan Kana’an, and Shua’a Tawfik.

http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20100718/Con20100718362202.htm

http://www.news-sa.com/home.html

A Birthday in Saudi

Last weekend was my birthday.

My son-in-law took us to dinner to one of the many American chain restaurants found in Jeddah. Our booth was stationed next to John Lennon’s framed photo.

It was all wonderful until the one candle  cake showed up  and  followed by a group of  Filipino waiters rapping Happy Birthday to me….  I wonder what was going in their heads when they noticed the birthday “girl” was a grandmother over 60? Perhaps they were thinking they were better off singing oldies style.

 I suspect my daughters were behind the stunt because they couldn’t stop laughing during the performance. It’s a proud moment for every mother when her children get a kick of embarrassing their poor mom.  

 We skipped desert and made our way home to have some real authentic German Kässekuchen.