Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a huge country - over 1.9 million km2, and has 36 million inhabitants. A large proportion are foreign workers, actually about 75 % of non-government workers.

 

I was on a work assignment to Riyadh in 1994 with the task to conclude contract negotiations between the Government and a big American telecom company for mobile telephone systems.

 

This was during the month of July, right in the middle of a hot summer. The night temperature was 38 C, and in the sun during the day it was 54 C.

 

At the time I was there , the Muslim faith was very strictly enforced. Even banks had a side-door for women only.

 

Episode 1: The wife of a man working at the office, was caught by the religious police when discovered with an ankle that was showing. The man and the wife thereafter packed their suitcases ready to flee!

 

Episode 2: A man at the office was waiting for green light at an intersection. A farmer in a truck with worn-out brakes rammed in the car in the front and pushed it into crossing traffic, causing a big pileup. The Police: The framer has no money - your company has. You pay for this!