Category: Saudi Arabia

What to Pack in your bags for the Hajj 2017

Yasir Imran

Hajj 2017 is coming within coming week. Here is a list of items which you need to pack in your bags before going to Hajj. This list is compiled by Learn-From-Your-Mistakes-Blog. I just re-write that given information for you.

 

What to Pack if you are going to Hajj – Men & Women

  1. Ihram outfits 2 pcs: One to wear on first day and second you may change it at mina after returning from Arafah.
  2. Face Masks to wear out in crowds.
  3. Sunglasses and Cap.
  4. Rubber slippers.
  5. Running shoes socks for 3 day’s stoning the Jamarat. Be ready for long walks and try to practice in advance.
  6. Pajamas, only cotton casual clothes, extra under clothes. Bathrooms are a bit tricky.
  7. A Safety kit with..
    1. Band-Aids
    2. Tissues and wet wipes
    3. Vaseline or Deo Sticks (for Ihram rash or others)
    4. Non-scented soap and Shampoo
    5. Sunscreen for last 3 days
    6. Toothbrush and toothpaste
    7. Panadol tablets
    8. Vitamin c effervescent. (Must take one 1000 m every day to beat infections)
    9. Anti inflammatory to help with after walk pain Antihistamine. Take one every day even if not needed.
    10. Antacid (Gaviscon etc)
  8. Personal Mobile Phone and a Power Bank, you will mostly use it to call your companions and your family in women’s tents.
  9. Extension Cord. Your phone battery won’t last more than a day. Every tent has limited sockets. Having your own cord will help have constant power.
  10. Umbrella for sun. A battery operated fan would be optimum and water spray bottle
  11. Quran, Duas (supplication) and other Islamic books
  12. Always carry a water bottle in hand. You need to stay hydrated. (You can buy these locally)
  13. Ziploc bags for stones picked in Muzdhalifah. Empty water bottle will also do.
  14. Ear plugs, very important unless you are immune to snoring.
  15. Coat hanger (also to use for drying washed clothes)
  16. Get online search for Makah on Google maps. Make sure you can see Mina Arafat and Muzdhalifah on the map.  Save map offline. This will help you use the map without any Internet connection. Mark your tent when you reach mina. Now you know how to get back whenever you get lost.
  17. Waist Pouch
  18. A bag that fits the above stuff. Remember you will need more bags in case you are going to Hajj with your family.

What to Pack for Hajj 2017

Some Additional Stuff for Women Pilgrims Only

Along with above items, women may need additional items below.

  1. Sanitary Pads
  2. Chap-stick
  3. Deodorant
  4. Safety Pins for Hijab (Niqab, whatever you call it.)
  5. Snacks high in sugar, high glucose and high fiber for the much needed energy boost. Cereal bars, m&m peanut, fruit bars, dates. Etc

And lastly the most important point

Make sure you pay attention to detail. Learn what you need to do. Ask. Investigate. Don’t follow others blindly. So why pack the above items???  The author is having years of experience behind this information. Taqabal Allah (May Allah accept your hajj)

New 6th Series Currency BankNotes of Saudi Riyal

Yasir Imran

New 6th Series of Banknotes were introduced on December 2016 and will be available to public soon. New Banknotes bearing the face of current Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Notes are available in amounts as SR 500, SR 100, SR 50, SR 10, SR 5 as well as there are coins of 1 Halalah, 5 Halalah, 10 Halalah, 25 Halalah, 50 Halalah, 1 Riyal and 2 Riyals.

Saudi Arabian Currency Banknotes

New Currency notes comes up with strongest security and they will be more secure to reduce forgeries.

SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority) announced 6th issue of national banknotes on 13-Dec-2016 and there is a brief video available at Sama’s website.

5 SR banknote comes in Violet color & it has a picture of Oil Refinery in its face.
10 SR banknote comes in Brown color & it has King Salman Picture on its face.
50 SR banknote comes in Green color & it has dome of the rock picture on its face.
100 SR banknote comes in Red color & it has Green Dome of the Prophet’s Mosque on its face.
500 SR banknote comes in Blue color & it has picture of Kaba Makkah.

Sources: This information is gathered from above sources.
http://www.sama.gov.sa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_riyal
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1023411/saudi-arabia

SAUDI HORECA 2015 Biggest Hospitality Food & Beverage Exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Yasir Imran

Saudi Horeca 2015 Exhibition

HORECA is the biggest annual hospitality exhibition. HORECA Exhibition has been running in various Middle Eastern Countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait from more than 22 years. Saudi Horeca 2015 held from 18-20 Oct 2015 in Riyadh. It has been running in Saudi Arabia from 5 years. There are more than 113 local and international companies participated in this exhibition making it a big success.

HORECA is the biggest annual hospitality exhibition. HORECA Exhibition has been running in various Middle Eastern Countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait from more than 22 years. Saudi Horeca 2015 started in Saudi Arabia from 2010 and up to 2015 it runs for 5 times in the Kingdom. There are more than 113 local and international companies participated in this exhibition making it a big success.

In Saudi Arabia, Horeca has been organized by SEMARK – Saudi Event Management & Marketing Company. Horeca features a host of activities and shows including workshops, culinary art show and much more. It has been held in RICEC – Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center which offers 4 halls of 15000 square meters and parking capacity of 1500 cars.
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Human Trafficking in Saudi Arabia – News Report

Yasir Imran

Saudi Gazette has reported that Summary courts in Makkah and Jeddah have charged 24 with human trafficking and they are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment along with 1000 lashes and fine from 20,000 to 100,000 Saudi Riyals. Below is the infographic showing details of the court’s decision.

Court's Decision on Human Trafficking Saudi Arabia
Court’s Decision on Human Trafficking Saudi Arabia

Source: Saudi Gazette

Saudi Arabia’s Largest Companies Ranked According to Market Capitalization

Yasir Imran

Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab state in Western Asia and second largest oil producer in the world. This kingdom is a goldmine of opportunities and has been often touted as one of the most powerful nations due to its steady economic growth. The rich country is home to some of the finest companies, including those that are ranked highly not just in Saudi Arabia but all over the world.

Saudi-Arabia-Largest-Companies

Here’s a list of the top 10 Saudi companies that have been ranked as per their market capitalization. Those seeking to find work opportunities or even to switch jobs can benefit immensely from the following list –

1. SABIC

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation or SABIC is Saudi Arabia’s biggest public company. It is a diversified manufacturing company, actively involved in producing petrochemicals, intermediates, fertilizers, industrial polymers and metals. Founded in the year 1976, the company has its headquarters in Riyadh. Its market capitalization is estimated to be almost $75.98 billion while the annual revenue it generates is nearly $50.65 billion. The current CEO of SABIC is Mohammed Al Mady.

2. Al Rajhi Bank

Al Rajhi is the largest Islamic bank in the whole world. It was established in 1975 and is headquartered in Riyadh. The yearly revenue of this Saudi Arabian bank is estimated to be about $3.39 billion, while the entire company is valued at around $29.59 billion. Its current CEO is Suliman bin Abdulaziz Azzabin.

3. STC

STC is the abbreviation for Saudi Telecom Company. This public company is among the leading telecommunications companies based in Saudi Arabia and offers mobile (Jawal,) landline (Home,) internet and IPTV services to more than 160 million global customers. It was set up in the year 1998 in Riyadh and has yearly revenue of approximately $15 billion. The market capitalization of STC is almost $19.46 billion.

4. Saudi Electricity Company

Saudi Electricity Company is one of the largest providers of electricity in Saudi Arabia. The publicly listed company has its headquarters in Riyadh and is known to provide different services pertaining to the generation and distribution of power. The market capitalization of Saudi Electricity is estimated to be around $15.72 billion while the annual revenue generated totals to about $$8.15 billion.

5. SAMBA

Samba Financial Group, previously called The Saudi American Bank, is among the largest banking firms in Saudi Arabia. Established in the year 1980, SAMBA’s yearly revenue is about $1.74 billion while its market value stands at around $11.78 billion.

6. Mobily

Mobily is a telecommunications company established in 2005. The market capitalization of this public company is almost $11.15 billion. The annual revenue it generates is around $5.35 billion.

7. Riyad Bank

Riyad Bank is among the major financial institutions of Saudi Arabia and ranks third in terms of assets. As the name suggests, this bank is headquartered in Riyadh and was founded in 1957.  It has been providing financial and banking services ever since. With annual revenue of nearly $1.37 billion, the company’s market capitalization is almost $9.68 billion. The Saudi Arabian government owns 51% stock of the firm, which is regulated by Saudi Arabian Monetary Association.

8. SABB

SABB is the abbreviation for the Saudi British Bank. It was set up in 1978 to provide financial and banking services. It is based in Riyadh and also has another branch in London. It is an associated company of the HSBC Group and has a market capitalization of nearly $8.61 billion while the annual revenue it generates is around $1.41 billion.

9. Banque Saudi Fransi

Banque Saudi Fransi specializes in offering corporate banking services. The institution offers automobile, trade finance, home renovation, structured finance and syndicated loans. It also advises on mergers and acquisitions along with private placements, securities brokerage services and treasury services. The annual revenue of the company is approximately $1.02 billion while its market capitalization is approximately $8.56 billion.

10. TASNEE

This is a petrochemical company focusing on the manufacturing of chemical products. Based in Al-Jubail Industrial City, TASNEE or The National Industrialization Company is a public company with a market capitalization of nearly $6.03 billion. It was established in the year 1985 and annually generates around $5.24 billion.

If you wish to expand your horizon, start searching for a lucrative job in Saudi Arabia. Consider applying to one of the above companies as these prospective employers have huge headcounts and are in a position to pay handsomely.

Author bio: Devika Arora is a professional writer currently focusing on the extensive domain of job search and career building. Professionally affiliated with job search portal Naukrigulf.com, Devika seeks to provide guidance to job seekers through her articles and blogs.