Saudi Arabia — The Reality. An interview with Hamid Reza of Fars…
By: Sebastian Farmborough
Tags: Kafala, Mohammed Bin Salman, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Vision 2030

An interview with Hamid Reza of Fars News Agency

Q: The government of Saudi Arabia affirms that the country is undergoing substantial and fundamental reforms, including to women’s rights. How does that affect the lives of residents, especially non-Arabs?

What I appreciate most under the new government is the improvement in social freedoms. When I first moved here in 2003, public areas were a tough place to be, particularly as a Westerner. You always had the sense that everyone was watching and judging you. That really has dissipated in recent years, allowing non-Arabs to feel a lot more relaxed.

However, having said this, some of the heavily publicised reforms have been somewhat superficial in practice. They fail to address the fundamental issues facing both the country and its citizens. The root of a great deal of the suffering in the kingdom has not been intrinsically due to a lack of reform. Even in the past, there were some very reasonable laws. What impacts Saudis and non-Saudis most is the widespread lack of enforcement of those laws. Passing new ones and continuing not to enforce them is meaningless and purely cosmetic.

Q: It has been the case in the country for decades now that nearly all of the work, from a servant’s job to the engineering for the most complicated of constructions has been undertaken by foreigners. How do you think the mistreatment of foreigners could affect country’s development in the long term?

The mistreatment of foreigners has a number of long-term consequences; exploiting and entrapping them leads to a high staff turnover as well as a decline in both the quality and efficiency of their work. In addition, it will encourage highly skilled foreign workers to overlook the country. It is plain to see, across multiple sectors that Western companies are putting locally run establishments out of business, simply because their premises are cleaner, more organised and they take far better care of their customers.

Another significant factor to consider is that many companies within the kingdom actually prefer to employ foreigners, because under the still active kafala system, they are much easier to control and exploit. Highly regrettable for the country, because there are a great many, Western-educated, motivated Saudis that have returned only to find that they are not wanted. Ironic really as they are the ones that could in fact turn it around were they given the chance.

Q: Mohammed bin Salman has painted a rosy picture of the kingdom’s future. Do you believe the country is on the correct path to get there?

Personally, I am sceptical. Why focus on mega projects and expansions when the core itself is partially rotten? The King Abdullah Financial District cost $7.8 billion and it remains, largely, unused. It is common to see vacant homes and businesses, unfinished streets and pavements, residential areas with no parks and the sewage system in general is poor. Would it not be preferable to get the fundamentals right before aiming for the stars?

To this point, the government seems more concerned with improving its image for the sake of promoting tourism rather than with actively implementing effective change. I would like to see Mohammed bin Salman intimidate employers who abuse their workers with the prospect of being placed in labour camps themselves, regardless of their wealth and power. There really are some exceptionally vile people here. Justice, that is what would truly enable the kingdom to progress, flourish and above all be competitive at an international level.

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