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‘Saudization is not the solution’

September 30, 2013

SaudizationJeddah, Sep 30: Saudi officials and businessmen on Sunday welcomed Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah’s statement emphasizing the need to create more job opportunities for Saudis by developing the economy and implementing huge investment projects.

“I would say that Saudization (nationalization) and employment is not the solution,” the minister said in an interview published on Sunday. “The solution lies in creating job opportunities. How can we do that? By developing the economy and expanding areas of work for Saudis to become productive.”

“I fully agree with Prince Faisal,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, president of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We can create more jobs for our citizens by promoting huge investment projects and high-tech services and strictly implementing the Kingdom’s regulations,” he told Arab News.

Al-Zamil, a businessman and industrialist, emphasized the significance of Saudization, saying “Saudi Arabia cannot survive without it.”

“There is a decree that insists that contractors must purchase locally-made goods,” he said. “This will boost national industries. The offset program has stipulated that foreign companies receiving military contracts must invest 40 percent of the contract value in the Kingdom. If this agreement is implemented effectively, we’ll have new projects worth SR60 billion annually with Saudi partnerships.”

Government maintenance contracts are another key area, he said, adding that it would create at least 150,000 jobs for Saudis. According to him, 5.2 million expats have legalized their status during the amnesty period. “As a result of these efforts, the Saudi market has become more stable and expatriates feel more secure.”

Abdelelah Saaty, dean of the College of Business in Rabigh, also backed the minister’s statement while stressing the need to improve the quality of education by providing intensive training to teachers and focusing more on science and technology.

“We should not jump into Saudization. We want quality, not quantity,” he told Arab News.

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Agencies
May 25,2020

Abu Dhabi, May 25: Dusty weather to persist in the UAE on Monday as well with a chance of rainfall in parts of the country, the national Met department reported.

According to the NCM, the weather today will be fair to partly cloudy, with a chance of some convective clouds formation by afternoon - eastward and northward - extending to some internal areas that may be associated with some rainfall.

The weather will get humid by night and Tuesday morning over some coastal areas.

NCM predicts a wet Eid break.

Sharjah Police issued a weather warning as heavy rain flooded roads in Sharjah's Kalba among other areas.

Moderate to fresh winds will gain strength during the day causing blowing dust and sand.

The sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

Earlier on Sunday, a weather alert was issued by authorities as moderate to heavy rain - accompanied with hail - lashed parts of the UAE. A rainbow in Dubai skies cheered up residents, celebrating a unique Eid this year amid the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic - by mostly staying home.

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Agencies
May 7,2020

A patient in hospital with Covid-19 has given birth to a healthy baby boy in Dubai.

The 25-year-old Indian was admitted to Al Zahra Hospital after testing positive on May 2.

Although the baby was not due to arrive until May 19, the woman went into labour three days later and delivered a healthy boy weighing 3.8kg.

The parents are yet to name the child, who has also been tested for the virus.

“When we first received the Covid-19 positive diagnosis, we were afraid for the health of both my wife and the baby,” said the boy’s father, who did not want to give his name.

“Thankfully with the help of the doctors and nurses at Al Zahra Hospital, my son was born with no complications and my wife remains in stable condition.

“We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Despite arriving two weeks early, both mother and child are doing well but will only be allowed to leave the hospital to return to their home in Dubai after they return three negative tests on the trot.

“The contractions started very suddenly and it all happened very quickly,” said Al Zahra Hospital nursing director Maysoon Yousef.

“The delivery took about 10 to 15 minutes which is something we do not see very often.

“There were no complications and both the mother and baby are in good condition.”

Strict measures are in place to ensure hygiene for those inside the hospital, as well as visitors.

The new mum and her son are in the same room as the baby needs to be nursed.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a US national public health institute, there is no evidence that suggests the virus can be transmitted through breastfeeding.

New mothers infected with the virus should wear a mask, wash their hands before and after touching the baby.

“We operate by the latest Covid-19 international and local guidelines when it comes to the management of our maternity patients and otherwise,” said Dr Ghassan Lutfi, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the hospital.

“We take strict measures to guarantee that there is no risk of cross contamination and that all our patients are in safe hands.”

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News Network
April 10,2020

Dubai, Apr 10: Saudi Arabia reported 364 new coronavirus cases and three new virus-related deaths, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.

The total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom is 3,651, out of which 2,919 are currently active, the ministry added.

Out of the new cases, 90 were recorded in Mecca, 78 in Medina, 69 in Riyadh, and 54 in Jeddah, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the number of fatalities rose to 47, while th number of recoveries reached 685.

The daily number of confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia has not peaked yet, and has been rapidly accelerating.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health had said earlier this week that four different studies showed that the number of coronavirus cases in the Kingdom could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks.

The ministry spokesman emphasized the urgent need for citizens and residents to remain at home and maintain social distancing practices to ensure that the virus does not spread further.

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