The summer festival in Jeddah is just about over. You can practically sense it in the air had you spent the entire summer months here. The throngs are getting lighter, the roads more manageable. And while the visitors may have brought in their unique customs from the different regions of this country, there seems to be a collective relief that soon the business of every day life will get back to normal.

Not all, however, are happy to see it end. Saleh, owner of a kitchen on Heraa Street has been ecstatic over the business boom this year. As hordes of visitors made their way to the various spots on the corniche, they would invariably stop at any one of the eateries on Heraa and pack up on their picnic supplies. This has kept Saleh and many like him very busy this summer. Saleh attributes this year’s boom over previous years to a growing consciousness within this country of the charms of Jeddah, and as more people come in, more food is required to be prepared in his kitchen.

Abdou, owner of a building with several furnished flats expresses similar feelings. He says that unlike past years, this year he was fully booked throughout July and mid-August with tenants coming from as far away as Dammam, Al-Qatif, Najran, etc. Most had come in large groups of ten or more as extended families used these months to get together and embark on the trip either by road or plane. With all that Jeddah has to offer to these visitors, Abdou says he was not surprised that some of them have declared their intent of moving here on a permanent basis.

While it is true that the economy of the city has experienced a mini-boom this past summer, it has not come without associated problems. Trash springs immediately to mind as diligent third country nationals could be spotted at any given time busily picking up tons of discarded material off roads and sidewalks. I suppose there is a need of trash disposal awareness, and perhaps our visitors may require a bit of education in that aspect.

Maybe the municipality should study high impact areas and perhaps designate more trash bins. And while we are on the subject of trash, why cannot we break off our obsession with plastic sacks and use paper instead. Paper is biodegradable and far more environmentally friendly. And since I’ve just brought up the municipality, shouldn’t they examine the need for permanent lavatory facilities at the corniche areas? Here’s hoping they will, once they all return from their own holidays!

While driving on the roads gets to be a challenge during the summer months, one has to understand that with so many drivers from different regions on one street, it is understandable. It certainly raises my road consciousness and my blood pressure, having been victimized twice by errant visitors. Next April or May would be a good time for the Chamber of Commerce to advertise heavily through the media on what are acceptable driving conditions in the city. An awareness campaign if you will on what constitutes good driving habits in a large city.

And as for the Chamber of Commerce, well they haven’t been keeping quiet lately. A couple of days ago I read of their intent to promote Saudization within the Chamber and achieve a 100 percent target. I may have missed the time frame of when this is supposed to take place, but with rising unemployment, I would hope for sooner than later.

And I do have a question for many of the members within this chamber. How many of their own factories, industries, or commercial establishments are manned with nationals and to what extent? Perhaps they could start from within. Housekeeping usually starts at home. Would the chamber run a survey of the independent entities of their more influential members and enlighten us all on the percentage of nationals employed in some of the bigger establishments?

I would be most certainly interested in the results. Well, enough rabble-rousing for now. Until next week then!

— Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]