RIYADH, 25 August 2006 — Growing unemployment among the Saudi youth has compelled them to find illegal ways of making money. “I earn more than SR15,000 per month transporting passengers, including some overstayers, all over the Kingdom,” Hamad Al-Harbi told Arab News.

Enquiries made in the Batha area showed that scores of Saudis scout for passengers who wish to travel anywhere in the Kingdom. Some of them hide their cars to escape the police dragnet, while they keep shouting out the names of popular destinations, such as Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Madinah and Dammam.

They all offer the same charge ranging from SR150 per head for Makkah-Jeddah, SR130 for Taif to SR70 for Dammam.

They shout in the presence of police, who seem not to mind that what they are doing is illegal. While some of these people have their own cars, others use rentals after paying the companies SR100 per day. But they more than make up this amount by earning SR500 or more during the same period.

Their modus operandi is simple. These youths, usually in their 20s or 30s, operate in a team consisting of two brothers.

“I take passengers to the Jeddah-Makkah area via some diversions near checkpoints to avoid the police. Since carrying expatriates without a valid iqama (work and residency visa) is illegal, I charge them extra as I cannot drive on the normal route,” said Al-Harbi.

Fahad Al-Shammari, 25, who has been in this business for the last five years, said that on reaching the destination, he takes rest, while his brother takes over from him for the return journey.

Asked about his educational background, Al-Shammari said he dropped out after completing his secondary education.

“I couldn’t find a job to support my family,” said Al-Shammari. “Moreover, those who were already employed were getting only 4,000 to 5,000 riyals per month which is not enough to meet the expenses of large families. I found out that this kind of business is much more profitable than some governmental or private sector jobs.”

Al-Shammari said that he earns up to SR17,000 per month with his brother as black market chauffeurs.

He said that he launched this business with rent-a-car vehicles in the beginning. After collecting enough money, he bought his own car.

“I am now planning to build my own house with the help of the Saudi Real Estate Fund,” he said.

According to Khaled Al-Ghamdi, 32, the high season of this business is during Ramadan and Haj, when the transportation charges double.

“Yes, I was caught twice and put in jail for two days each time,” said Al-Ghamdi. “But I paid the fine and was back in the same business.”

Saleh Al-Harithy said he prefers to carry Saudis in his vehicle and travel by the normal route. “When police ask me about my passengers, I tell them that they are my friends and we are going for Umrah. But such queries are rare,” he said.