JEDDAH: Home-based businesses run by women to supplement their incomes are growing, especially following the municipality's announcement last month that it had introduced a licensing scheme to regulate businesses.
Many women, mainly in Jeddah's poor districts in the south of the city, depend on the cash generated from home businesses to support their families. Most women, especially foreigners, involved in such trade usually cook. However, since licenses are now only available to Saudi women, expatriate women are finding themselves hard-pressed.
Jeddah municipality issued the new licensing scheme following the formation of a team of women inspectors to check on such businesses. The inspectors now pose a threat to home businesses operated by expatriates, which would now be termed illegal. Some expatriate women expressed their fear at the threat of closure and competition, and are eager to buy or rent licenses from Saudi applicants in lieu of a percentage of their profits.
Umm Mohammed is a Palestinian mother of five residing in the Madain Al-Fahd District in the south of Jeddah. Following the death of her husband, she has been supporting her family by cooking pastries and selling them to neighbors. She caters for celebrations and events. Through word of mouth she has become famous in neighboring districts. “Selling my home cooked pastries is the only income for me and my children,” she said. She is afraid municipality inspectors may put her out of business. “The situation is unclear for me,” she said, adding that many of her sympathetic Saudi neighbors have offered to apply for the license and allow her to work under them.
Home cooking is good if well managed, she said. “Home food is tastier and fresh than food you buy from restaurants,” she added. Umm Mohammed gets help from her three daughters, especially when she gets big orders.
There are many who have taken the business to the next level. Al-Kandarah district is home to several unofficial home restaurants managed by Asian nationals. Many houses along the narrow allies in the district hang signs in foreign languages advertising food they serve.
Indonesian food is the most common. For anything between SR5 to SR10 one can eat a meal comprising rice, meat and vegetables. Prices depend on plate sizes and food is usually exhibited on a large table in platters where customers can make selections and then sit in a chair in the living room.
Ahmad Al-Ammari, a resident of the Al-Kandarah district, said he loves to eat at home-based restaurants because the food “tastes original.” Regardless of hygiene, Al-Ammari said he has been eating in such places for over 15 years. “I'd be so sad if they were shut down,” he said.
Sitti Fatima runs a home restaurant. Speaking through Al-Ammari, she said the money generated supports her family in Jeddah and in Indonesia. She expressed sadness and fear about the new licensing scheme, saying she would not mind sharing her business with a Saudi woman who has the license.
