I read with great interest the articles — “Eyeing permanent RPs, expats invest in Gulf properties” and “Few takers for costly new apartments.” The governments of the Gulf states are realistic. Their “native citizens” are in the minority and their thriving economies depend on expatriates who have children: The future. These governments (to make sure that the owners of real estate are financially independent) made the proper decision to allow them to invest, though this “may create” in the long run a “cultural” problem. Easy to fix this: To be a citizen one has to be a Muslim.
In my opinion, the Kingdom will never face this problem as the majority population is Saudi. So why not let “wealthy” expatriates buy these “costly” new apartments? I truly see no problem. — Olga Pitcairn, By e-mail
Gulf properties
