RIYADH, 5 March 2003 — The man behind the counter in Starbucks repeats the order in fluent English and, with practiced movements, prepares a tall Latte.
Nothing unusual there, except that he is a Saudi.
Abdulaziz Al-Howaidi is one of many Saudis who are replacing foreigners as part of the ongoing Saudization campaign in the private sector. He joined Al-Shaie Trading Company and, unlike many other Saudi men his age, works hard to earn both his living and his degree.
“My mornings are spent at college and my evenings are spent at work,” Abdulaziz says. “Of course, it was very difficult for me to handle both, but I have learned to manage my time.”
After two weeks of orientation and training, Abdulaziz knows all about the different kinds of coffee beans, how to prepare the coffee and serve it to customers.
“There are many advantages to my job. Besides the good salary and the experience I’m gaining, working with people from other nationalities has given me the opportunity to make new friends.”
Bandar Al-Khaibari is another ambitious young Saudi, and he too has chosen an unusual career path. He will soon graduate in nursing, but until then he has taken a part-time job at Starbucks.
“It’s an opportunity to support myself, and this was what motivated the other young men I met during my training. Most are eager to start building their future at a young age. The new generation is ready to take up jobs in areas that were considered shameful in the past.”
Only a few years ago, it was unheard of to give orders in a restaurant to a Saudi waiter. But young Saudis are eager to change the international misconception that they refuse to take jobs that are deemed below their dignity.
“My boss is not a Saudi, and I have absolutely no problem with that. It is time we came to terms with the idea of working in second-class jobs,” Bandar comments.
