“Finally the dream has been realized,” was a common reaction of most by these expatriates when they heard the news. The estimated 800,000 Egyptians in the Kingdom had been connected to the events unfolding back home through television, the Internet and phone calls to loved ones. From plumbers to doctors, many of these expats had left Egypt for greener pastures in Saudi Arabia due to worsening unemployment, humiliation, corruption and oppression in their beloved and fascinating homeland.
“The undignified fall of Hosni Mubarak marks the beginning of a new lease of life for every Egyptian who suffered injustice under his oppressive regime,” said Shakir Abdul Azeez, an Egyptian journalist who has worked in Saudi Arabia for the past 30 years — as long as Mubarak has been president of his country.
But some Egyptians were quick to point out that the future of the country is still unclear now that the transfer of power has gone to the military.
Jamal Hammam, a journalist working with Okaz, called Mubarak’s exit and the fall of his government “a revolution of endurance and patience.” “I have promised my colleagues a dinner tonight to celebrate this unforgettable moment,” he added.
For Mohsen Awad, another Egyptian, who said he had received dozens of congratulatory SMS messages , it had been the realization of a long-awaited dream. “I feel extremely delighted to receive the news of the ignominious fall of Mubarak especially after the frustration I felt last night after listening to his obdurate words that he would hang on to power until September."
Another Egyptian journalist who had to leave his country to escape police harassment 30 years ago said he now planned to return home without any fear of harassment and torture.
“Three generations of Egyptians have been denied human rights during the murky reign of Mubarak,” he said.
He said he used to feel deep bitterness about his inability to return to his country while foreigners could visit Egypt with all freedom.
School teacher Muhammad Al-Wardani said he fell in prostration as a mark of gratitude to Almighty Allah. He had feared that Egyptian youth would be mowed down in the streets of Cairo if Mubarak did not step down.
Saudi writer Abdullah Al-Alami described Mubarak's departure as a great victory for the Egyptians.
"Their revolution took place in an organized way and in a relatively short period," he said. "However, the people’s revolution is not yet over; there is need for a complete change from the existing constitution to another."
Al-Alami said there was need for a total modification of the current political system that had become totally defunct. "What is important now is for the Egyptian people to live in peace with themselves and with each other, and start building the Fourth Republic which they rightly earned."
Al-Alami said he was reminded of a popular Egyptian proverb which says "stretch your legs as far as your quilt (blanket) goes." "It means do not do what you cannot afford. However, the brave Egyptian people defied this myth and stretched their abilities to regain their liberty," he added.
Amr Khaled, a well-known Islamic preacher who is very popular among the youth, said Egyptian youths have proved they can bring a revolution without bloodshed. "People say revolution means bloodshed. But here there was no bloodshed," Khaled told the BBC.
He said what happened in Egypt was also a technological and leaderless revolution. "The followers of different faiths including Muslims and Christians took part in this revolution with unity," he pointed out. He thanked the military leadership for promising that they would hand over the country's administration to the civil society within six months.
Nihad Awad, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called Mubarak's resignation a "first step toward freedom" and said there must now be a clean break with authoritarian rule and a swift transition to an open and transparent civilian government.
"The struggle for freedom that began in Tunisia and spread throughout the region should be an example to all oppressed people and should help re-focus American policies in the Middle East and the Muslim world on positively engaging civil societies to promote democracy," said Awad.
Many Egyptians in Jeddah went out into the streets to celebrate.
A Saudi, Abdul Kareem, who works in a telecommunications company, said he sent a number of SMS messages to his Egyptian friends sharing with them their happiness. “I hope that the future of Egypt will be stable and prosperous and life will return to normal shortly,” he said.
Abdul Aziz, another Saudi who owns properties in Egypt, said he had been monitoring news from Egypt anxiously. “The peaceful exit of Mubarak makes up for the deaths that occurred in the initial days of the protests,” he said.
He added that he noticed that Egyptians were growing more pessimistic because of the oppressive regime of Mubarak and now that he has gone they will become more optimistic and prosperous.
A source in EgyptAir office in Jeddah said the current lull in business would soon change and tourists and businessmen would start flying between the two countries.
In Riyadh, Egyptians and other Arabs expressed a more mixed reaction to Mubarak’s ouster. While celebrating the victory of a popular revolution, they also expressed their cautious concern about the country’s future. Most Egyptians said the president’s decision to step down came late.
“It opens a new phase in the history of Egypt,” said Muhammad Saad, an Egyptian.
He called for the trial of corrupt officials of the previous regime who destroyed the country’s politics and rigged presidential and parliamentary elections.
Saleh Fareed, an engineer, said Mubarak’s decision came after the youths warned that they would march to the presidential palace following his disappointing speech on Thursday night. He also wanted the trial of corrupt ministers, who had wasted the country’s resources, and wider constitutional changes.
Muhammad Hussein, who had gone to take part in the protests in Cairo, demanded the trial of those officers who caused the death of hundreds of people during the peaceful protests. He leveled his accusations against Interior Minister Habib El-Adli and businessmen who harmed the country’s economy.
Adel Hashim said he welcomed the news of Mubarak’s resignation with fear and caution as there is a lot of things to be done to realize the demands of Egyptian youths.
