year-old expatriate boy was reciting the Saudi national anthem in Arabic with clear pronunciation while playing in the lobby of an apartment building, where his family and other expatriates lived. It is not widely known that the Saudi national anthem is recited in most international or community schools along with the respective country's national anthems. On further investigation, I found that reciting the national anthem loudly and happily was part of this little boy's daily routine. It was obvious that this little boy was unaware about the concerns of his parents and other expatriates following rumors that Friday would be a “day of rage” in Riyadh with protesters taking to the streets to air their grievances. Many expatriates across the Kingdom were very wary about the mosque they would attend Friday prayers because of these rumors. Saudi Arabia is home to over seven million foreign workers; with no exception, they all consider the Kingdom as their second home. Quite a number of them are living in the Kingdom for long periods. The common notion among foreign workers, irrespective of their nationalities, is that the Kingdom enjoys social security and rock-solid political stability, which is second to none in the region or elsewhere in the world. While rating the status of social security, the consensus is that Saudi Arabia is better than their respective countries in terms of personal welfare and general safety. This little boy's recitation of the Saudi national anthem served as a reminder that expatriates expect nothing wrong to ever happen here because the Kingdom, which is on the road to progress, has already turned into a welfare state, not only for Saudi citizens but also for expatriates. Many expatriates said it would be a gross mistake to equate Saudi Arabia with other countries in the region and that a firm belief in the country's stability is what made the majority of the population demonstrate wisdom and actively oppose calls to protest. “We were concerned for safety and security, particularly after watching television coverage of events in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen that saw the flight of foreign workers because of the rising tension in those countries,” said Amjad Hussain, a Pakistani expatriate in Riyadh.He said that the Saudi leadership has been a popular choice with most Saudis who have repeatedly demonstrated slogans of allegiance, love and affection, particularly after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, returned from a successful surgery from abroad. Mohammad Magdy, an Egyptian leaving the mosque Friday, said that the Egyptians rebelled against former president Hosni Mubarak because of prolonged malpractices, growing unemployment, rising prices and a host of other issues that forced the common man to live a miserable life. “I have been in the Kingdom for the past 20 years and witnessed every aspect of development in the country. King Abdullah has taken up economic reforms by investing billions of riyals in economic cities across the Kingdom that will create employment opportunities for the Saudi nationals,” he said. He added that in the education sector ,the Saudi government's allocation of funds in 2011 has surpassed all previous records. Moreover, King Abdullah's initiatives for technical education and vocational training for Saudis has been unprecedented and vital in preparing the young population for the job market. Setting up the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) is another example of state initiative to support young Saudis in finding employment opportunities in the private sector, he explained. This, and a host of other unparalleled measures that the Saudi Government has been taking for the welfare of the citizen is what has led most Saudis to reject calls for dissent. “How many Saudi nationals are migrating out of the Kingdom in search of employment opportunities?” Magdy said. “This is evidence that Saudi Arabia is a place of opportunity for those who want to utilize their skills for the betterment of their lives.” Saeed Noor, a Yemeni national expressed confidence in the Kingdom's political stability because the Saudi leadership is closely connected with common public issues. No rulers in the region have announced welfare packages for their citizens as King Abdullah has done for Saudis, he said referring to a series of royal decrees issued for the general improvement of the welfare of Saudi citizens. The decrees, which amount to a multi-billion dollar package, came upon King Abdullah's return to the Kingdom after being away for three months in the United States and Morocco for treatment and recuperation from a successful back surgery. “This reflects the deep connection between King Abdullah and Saudi citizens. I have some advice for Saudi citizens: do not heed whatever is taking place in the region and focus your energies on improving key vocational skills that contribute to your personal economic development,” he said. He added that there are plenty of employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. What is required are the right skills and work ethics that are lacking among fresh graduates here. “The people should not blame the government for their personal shortcomings,” he concluded.
