Egyptian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Afeefi Abdul Wahab has said that more than 120,000 Egyptians benefited from the general labor amnesty.
He said that around 40,000 Egyptian workers had left the Kingdom for good, through the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah, and more than double this number were able to correct their status by transferring to new sponsors.
“These are approximate figures based on the number of people who turned up at the Egyptian missions during the grace period. The number of Egyptians living in the Kingdom, including workers and their families, is estimated to be between 1.8 and 2 million,” he said.
“We will not ask for an extension of the grace period. Six months is more than enough for all expat workers to normalize their status in the Kingdom. Those who failed to do so during the first extension were able to rectify their status in the second extension period,” he said.
The ambassador said he believed that violations committed by Egyptian labor were on account of their lack of understanding of Saudi labor law and work regulations. “Many of them came to the Kingdom on ‘free visas.’ When they arrived at the Kingdom, their sponsors let them work for any party they chose to. When the amnesty was announced, they got the opportunity to correct their status,” he said.
“The Egyptian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah were very busy, and there were great numbers of applicants. There was cooperation between us and the Ministry of Labor, as well as the Passport Department, to minimize the difficulties and address the challenges involved. The numbers were large in the beginning, but they tended drop later. However, I expect them to come in larger numbers in the coming days,” he said.
Adel Fadl, labor adviser at the Egyptian Embassy in Riyadh, earlier said that the number of Egyptian applicants seeking to correct their status will be high immediately after the Eid holidays, because many were busy performing Haj.
“During the past six months, we held three open forums in cooperation with the Egyptian Welfare Fund and professional societies for Egyptians who were willing to correct their status. We were able to secure 10,000 jobs in various sectors including contracting, sales, education, accounting, drivers and other fields.”
120,000 Egyptian expats benefit from amnesty
120,000 Egyptian expats benefit from amnesty
Saudi language academy launches Arabic Language Month in Mexico
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has launched the Arabic Language Month program in Mexico, featuring a scientific program implemented as part of the academy’s international initiatives to teach Arabic to non-native speakers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative also aims to promote the language’s cultural and intellectual standing within international academic institutions.
KSGAAL Secretary-General Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi stated that the Arabic Language Month program in Mexico reflects the academy’s ongoing commitment to introduce Arabic to diverse academic and cultural environments as a language of knowledge and communication.
He noted that the Arabic language plays a key role in enhancing cultural dialogue and building bridges of understanding between nations. Al-Washmi praised the support provided to the academy by Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Farhan, and highlighted the fruitful cooperation with the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Mexico City, which helped facilitate the implementation of the program as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to serve the Arabic language globally.
Al-Washmi explained that the program focuses on teaching Arabic to non-native speakers at international academic institutions through scientific training initiatives based on partnership. These initiatives take into account the diversity of educational contexts and the needs of learners and researchers, thus strengthening the presence of the Arabic language in education and scientific research. This approach aligns with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Mexico Fahad bin Ali Al-Manawer, along with a number of academic leaders and representatives of educational and cultural institutions. The ceremony also marked the launch of the first training courses and related activities.
The program will run throughout January, and features a series of scientific and educational events, including intensive training courses for teachers and learners, specialized programs for Arabic teachers to non-native speakers, and a seminar addressing the current state of Arabic language education in Mexico and the related challenges. The program also includes the Hamza Academic Test to assess Arabic language proficiency among learners, along with scientific and cultural visits.
The program is implemented in cooperation with several Mexican institutions, most notably Tecnologico de Monterrey, represented by the School of International Relations.
