RIYADH: Nearly 2.9 million violators of residency, work and border security systems have been arrested in a year-long roundup, according to an official report.
Since the campaign began in 2017, there have been 2,865,608 offenders, including 2,234,100 for violating residency regulations, 438,458 for labor violations and 193,050 for border violations.
2,025 people were arrested for trying to cross the border into neighboring countries and 3,563 were arrested for involvement in transporting and harboring those violators.
Immediate penalties were imposed against 428,442 offenders; 389,549 were transferred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents; 487,281 were transferred to complete their travel reservations; and 722,649 were deported.
2.9 million arrested for residency, labor violations across KSA
2.9 million arrested for residency, labor violations across KSA
- Around 2,025 people were arrested for trying to cross the border into neighboring countries and 3,563 were arrested for involvement in transporting and harboring those violators
Where We Are Going Today: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory in Dammam
Since returning to live in the Kingdom after years abroad with the best bakeries at my fingertips, I have been on a mission to find suitable sourdough locally. I sampled many mediocre ones, but one would rise above the rest: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory.
I first met founder Aisha Al-Omair at the Juthoor Farmer’s Market and tried her bread then. I liked it immediately.
“Ana Starter Sourdough Factory started as a passion for creating and fermenting the healthiest bread and introducing it to the Saudi market,” she told me at the time.
It began as a personal mission then expanded — like the dough — to serve the community.
“For a long time, I’ve suffered feeding my kids proper bread. The breads that were available at the supermarkets or at local bakeries had instant yeast, that never really took time to ferment, and therefore, when you consume the average bread, you notice some stiffening, you notice indigestion, you notice bloating and heartburn.”
Indeed, I did not feel any bloating or heartburn after devouring a slice or a few so I recently went on a quest to find more.
I ventured to Dammam to find her factory shop. It is a tiny slither of a place — I almost missed it while driving past factories in the Industrial City.
The shop comes with a decadent whiff of delicious bread.
Upon entering, you will see fridges stocked with bread and goodies like jams and butters (from other brands) that complement the bread well.
The sourdough offerings include jalapeno cheddar, zataar, plain and about a dozen other flavors.
The hassawi sourdough, made with local dates from neighboring Al-Ahsa, quickly became my favorite. It has little bits of dates tucked inside like tiny treasures.
Each slice is separated with a sheet, making it easy to freeze and pull out what you need without slices sticking together.
Fluffy with a rustic crust, it is great for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or slathering with salted butter.
My freezer is now packed with loaves.
At around SR45 ($12) per loaf, the price is slightly steep for the local market, but the superior quality is worth the extra dough.
Each day, they post on Instagram Stories showing what is available for pickup — and the quantity of each item.
Ordering is easy: Send a DM to reserve a loaf, swing by the shop, or opt for delivery.
• For more details, check their Instagram @anaastarter.
