One of the great things about the World Wide Web is just that — it is an electronic web and a means of networking. As connectivity grows throughout the Middle East, the Internet is being used increasingly to help people keep in touch with their contacts — some that stretch back decades.

In Saudi Arabia alone, one-third of the population are resident foreigners. These individuals often form communities while in the Kingdom and then many continue these relationships once they return to their homelands.

Saudi Aramco is an example of a company whose expatriate staff and their families often get together for luncheons and reunions long after they have left the company and the Kingdom. This week in Galway, Ireland, the first European “Aramcon Runner’s Reunion” was held. The event reunited family and friends of Aramcon’s or Ex-Aramcon’s who were involved in athletics in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province. The website aramcoexpats.com helped to get the word out about the reunion.

Expatriates of some nations have a strong presence in the Kingdom and networking online is a great way to keep in touch. This is the case with graduates of various Indian colleges and universities. The year 2006 marks the Silver Jubilee of the graduating Class of 81 of the Madras Christian College (MCC). A reunion has been planned for August in Chennai and participation has been confirmed from around the globe.

An exclusive website for the event has been created at http://classof81mcc.com. P.T. Thomas, a passionate alumnus of MCC and NRI organizer of the reunion, is based in Saudi Arabia. He said: “The success of the reunion lies in the number of folks from our batch who will be there pulling each other’s legs and talking about the good ’ol times. The Class of 81 requests everyone to take a look at the Class List online. If you know the contact details of someone or someone who knows someone who is not yet in the network, pass the word along or send us the details to [email protected].”