Many unskilled Arab expatriates are buying visas meant for the job of barber from recruitment firms to enter the Kingdom and find other jobs, say local and foreign operators here.
The trade in barber visas is flourishing in Egypt, said Ahmed Tamim, an Egyptian who manages a barbershop in Jeddah.
"Many Egyptians with no academic qualifications prefer to buy barber visas to enter the Kingdom and find work for better pay. Several recruitment offices here sell visas of Gulf countries.
However, many Egyptians prefer to come to the Kingdom because of the low cost of living here," said Tamim.
"Recruitment offices have various prices for visas. There are visas for construction workers, electricians and barbers. Many Arab expats have jobs as barbers here," he said.
Abdullah Al-Sagheer, a Saudi associated with the small and medium enterprises sector, told Arab News that many expatriates buy visas for unskilled professions.
"This paves the way for them to find better-paying jobs in the Kingdom. Saudis are not interested in these professions."
He said employers must make sure they are recruiting workers meant for certain positions. "They can play a big role in stopping unskilled workers from entering the market."
The Ministry of Labor has banned visa trading and associated activities in the Kingdom. Firms involved in such illegal activities would have their services cut and all visas canceled.
Unskilled expats buy barber visas
Unskilled expats buy barber visas
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.
