JEDDAH: The average salaries of both Saudi and non-Saudi employees working in the private sector increased by varying amounts during the period between 2014 and 2015.
The salaries of Saudis in the private sector rose by 4 percent over the year, bringing the average pay scale of Saudi males to SR6,357, while that of Saudi females reached SR3,708, which is a rise of 2 percent, according to a report published in Al-Watan.
The rise in salaries has been noticed in all the professions in the private sector, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the General Organization for Social Insurance.
The report from the two bodies showed a rise in the average salary level of non-Saudi employees in the private sector by 6 percent, reaching about SR1,744, and a rise of more than 8 percent for the salaries of non-Saudi females.
The highest rise in salaries among Saudi females occurred in the private sector in professions related to fishing and agriculture, with a rise of more than 4 percent, allowing salaries to reach an average of SR3,296.
For non-Saudi males, professions related to collective and social services recorded the highest rise of nine percent with salaries amounting to SR2,563 on average, while for non-Saudi females working in the private sector in building and construction activities, salaries rose by more than 14 percent with the average wage sitting at SR1,443.
Among Saudi males in the private sector, professions including industrial operations as well as chemical and food industries increased by eight percent, with average salaries amounting to SR7,516, while the rise in the same professions among female Saudi employees was more than four percent with the average salary reaching SR3,310.
Looking at the differences in salaries across regions, the reports showed an overall rise in the average salaries of employees in the private sector for both sexes and for Saudis and non-Saudis alike.
The Northern Borders registered the highest wage increases with Saudi male employees at 10 percent, as well as a rise of 11 percent for non-Saudis. For Saudi female employees, Jouf registered the highest rise at three percent, reaching SR3,580.
Meanwhile, Hail registered the highest rise in the salaries of non-Saudi female employees, with an increase of more than 24 percent, taking the average up to SR2,000.
Overall rise of salaries seen in private sector
Overall rise of salaries seen in private sector
Saudi hospitality boom sparks innovation beyond the plate
- At the Four Seasons Riyadh, Diageo hosted a private tasting at Tonic Bar followed by a 10-course dinner at Julien
- Dinner at Julien paired dishes with drinks made using Tanqueray 0.0, Captain Morgan 0.0, and Guinness 0.0
RIYADH: As restaurants and hotels in Saudi Arabia refine their culinary identities, beverages are increasingly being treated as crafted experiences in their own right, shaped by technique and intention.
At the Four Seasons Riyadh, Diageo hosted a private tasting at Tonic Bar followed by a 10-course dinner at Julien, offering a snapshot of how this evolution is beginning to take shape, as international players and local venues test new approaches to pairing and presentation.
Speaking to Arab News, Nick Rees, marketing director of Diageo MENA, pointed to the rapid growth of the nonalcoholic segment globally and in the region: “There’s a far faster growing percentage of it (the industry) is non-alcohol … There (are) trends globally … A lot of it will be pointed to wellness, mindful drinking.”
Rees said that Saudi Arabia’s fast-developing culinary and hospitality scene calls for beverages that match the level of excellence seen in kitchens across the Kingdom.
“It’s kind of the lack of choices and that’s where we want to be able to provide people the option, and people here absolutely have the same kind of talent and desire as their counterparts behind the kitchen,” he said.
“That’s where our role is to give people the kind of core ingredients for them to be able to work with … we have many more brands that we would love to introduce to the Kingdom.”
The dinner at Julien paired dishes with drinks made using Tanqueray 0.0, Captain Morgan 0.0, and Guinness 0.0, offering a glimpse into the range of styles Diageo is bringing to the market.
Flavor profiles ranged from light and refreshing combinations with cucumber and capers brine to richer, malt-forward blends, each designed to complement the accompanying dishes, from ravioli to black cod.
Rees emphasized that pairing food with thoughtfully crafted beverages is becoming an essential part of the hospitality experience.
“In the Kingdom, we’re looking at giving people the experience that currently is not available to them because I know for sure that the kind of quality and expertise and craftsmanship that can go into creating some of these drinks is absolutely as exciting as the work that the chefs would do with their food,” he said.
Anthony Abou Haider, head of Gulf at Diageo, said the company sees long-term potential in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector.
“It’s such an opportunity to be a part of this transformation journey,” he told Arab News. “We’re not looking for a short-term gain, we’re looking at a very long-term gain here because whatever we do now is building for the future.”
