Expatriates have for many years been the ones running mobile phone repair shops in Saudi Arabia, but now in Riyadh one can find Saudis managing many shops and reaping a portion of the business’s massive profits.
These service shops do not include extensive repairs, but services like helping customers with installing programs, opening accounts online — such as Google, iTunes and others — as well as upgrading mobile phone’s software, transferring mobile data (contacts, multimedia messages and other files) and downloading and installing games.
According to them, they earn an average SR 7,000 per month or more. These young Saudis do not have qualifications, but have acquired their skills by experience.
There is a strong demand for smartphone applications and maintenance. Most customers request services related to smartphone applications, especially chat and music apps.
“Workers in this field have to be honest and have integrity to preserve costumer’s information and privacy,” said Ali Al-Kuraidis, who owns and works in one of the shops. “Currently expatriates constitute 70 percent of those working in the field.”
Sami Al-Ashqar, an 18-year-old who works in one of the shops, said he entered the field because of his childhood passion for technology, as well as the field’s profitability.
“Since I was 16, I have supported myself completely without my father’s support,” he said. When he started out, he worked in a mobile shop making SR 1,500 a month.
Saudis take to mobile repairing
Saudis take to mobile repairing
Little Farm: A Countryside Escape in the Heart of Jeddah
- The farm provides a pleasant setting for capturing memorable photos, especially when children encounter farm animals for the first time
During weekends, I always like to take my 18-month-old son somewhere that stimulates his senses and curiosity. While searching for family-friendly farms in Jeddah, I discovered Little Farm, located in the Al-Manarat district. With a 4.2 rating, it seemed like a convenient nearby option.
My first impression upon entering was very positive. The venue also hosts children’s themed parties, and the cashier explained the available activities, which cater to children as young as one year old. Visitors can access the animal farm area starting from SR39 for both adults and children.
Older children can participate in interactive experiences such as goat milking, which is offered for an additional fee. Visitors can also explore dedicated rabbit and cat halls, both available at an extra charge. These halls allow children to interact with animals from various breeds in a safe environment, under the supervision of trained animal specialists. Another section of the venue is the vertical farm zone, where families can explore hanging fruits and vegetables and learn about modern farming methods.
I purchased tickets for the animal farm and paid an additional SR25 for a basket of animal feed, which included cattle feed, bird food, clover, grains and lettuce. Visitors can keep the reusable straw basket for future visits. The dark brown basket with a blue base adds to the countryside aesthetic. The farm opens daily to visitors at 4:30 p.m.
The maze-like entrance creates the atmosphere of a secret garden. Visitors are first greeted by a group of large turkeys, loudly announcing their presence. I quickly moved toward the duck pond, as ducks are my son’s favorite birds. We enjoyed feeding them lettuce by the water. Both the ducks and the pond were clean, and the experience was enjoyable enough that my son wanted to stay there for the rest of the visit.
We then moved to the turtle enclosure, where the animals appeared active and eager to be fed. In the goat section, children were allowed to hold a baby goat, which quickly became a highlight for many families. We also fed goats and sheep, the farm indeed provided an engaging and educational experience for children. Ponies, cows, donkeys and geese were also there.
The farm provides a pleasant setting for capturing memorable photos, especially when children encounter farm animals for the first time. The reactions are truly priceless.
The animal shelters were clean and spacious, and the farm offers a good variety of animals. Staff members were helpful and welcoming, and overall prices were reasonable for the experience offered. For more information, check the farm’s Instagram account @littlefarmksa.
