Hello friends...how are you...it's been along time I didn't write this blog...some activities trully grap my time. But, I also did my new project creating craft from felt. I did this to fill my spare time and fighting the cold of the winter as well :). By keeping my self busy, I able to keep my body warm. This craft made from felt as the main material. And for the newest project, I made the artificial food. I needled and glued the material to make some food replicates such as cake, fruit, sushi, etc. Then after I finished this food replicates project, I soon try to make dolls and toys. I named these product as KEZIFELT. I took the name Kezi from my mother nick name :).
This time I want to tell you about my experiment changing old chair cover. They are really old and dirty chairs and I try to make over those chairs. We found these chairs at our warehouse, they belong to previous occupants. These chair seem had not been used by the owner, they left them dirty and 2 of them are left at the backyard. I checked the chair shape and tI find hey strong enough to use, but they are very dirty and many of the seat are ripped. I wonder, how can I make over the chairs so we can use them ? This single chair picture show how the chair before make over. Since our wall painted with beige colour and full red carpet, and the chair painted with beige colour as well, I decide to change the cover of the seats in to black and white material. The seat cloth must be represent minimalist style and with contemporer image. I think the colour can make the chairs more modern attractive in the beige-red theme.
Before I find the cloth, I clean up the chair wood. In the beginning, I thougt I have to repaint the chair wood with white colour. But I withdraw the idea, because I'm afraid of losing the wood fiber and they will become cold and pale. Since the wood are dirty, I use Clorax, a bleaching concentrate, to clean every grimy spot. And it work out.
Now the problem is finding the cloth to cover the seat. And I can tell, it's really hard to find cloth near our residence. Then a friend take us to Pinoy Mall near Al Batha Market. There, I find store selling bed cover and pillow cover. They sell 2 pillow cover for 2 SR (1 US$=3,75 SR). Cheap enough. And guess what..they have the colour I want. A contemporer minimalist black-white theme. Yeyyy!
After we arrived at home, I can't wait to start repair the chairs. How I did it? First, I cut the pillow cover into two parts. One part for one chair. I used flat screwdriver and a hammer to cover the seat. First, I put the cloth to the seat, and then I inserted the cloth marge in to the seat sidelines with screwdriver. I used hammer to knock the screwdriver so the seat can be tidy. And here they are :
Since the chairs look nice, I put it at the parlor so we don't have to buy coach. We are going to move at the next 2,5 years, and I think 1500 SR coach too expensive to throw away at the end of 2012. I plan to use the coach budget to buy gold at Batha Market :). Smart spending I guess, change an unproductive item budget to productive good. They really have big different, the first one won't have rising price at the end of 2012, instead it become useless object. And the second one, gold, I believe will have big increasing price. You don't believe that? You can check the gold price for 15 years at www.kitco.com, click the graphic, and you can find the price is rising steadily. Still, i think it is a smart spending :)
Well friends, I hope this article can be usefull for you and the rest of family.. :) Thanks for reading...have a nice day... :)
This morning I just realized that I haven't doing sport exercises since moved to Riyadh. I couldn't do jogging since we don't have a babysitting. And I think I eat too much while being officially 100% housemother a month ago. When I was in Jakarta, I used to do jogging 2 or 3 times a week to keep my muscle strength (even it really hard to do and the effect didn't work well..hahahhahahha).
Do you know Nicole Scherzinger, singer of Pussycat Doll? What I envy most from her is her flat stomache. D*m*, that's really perfect. How do she get that?
Since I have to stay at home all day, wheter nurturing my daughter or avoiding the hot of Saudi Arabia summer, I questioned my self : What can I do to strengten my muscle specially my abdomen muscle while at home?
It will be easy to answer when we go directly to youtube and ask about it..hahaha....
I find few tips from internet as following :
Sit ups are probably the best known and easiest to do and need no weights. It has to start with few repetitions and build up as the muscles get used to it. This is how to do it.
Lay on your back and bend your knees( makes it easier on the back), perhaps with feet under something to keep feet on the floor. Cross arms across your chest and raise your shoulders and upper half of your back of the floor. Don't sit up all the way as this will start to use other muscles and you want to concentrate on one group.
To start try a repetition of 10 at a time breathing in as you lift and out as you relax back down again.
Another technique is to stand up and suck your stomach muscles in then release them by 'snapping' them out again repeat this a few times.
Then I checked youtube and find some great exercise videos :)
Helo guys...how are you..nice to see you again through this article...
This morning I wonder, where we will be going after the end of Summer? Since my husband is on duty at New Delhi, I have plenty time to browsing the net... :) Then I start browse the net and entering http://www.splendidrabia.com . There I find interesting place : THE ZOO ! Yeah, Riyadh Zoo at Malaz. At the beautifully spread out landscape and marvelously set terrains, this zoological park has an area of 55 acres and consists of more than 1500 animals in 40 species that let ones good amount of time to be spent in an animal world. The zoo was opened in the year 1987.
What interesting place to visit specially for my daughter. Furthermore, I need to take a lot of animal pictures and change them into cartoon image and start to write my new children ebook. I'll share the ebook in this blog as soon as possible for free (Hopefully they can be completed soon :) ).
I can find information about the zoo at this website as following : 1. The best time to visit the zoo will be during winter due to the fact that during summer, most of the animals prefer to stay in shadowy interiors 2. You have prayer halls, toilets, restaurants and small cafes inside the zoo. 3. A good number of species in the zoo are on the world's endangered species list. 4. They held a show : Two harbor seals demonstrate its talents to get hold of its food from the trainer. 5. The best time to visit for family is Thursday and Friday. 6. Timing for visitors :
Weekdays
Morning (8:30AM-12:00PM)
Evening (1:00PM-Sunset)
Saturday
closes for (maintenance)
Sunday
men
Monday
women
Tuesday
men
family
Wednesday
women
family
Thursday
family (from 9:00am till sunset)
Friday
family (from afternoon till sunset)
What can we enjoy there? Here are the informations provide by the website :
You get a flamingo welcome as you enter the gates of the zoo. A large amount of these wading birds, native to tropical brackish waters, in its free world are a real attraction of the zoo.
An appreciable factor at the zoo is the accurate setting of the landscapes and terrains for the animals that suites its natural habitat
White peacock after a dance.
A Giant tortoise 'rushing' for a meal.
A train journey for about 20 minutes inside the zoo covers a good portion of the zoo that multiplies the entertainment of kids, adults and old alike.Interesting enough to visit huh? :) I hope this article will inspire you to enjoy these animals...Thank you for reading...
These are the english based websites which provide informations about Saudi Arabia or Riyadh. I find shoping, traveling and tour places through these websites. Here are the websites :
http://www.arriyadh.com : provide information about places in Riyadh such as shopping center, hospitals, hotels, shopping event, etc. You can get information about Riyadh big sale here...it's pretty tempting :)
http://www.saudiembassy.net : provide general information about Saudi Arabia and it's contain complete rule of law issued in Saudi arabia.
http://www.splendidarabia.com : provide information and photos about interesting places we may want to visit around Saudi Arabia. It's a very attractive website !
Why women can't be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia?
This question has been throwing by many expatriat women for getting the reason of this regulation. Expatriat women in Saudi Arabia came from countries which allowed women to drive and get shocked by the Saudi Arabia regulation that forbidden women to drive. This regulation seems difficult to understand and does slowing down expatriat women to move around. We have to wait husband or a male driver to go to place we want to. But to me, it seems like a temporaly resigning house mother self driver..hahhaha...I was an independent house mother while living at Jakarta. Plus, my husband went to Riyadh at 2009, so I live as single mother for a year. I used to drive motorcycle myself under the hot sunshine of Jakarta also breath vehicles smokes around Jakarta. It's a tough life, so i really enjoy this circumtances which let me spoiled by my husband driving to drive wherever i want...hahhahahha....and also, this situation reduce my shopaholic desease so we can raise our savings :). Well mothers, if you curious about why this regulation issued by the government of Saudi Arabia, I have collected answer from internet as following :
From answer.yahoo.com : Saudi Arabia not only prohibits women from driving but also from voting, among many other things (note : Saudi Arabia women allowed to vote since 2009). One of the users above said that it is to protect women because there are crazy male drivers. Not true, the excuse most Saudis give is that women are uncontrollable and emotionally unable to drive. It has nothing to do with Islam, Saudi Arabia is just really conservative and somewhat oppressive of Muslim women and their freedom. Contrary to current beliefs, things are changing in Saudi Arabia. Women will be able to vote in 2009, they are rethinking the driving issue and will allow them to start sooner or later, women don't have to cover anymore, they go to places by themselves, etc. Islam gives women the freedom to do many things, it just has to do with the governments ignorance of women.
From thetruthaboutcars.com : As the Associated Press reports, Saudi Arabia's prohibition against women driving is not based on secular or Islamic law. It's down to fatwas issued by senior Islamic clerics, who claim driving "creates situations for sinful temptation".
From washingtonpost.com : Saudi women still can't drive cars, but they can sell them. Potential buyers can go to an all-women showroom where, for the first time, other women will help them choose a car and answer questions about horsepower, carburetors and other automotive features.Neither the saleswomen nor the female buyers can take a car out for a test drive because women are banned from driving in Saudi Arabia -- even though they have been allowed to own cars for decades and hire male drivers. Almost half the autos belong to women. The kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam has long limited what women can do outside the home, seeking to keep them from coming into contact with men who aren't relatives.
From www.telegraph.co.uk :
By Damien McElroy in Riyadh Published: 12:01AM GMT 21 Jan 2008
Saudi Arabia is to lift its ban on women drivers in an attempt to stem a rising suffragette-style movement in the deeply conservative state.
Government officials have confirmed the landmark decision and plan to issue a decree by the end of the year.
The move is designed to forestall campaigns for greater freedom by women, which have recently included protesters driving cars through the Islamic state in defiance of a threat of detention and loss of livelihoods.
The royal family has previously balked at granting women driving permits, claiming the step did not have full public support. The driving ban dates back to the establishment of the state in 1932, although recently the government line has weakened.
"There has been a decision to move on this by the Royal Court because it is recognised that if girls have been in schools since the 1960s, they have a capability to function behind the wheel when they grow up," a government official told The Daily Telegraph. "We will make an announcement soon."
Abdulaziz bin Salamah, the deputy information minister, said the official reform programme had been dogged by debate over the issue.
"In terms of women driving, we don't have it now because of the reticence of some segments of society," he said. "For example, my mother wouldn't want my sister to drive.
"It's something she cannot grapple with. But there is change on the way. I think the fair view is that one can be against it but one does not have the right to prevent it."
If the ban on women driving is lifted, it could be years before the full impact is seen. Practical hurdles stopping women obtaining licences and insurance must be overcome.
Mohammad al-Zulfa, a reformist member of the Saudi consultative Shura Council, which scrutinises official policies in the oil-rich state, said reversing the ban was part of King Abdullah's "clever" strategy of incremental reform.
"When it was first raised, the extremists were really mad," he said. "Now they just complain. It is diminishing into a form of consent."
Saudi Arabia maintains a strict segregation of the sexes outside the family home.
An unaccompanied woman must shop behind curtains and cannot hail a taxi.
Critics believe allowing women to drive would be the first step towards a gradual erosion of the kingdom's modesty laws. A woman would have to remove the traditional abaya robe to get a clear view behind the wheel.
"Allowing women to drive will only bring sin," a letter to Al-Watan newspaper declared last year. "The evils it would bring - mixing between the genders, temptations, and tarnishing the reputation of devout Muslim women - outweigh the benefits."
Saudi women have mounted growing protests. Fouzia al-Ayouni, the country's most prominent women's rights campaigner, has risked arrest by leading convoys of women drivers. "We have broken the barrier of fear," she said. "We want the authorities to know that we're here, that we want to drive, and that many people feel the way we do."
Well..that's all i got gals... :( Perhaps there are a lot of good answer provide by arabian language based websites. But I can't speak or read arabic, and bablefish.altavista.com doesn't provide arabic-english translation. Perhaps you have a better answer?
Saudis prefer traditional clothes to Western styles of dress, and generally wear modern adaptations of age-old designs. The loose, flowing traditional garments are practical for the Kingdom’s hot, windswept climate, and in keeping with the Islamic ideal of modesty.
Men Men wear an ankle-length shirt of wool or cotton known as a thawb. On their heads, they wear a large square of cotton (ghutra) that is folded diagonally over a skullcap (kufiyyah), and held in place with a cord circlet (igaal). The flowing, full-length outer cloak (bisht), generally made of wool or camel hair, completes the outfit. In the old days, the bisht was also used as a blanket while traveling.
Women
Women customarily wear a black outer cloak (abaya) over their dress, which may well be modern in style. On their heads, Saudi women traditionally wear a shayla – a black, gauzy scarf that is wrapped around the head and secured with circlets, hats or jewelry. Traditional dress is often richly decorated with coins, sequins or brightly colored fabric appliqués.
Some Saudi women wear veils made of sheer material. The practice of wearing a veil is an ancient one that dates back at least two millennia, before the advent of Islam. In a harsh desert environment, a thin veil provides protection from constant exposure to the sun, which can damage the skin and eyes. Today, a veil is also a sign of modesty and virtue.
Jewelry Jewelry has been an essential part of Arabian dress for thousands of years. More than just personal decoration, jewelry symbolized social and economic status. For the migrant Bedouins, it was also an easily transportable form of wealth and security.
Traditional jewelry was mostly made of silver, although gold was also used. Jewelers used stones such as turquoise, garnets and amber from the Kingdom’s rich mines, and pearls and coral from the coastal areas. Tiny bells, coins and chains were also used for decoration. Designs primarily evolved from Islamic calligraphy and motifs, and featured intricate patterns of geometric shapes, leaves, crescents and flowers.
Today, Saudi women still receive gifts of jewelry from their husbands when they marry or have children. Unlike their ancestors, who received large amounts of bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces as part of their dowry, modern Saudi women wear jewelry in traditional and contemporary designs with diamonds and a variety of precious metals. Solid gold bracelets remain a traditional gift for girls.
The most famous cultural event in Saudi Arabia is the Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival, organized each year by the National Guard. For two weeks a year, the festival gives over a million Saudis a glimpse into the past.
First held in 1985, the festival highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to keeping the traditional culture and crafts of Saudi Arabia alive.
Opening with a traditional camel race, the festival includes almost every aspect of Saudi culture. Artisans, such as potters, woodworkers and weavers, demonstrate their traditional crafts in small shops with typical palm-frond-roofed porches. Visitors can also stroll through the past in a heritage village, which resides permanently in Jenadriyah.
At these exhibits one may watch a metalsmith fashion a traditional brass and copper coffee pot. A wood carver slowly transforms a piece of wood into a saddle frame. Basket makers weave palm fronds and straw into hats, baskets and containers decorated with colorful designs. A potter using a foot-powered wheel shapes clay into bowls and water jars. Leather is cut and shaped into sandals, pouches and bags. Large planks are cut and fashioned into doors and windows that have intricate carvings and inlays.
Blacksmiths heat chunks of iron in a furnace and hammer them into gleaming swords and daggers. A tailor hand-sews golden threads into the collar of a man’s cloak. Jewelers fuse precious metals and mount semi-precious stones to make intricate bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Craftsman put together ingenious wooden pulleys used in the old days to laboriously draw water from wells for irrigating crops.
In addition, folklore troupes perform the ardha and other national dances, while singers from around the Kingdom perform traditional songs and music. Literary figures from across the country participate in poetry competitions between contemporary poets reciting historic verses.
The culture of Saudi Arabia is a rich one that has been shaped by its Islamic heritage, its historical role as an ancient trade center, and its Bedouin traditions.
Saudi society has experienced tremendous development over the past several decades. The Saudi people have taken their values and traditions – their customs, hospitality and even their style of dress – and adapted them to the modern world.
The Crossroads of the World Located at the center of important ancient trade routes, the Arabian people were enriched by many different civilizations. As early as 3,000 BC, Arabian merchants were part of a far-reaching trade network that extended to south Asia, the Mediterranean and Egypt. They served as a vital link between India and the Far East on one side, and Byzantium and the Mediterranean lands on the other.
The introduction of Islam in the 7th century AD further defined the region’s culture. Within a century of its birth in the Arabian Peninsula, Islam had spread west to the Atlantic Ocean and east to India and China. It fostered a dynamic period of great learning in culture, science, philosophy and the arts known as the Islamic “Golden Age.”
And every year for the past 14 centuries, Muslim pilgrims from around the world travel to holy sites in Makkah and Madinah, further enriching the region’s culture. The pilgrims brought ivory from Africa and carpets from the East, and took local goods back to their homelands.
When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formed in 1932, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman dedicated himself to preserving Arab traditions and culture, and his sons and successors have done the same.
Arab and Islamic Traditions Saudi traditions are rooted in Islamic teachings and Arab customs, which Saudis learn about at an early age from their families and in schools.
The highlights of the year are the holy month of Ramadan and the Hajj (pilgrimage) season, and the national holidays that follow them. The holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, culminates with the Eid-Al-Fitr holiday, in which it is customary to buy presents and clothes for children and visit friends and relatives.
The other highlight is the Hajj season, during which millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world come to Makkah. The Hajj season concludes with the Eid Al-Adha holiday, in which it is traditional for families to slaughter a sheep in memory of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
Arab traditions also play an important role in Saudi life. These age-old traditions have evolved over the millennia and are highly regarded. They include generosity and hospitality, which every Saudi family offers to strangers, friends, and family. The simplest expression of hospitality is coffee – its preparation alone is an intricate cultural tradition, and it is often served in small cups along with dates and sweets. Another gesture of hospitality is the burning of incense (oud) to welcome guests.
Saudi Arabian culture mainly revolves around both Islamic and tribal values. Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, are located in the country. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country. The weekend begins on Thursday due to Friday being the holiest day for Muslims. Most Muslim countries have a Thursday-Friday or Friday-Saturday weekend.[45] Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage is celebrated at the annual Jenadriyah cultural festival.
Music and dance
One of Saudi Arabia's most compelling folk rituals is the Al Ardha, the country's national dance. This sword dance is based on ancient Bedouin traditions: drummers beat out a rhythm and a poet chants verses while sword-carrying men dance shoulder to shoulder. Al-sihba folk music, from the Hejaz, has its origins in al-Andalus. In Mecca, Medina and Jeddah, dance and song incorporate the sound of the mizmar, an oboe-like woodwind instrument in the performance of the Mizmar dance. The drum is also an important instrument according to traditional and tribal customs. Samri is a popular traditional form of music and dance in which poetry is sung especially in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Musical tradition depends heavily on the modern Arabian oud.
* Al Ardha (Arabic: العرضة) is a type of folkloric dance performed by the Bedouin tribes of the Arabian peninsula, It was tradition only performed before going to war, but nowadays is performed at celebrations or cultural events, such as the Jenadriyah festival. The dance, which is performed by men carrying swords or canes, is accompanied by drums and spoken verse. * Mizmar (Arabic: مزمار) is the name of a folkloric dance native to the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. The dance involves moving while twirling a bamboo cane (tool)cane, to the music of drums. * Samri (Arabic: سامري)is the name of a folkloric music and dance. It involves singing poetry while the daff drum is being played. Two rows of men, seated on the knees sway to the rhythm.
Dress
Saudi Arabian dress follows strictly the principles of hijab (the Islamic principle of modesty, especially in dress). The predominantly loose and flowing but covering garments are helpful in Saudi Arabia's desert climate. Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton (known as a thawb), with a keffiyeh (a large checkered square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) or a ghutra (a plain white square made of finer cotton, also held in place by a cord coil) worn on the head. For rare chilly days, Saudi men wear a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. Women's clothes are decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread, and appliques. Women are required to wear an abaya or modest clothing when in public.
* Ghutrah (Arabic: غتره)Is a traditional headdress typically worn by Arab men made of a square of cloth (“scarf”), usually cotton, folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is commonly found in arid climate areas to provide protection from direct sun exposure, as well as for occasional use in protecting the mouth and eyes from blown dust and sand. * Agal (Arabic: عقال) Is an Arab headdress constructed of cord which is fastened around the Ghutrah to hold it in place. The agal is usually black in colour. * Thawb (Arabic: ثوب) Thawb is the standard Arabic word for garment. Its an ankle-length usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe. * Bisht (Arabic: بشت) Is a traditional Arabic men’s cloak usually only worn for prestige on special occasions such as weddings
Cuisine
Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost all meals. Other staples include lamb, grilled chicken, falafel (deep-fried chickpea balls), shawarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), and hummus (a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon). Traditional coffeehouses used to be ubiquitous, but are now being displaced by food-hall style cafes. Arabic tea is also a famous custom, which is used in both casual and formal meetings between friends, family and even strangers. The tea is black (without milk) and has herbal flavoring that comes in many variations. Islamic dietary laws forbid the eating of pork and the drinking of alcohol, and this law is enforced strictly throughout Saudi Arabia.
Film and theater
During the 1970s, cinemas were numerous in the Kingdom and were not considered a deviation from religious norms, although they were pressured from tribal norms.[46]. It was only during the Islamic revival movement during the 1980s that Islamic Ulams's teaching influnced the government's Cinema policy. Public theaters and cinemas were prohibited as several Saudi ulama(expertise in Islamic studies) deemed those institutions to be incompatible with Islam. However, lately (as of 2009), a reform is undergone in the country in which several cinemas and movies had been shown under serious objections raised by several Saudi groups.[47] Also an IMAX theater is available,[48] and in private compounds such as Dhahran and Ras Tanura public theaters can be found, but often are more popular for local music, arts, and theatre productions rather than the exhibition of motion pictures. DVDs, including American and British movies, are legal and widely available.
Literature Some Saudi novelists have had their books published in Beirut, Lebanon, because of censorship in Saudi Arabia. Despite signs of increasing openness, Saudi novelists and artists in film, theatre, and the visual arts face greater restrictions on their freedom of expression than in the West. Contemporary Saudi novelists include:
* Abdul Rahman Munif (exiled, now deceased) * Yousef Al-Mohaimeed * Rajaa al-Sanea * Abdu Khal * Turki al-Hamad (subject of a fatwā and death threats) * Ali al-Domaini
(Wikipedia) * Ahmed Abodehman (now writes in French) * Abdullah Al-Qasemi
Religion
Due to the legal framework of the country, which does not provide legal protection for freedom of religion, the public practice of non-Muslim religions is prohibited. Though according to a 2009 Pew Forum report, there are about 25 million people who are Muslims, or 97 percent of the total population.
Education
When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, education was not accessible to everyone and limited to individualized instruction at religious schools in mosques in urban areas. These schools taught Islamic law and basic literacy skills. By the end of the century, Saudi Arabia had a nationwide educational system providing free training from preschool through university to all citizens.
The primary education system began in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s. By 1945, King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud, the country's founder, had initiated an extensive program to establish schools in the Kingdom. Six years later, in 1951, the country had 226 schools with 29,887 students. In 1954, the Ministry of Education was established, headed by then Prince Fahd bin Abdulaziz as the first Minister of Education. The first university, now known as King Saud University, was founded in Riyadh in 1957.
Today, Saudi Arabia's nationwide public educational system comprises twenty eight (28) universities, more than 24,000 schools, and a large number of colleges and other educational and training institutions. The system provides students with free education, books and health services and is open to every Saudi. Over 25 percent of the annual State budget is for education including vocational training. The Kingdom has also worked on scholarship programs to send students overseas to the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and other nations. Currently thousands of students are being sent to higher-educations programs every year.
There is one university only in Mecca, the Umm Al Qura University which was founded in 1981.
The study of Islam remains at the core of the Saudi educational system. The Islamic aspect of the Saudi national curriculum is examined in a 2006 report by Freedom House.[The report found that in religious education classes (in any religious school), children are taught to respect other religions, in addition to other branches of Islam.The Saudi religious studies curriculum is taught outside the Kingdom in madrasah throughout the world.
Royal Decree No.(M/38), 28 Rajab 1422 [15 October 2001] Umm al-Qura No.(3867), 17 Sha'ban 1422 [2 November 2001]
PART ONE
DEFINITION OF THE PRACTICE OF LAW AND ITS REQUIREMENTS
Article 1 : As herein used, the phrase “law practice” shall mean representation of third parties before courts of law, the Board of Grievances, and other committees as may be set up pursuant to laws, decrees and decisions to consider the cases falling within their respective jurisdictions. It shall also mean rendering consultancy services based on the principles of Shari'ah and the rule of law. Whoever practices this profession shall be called a lawyer. Any person shall be entitled to litigate for himself.
Article 2 : The Ministry of Justice shall prepare a general list of the names of practicing lawyers and another list of non-practicing lawyers, as of the time of registration. The two lists shall include the particulars specified by the implementing regulations of this Code. The Ministry of Justice shall transfer the name of a lawyer who ceases to practice the profession for a period exceeding one year from the list of practicing lawyers to the list of non-practicing lawyers subject to the restrictions included in the implementing regulations of this Code.
Article 3 : A person who practices law shall have his name included in the list of practicing lawyers, and shall satisfy the following requirements:
He must be a Saudi national. However, a non-Saudi shall be entitled to practice law subject to the terms of agreements concluded between the Kingdom and other countries.
He must be a holder of a degree from a Shari'ah college or a bachelor of law from one of the Kingdom's universities or an equivalent of any of these degrees obtained from abroad, or a post-graduate diploma of legal studies from the Institute of Public Administration .
He must have at least three years of practical legal experience. This period may be reduced to one year for a holder of a Master's degree in Shari'ah or in law, or an equivalent of any of these degrees, or a post-graduate diploma in law for the graduates of a Shari'ah college. This requirement shall not apply to a holder of a doctorate in these fields of specialization.
He must be of good conduct and not under interdiction.
He must not have been subjected to any hadd (Qur'anic prescribed punishment) or any other sentence in connection with a crime that impugns integrity, except where a minimum period of five years has expired since execution of that sentence.
He must be a resident of the Kingdom.
The Minister of Justice shall cause to be prepared a declaration form to be signed by the applicant wherein he confirms that the requirements of paragraphs stated in (d), (e), and (f) of this article have been complied with.
Article 4 : The provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 3 shall not apply to an applicant who has previously practiced as a judge in the Kingdom for a minimum period of three years.
Article 5 : The application for registration shall conform to the form specified in the implementing regulations of this Code and shall be submitted to the ‘Lawyers Registration and Admission Committee' that shall be formed as follows:
A deputy of the Ministry of Justice to be appointed by the Minister of Justice, as Chairman.
A representative of the Board of Grievances whose rank shall not be less than the rank of a Chief of a Court of class A, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of Grievances, as a member.
A lawyer who has been practicing law for a minimum period of five years, to be appointed by the Minister of Justice, as a member.
The competent authority shall name a substitute in case of absence of a member of this committee. The term of membership of this committee shall be three years renewable for another term.
Article 6 : The committee provided for in Article 5 shall meet with all members present, and its decisions shall be adopted by majority vote. The committee shall ensure that the provisions stated herein have been complied with, and shall decide on any application, if complete, within a period not exceeding thirty days from the date of filing. In case of rejection of any application, the reasons for such rejection must be stated if so requested. An aggrieved applicant may file an appeal with the Board of Grievances within sixty days from the date on which he is notified of the decision adopted by this committee.
Article 7 : Following registration on the list, a license to practice law shall be granted pursuant to a resolution by the Minister of Justice, in conformance with the form specified in the implementing regulations of this Code. This license shall be valid for a term of five years and may be renewed in accordance with the conditions herein provided for. Upon the issuance of a license, the applicant shall pay a fee in the amount of SR 2,000, and shall pay SR1,000 for each renewal.
Article 8 : The Ministry of Justice shall notify the courts of law, the Board of Grievances, and the committees referred to in Article 1 herein of the names of lawyers who have been registered in the list of practicing lawyers, immediately upon the issuance or renewal of the license. A list showing the names and addresses of practicing lawyers shall be prepared and kept at the court and at the Board of Grievances. This list shall be available for perusal by any interested party.
Article 9 : A lawyer who ceases to practice the profession for a period exceeding one year shall notify the Ministry of Justice in a form to be specified by the implementing regulations of this Code.
Article 10 : A professional partnership for practicing law may be formed by two or more of the lawyers whose names are registered in the list subject to the requirements of the Professional Partnerships Regulations.
PART TWO
DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF LAWYERS
Article 11 : A lawyer shall practice the profession in accordance with the Shari'ah and laws in force. He shall refrain from any act that compromises the dignity of the profession and shall comply with the relevant rules and instructions.
Article 12 : A lawyer shall not refer to personal matters concerning his client's adversary or representative, and shall refrain from any offensive language or accusation, as may have a negative impact on integrity.
Article 13 : Subject to Article 12, a lawyer may choose whatever strategy he may deem appropriate for defending the interests of his client and, in so doing, shall not be questioned in connection with the content of his written or oral arguments.
Article 14 :
(1) A lawyer shall not personally, or through another lawyer, accept any case or render any advice against his present or former employer except after the expiry of a minimum period of five years from the date of termination of his relation with that employer.
(2) A lawyer who acts for a client on a part-time basis pursuant to a contract shall not accept any case or render any advice against that client before the expiry of three years following termination of that contract.
Article 15 : A lawyer shall neither personally nor through another lawyer agree to represent an adversary of his client or otherwise provide him with any assistance, even in the form of an opinion, in connection with a case that he has previously handled or in connection with any other related matter even after expiry of his power of attorney.
Article 16 : Anyone who has been a judge prior to practicing law shall not personally, or through another lawyer, accept a case that has previously come before him.
Article 17 : Anyone who has previously provided an opinion in connection with a certain case, whether as an employee or an arbitrator or an expert, shall not accept that case.
Article 18 : The lawyers whose names are registered on the list of practicing lawyers shall be exclusively entitled to litigate on behalf of third parties before courts of law or the Board of Grievances or the committees referred to in Article 1 hereunder.
By way of exception, third parties may be represented by the following:
An attorney-in-fact in one to three cases. If he has previously handled three cases on behalf of three different persons, he shall not be entitled to represent any other party.
Husbands, in-laws, or any next-of-kin up to the fourth degree.
A legal representative of a corporate person.
A trustee, a guardian, and an administrator of an endowment in connection with their trusteeship, guardianship, and administration cases.
An administrator of the public treasury with respect to matters within his jurisdiction, pursuant to the law and regulations.
Article 19 : The courts of law, the Board of Grievances, the committees referred to in Article 1 hereof, government agencies, and the investigation authorities shall facilitate the lawyer's discharge of his assignment, and shall enable him to attend any interrogation and peruse any relevant documents. His request shall not be denied except for a valid reason.
Article 20 : A lawyer or an attorney-in-fact shall present the original deed of his power of attorney or a certified copy thereof to the court, the Board of Grievances, or the committees referred to in Article 1 hereof. These documents shall be presented during the first hearing of the case. Should the principal attend any hearing with his lawyer, the clerk, or whoever is so acting shall record that in the proper minutes, and this entry shall constitute a power of attorney. If the lawyer is in possession of a duly certified general power of attorney entitling him to represent one of the litigants, he shall be relieved from filing the original deed, or he may present the original deed and a copy thereof, and the judge shall verify that copy against the original deed.
Article 21 : Each lawyer shall have one or more places of business for handling the cases entrusted to his care and shall notify the Ministry of Justice of the address of his place of business and of any change of address.
Article 22 : Upon expiration of a power of attorney, the lawyer in charge of the case shall, on demand, return to his principal the deed of power of attorney and the original documentation. However, if his fees have not been paid, he shall be entitled to make copies, at the expense of his principal, of all supporting documents, and shall retain the original papers and documents until the principal has paid the fees due and the cost of making copies thereof. A lawyer is not under any obligation to deliver to his principal the drafts of the documents he has filed with the court or any letters addressed to him. However, he must, on demand, provide his principal, at his principal's expense, with copies of these documents.
Article 23 : A lawyer shall not disclose any confidential information which has been communicated to him or of which he has become aware in the course of practicing his profession even after expiration of his power of attorney, unless such non-disclosure constitutes a violation of a Shari'ah requirement. Similarly, he shall not, without a legitimate cause, decline to represent his client before the case has been concluded.
Article 24 : A claim filed by a principal against his lawyer in connection with the documents deposited with that lawyer shall not be heard after the expiry of a period of five years from the date on which that lawyer completed his assignment, except where such documents have been claimed by registered mail, with an acknowledgement of receipt, prior to expiry of that period, in which case computation of that period shall run from the date of receipt of that mail.
Article 25 : A lawyer shall not be entitled to purchase any or all of the disputed rights in respect of which he was the appointed representative.
Article 26 : The lawyer's fees and method of payment shall be determined by agreement with his client. If there was no such agreement, or if the agreement was disputed or void, such fees shall be assessed by the court that has adjudicated that case, pursuant to a request by either the lawyer or the client, consistent with the effort expended by the lawyer and the benefit obtained by the client. This rule shall also apply to any subsidiary claim ensuing from the original case.
Article 27 : A client shall be entitled to dismiss his lawyer; however, he shall pay all the fees agreed upon if it is established that such dismissal was without valid cause, except where the competent court decides otherwise with respect to such dismissal or to the full payment of the fees.
Article 28 : In case of death of the lawyer, and if his heirs and the client fail to agree on the fees, the competent court shall assess such fees consistent with the effort exerted by the deceased, the benefit obtained by the client, the stage of the proceedings, and the concluded agreement.
PART THREE
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Article 29 :
First: The name of a lawyer shall be struck from the list and his license revoked in case a hadd (Qur'anic prescribed punishment) or any other punishment in connection with a crime that impugns integrity has been entered against him.
Second: Without prejudice to a claim for compensation by any aggrieved party or to any other claim, any lawyer who violates the provisions of this Code or its implementing regulations, or commits a breach of his professional duties or any act as may be incompatible with the professional standards shall be subject to one of the following sanctions:
Warning
Reprimand
Suspension of practice for a period not exceeding three years
Striking his name off the list and revoking his license.
Article 30 : The Public Prosecutor shall, either of his own accord or pursuant to instructions by the Minister of Justice or any court of law or the Board of Grievances or any of the committees referred to in Article 1 of this Code, initiate disciplinary proceedings against the said lawyer.
Article 31 : The Minister of Justice shall, pursuant to a resolution, set up one or more committees to consider the imposition of the sanctions provided for in Article 29 hereof. This committee shall be called the ‘Disciplinary Board', and it shall consist of a judge and two experts, one of whom is to be selected from the class of lawyers who have been practicing the profession for a minimum period of ten years. The Minister of Justice shall appoint one of the board members to act as Chairman. Membership of this Board shall be for a term of three years and shall be renewable for a similar period.
The meetings of the Board shall be attended by all members and its decisions shall be taken by majority vote. These decisions shall be appealable to the Board of Grievances within sixty days from the date of notifying the lawyer concerned of the sanctions imposed on him.
Article 32 : The lawyer shall be summoned to appear before the Disciplinary Board. This summons shall give a short account of the violation of which he is charged and of the evidence thereof, at least fifteen days prior to the date set for the hearing. The lawyer may appear in person or be represented by another lawyer. The Disciplinary Board may require his personal appearance, and if he fails to appear after having been summoned twice, the Board may issue a default decision.
Article 33 : The decision of the Disciplinary Board shall be issued after the prosecution and lawyer's defense have been heard. The reasoning for such decision must be stated. The decision and the reasoning thereof shall be read out in full in a closed session. The Ministry of Justice shall, within fifteen days from the effective date of the final decision, notify the courts of law, the Board of Grievances and the competent authorities of that decision. Such decisions shall be kept in a special register. In all cases, disciplinary actions shall be communicated by a member of the Disciplinary Board. Delivery of a copy of the decision to the lawyer concerned in an official manner shall be treated as adequate notice. When the decision has become final, whether it be striking off the lawyer's name from the list or suspension of his practice, only the decision thereof shall be published, at the lawyer's expense, in one or more of the papers issued in the locality of the lawyer's place of business. Should there be no paper in that locality, it shall be published in a paper in the nearest locality.
Article 34 : After having been notified or provided with a copy of a default decision, the lawyer concerned shall have fifteen days to appeal. The appeal shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Board, either by the lawyer concerned or through his representative.
Article 35 : Upon suspending a lawyer from practicing law, his name shall be transferred from the list of practicing lawyers to the list of non-practicing lawyers. A suspended lawyer shall not be entitled to conduct his practice throughout the duration of suspension, failing which his name may be struck off the lawyers' list and his license may be revoked. The Minister of Justice may, pursuant to a recommendation by the committee provided for in Article 5 hereof, issue instructions relating to pending cases that were being handled by suspended lawyers.
Article 36 : A lawyer whose name has been struck off the list pursuant to a decision issued by a disciplinary board may, after three years from the effective date of that decision, apply to the Lawyers Registration and Admission Committee to reinstate his name.
Article 37 : A term of imprisonment not exceeding one year and a minimum fine of SR30,000, or both, may be imposed on:
A person who holds himself out as a lawyer or practices law in violation of the provisions of this Code.
A lawyer who practices law after his name has been struck off the list. These forms of punishments shall be imposed by a competent court.
PART FOUR
GENERAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Article 38 : Saudi lawyers and consultants who hold valid licenses issued by the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Commerce pursuant to the regulations that were then in force may continue their practice, provided that they shall, within five years from the effective date hereof, file applications to the Lawyers Registration and Admission Committee referred to in Article 5 hereof for registration. This commission shall have their names registered on the list and provide them with new licenses pursuant to the provisions of this Code. The competent authority that had previously issued these licenses shall send to the said committee all the papers and other documents pursuant to which these licenses were issued. However, the Minister of Justice may extend the period herein specified to a maximum not exceeding five years for Saudi lawyers who are holding such licenses as long as they satisfy the requirements provided for in Article 3 herein, excluding the qualification requirement referred to in paragraph (b) of the said article, provided they pay the renewal fees referred to in Article 7 hereof.
Article 39 : Subject to the stipulations of paragraph (a) of Article 3 hereof, non-Saudis who hold valid licenses that have been issued prior to the implementation of the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 116, dated 12/7/1400H, may continue to practice as consultants, but only on a temporary basis, subject to the following conditions:
A non-Saudi shall carry out his practice on a full time basis.
He shall not litigate before courts of law, the Board of Grievances, or the committees referred to in Article 1 hereof; and the competent authorities shall not allow him to litigate.
He shall reside in the Kingdom for a minimum period of nine months a year.
He shall satisfy the requirements for registration, excluding citizenship.
Copies of his qualifications and his old license shall be filed with the Ministry of Justice within six months of the date of implementation of this Code.
The Ministry of Justice shall prepare a special register for licensed non-Saudis, and shall provide them with temporary permits. The Minister of Justice shall determine the particulars to be entered in this register and in the license. He shall also specify the duration and expiry date of such license. A license shall be deemed terminated by force of law should any of the requirements mentioned herein be lacking.
Article 40 : A lawyer licensed pursuant to Article 39 may have his own practice or may enter into partnership with a Saudi lawyer. Such lawyer shall not be entitled to seek the assistance of a non-Saudi lawyer, whether he be a sole practitioner or partnership.
Article 41 : A Saudi lawyer and any lawyer holding a license pursuant to paragraph (a) of Article 3 hereof may be assisted in his practice, where necessary, by one or more non-Saudi lawyers pursuant to an employment agreement, under his responsibility and supervision, subject to the following conditions:
The licensed lawyer shall attend to his practice regularly and shall sign all correspondence issued by his firm in connection with the relevant cases. However, he may delegate his authority to any of the Saudi lawyers or to any other lawyer who is licensed pursuant to paragraph (a) of Article 3 hereof.
A non-Saudi lawyer shall satisfy the requirements for registration, excluding citizenship, and shall have a minimum of five years of practical experience.
His practice shall be restricted to providing assistance and the preparation of submissions in the name of the lawyer who is holding the license. He shall not represent third parties before courts of law, the Board of Grievances, or the committees referred to in Article 1 hereof.
Article 42 : The Minister of Justice shall issue the implementing regulations for this Code, and these regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette. He shall also issue any decisions necessary for such implementation.
Article 43 : This Code shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force ninety days thereafter. It shall supersede any rules that are inconsistent therewith.
Hello friends...how are you...it's been along time I didn't write this blog...some activities trully grap my time.
Women customarily wear a black outer cloak (abaya) over their dress, which may well be modern in style. On their heads, Saudi women traditionally wear a shayla – a black, gauzy scarf that is wrapped around the head and secured with circlets, hats or jewelry. Traditional dress is often richly decorated with coins, sequins or brightly colored fabric appliqués. 
Jewelry
The most famous cultural event in Saudi Arabia is the Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival, organized each year by the National Guard. For two weeks a year, the festival gives over a million Saudis a glimpse into the past. 
Located at the center of important ancient trade routes, the Arabian people were enriched by many different civilizations. As early as 3,000 BC, Arabian merchants were part of a far-reaching trade network that extended to south Asia, the Mediterranean and Egypt. They served as a vital link between India and the Far East on one side, and Byzantium and the Mediterranean lands on the other.
