# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
An advertisement for Riyadh Season: a series of concerts, gatherings, and pop-up attraction sites every winter season only. 

# data[].attributes.headline
WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES CAN RIYADH DO TO GENERATE INCOME?

# data[].attributes.subject
WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES CAN RIYADH DO TO GENERATE INCOME?

# data[].attributes.body
In the case of Riyadh, a long term solution to climate action is to seek other methods to generate income from non-oil products. Just like countries in East Asia including South Korea and Japan, Saudi Arabia should also invest in promoting and exporting their diverse Middle Eastern cultures abroad. Furthermore, since the two Holy Mosques of Saudi in Makkah and Madinah are important pilgrimage sites for many Muslims, the capital city can be developed into a tourist hub wherein visitors may unwind before or after performing their Hajj (pilgrimage) in the holy cities. In fact, even in the midst of the pandemic, Riyadh has already coped with the new normal and is slowly opening the country to both local and international tourists.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
موسم الرياض | تخيل أكثر مع ميسي 🔥

# data[].attributes.headline
WILL SOLAR ENERGY EMANCIPATE THE SAUDI ECONOMY FROM OIL DEPENDENCE?

# data[].attributes.subject
WILL SOLAR ENERGY EMANCIPATE THE SAUDI ECONOMY FROM OIL DEPENDENCE?

# data[].attributes.body
With vast uninhabited desert land and a constant supply of sunlight all year round, KSA can be a global front-runner in the usage of renewable solar energy. On the other hand, a city like Riyadh alone entails the construction of thousands of solar panels. The installation of which may not only potentiate the disturbance of the desert ecosystem but the manufacturing of solar panels may also contribute to the rise of land and water pollutants as heavy metals including lead and cambium are needed to capture and convert solar energy into electricity.

# data[].attributes.headline
IS SAUDI ARABIA REALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE?

# data[].attributes.subject
IS SAUDI ARABIA REALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE?

# data[].attributes.body
All of these projects to fight against climate change need a large sum of money to concretize and being a petrostate, much of the financial resources that the country needs is still heavily anchored on drilling for more oil. Indeed, KSA is on its way to reduce carbon use locally; however, the country does indirectly contribute to the impediment of the already foreseen effects of climate change in the upcoming years by supplying and exporting oil overseas to generate income. It’s as if they are emitting their own hydrocarbon wastes on other foreign lands instead in order to adhere to the climate accords and stray from the added responsibilities of dealing with their own carbon emissions.

# data[].attributes.headline
Fight to Slow Down the Effects of Climate Change

# data[].attributes.subject
Fight to Slow Down the Effects of Climate Change

# data[].attributes.body
Fossil fuel dependence

The economy of Riyadh is very similar to a modern engine. Oil is what keeps it running.

Saudi Arabia is a signatory in the 2015 Paris Climate Accords and it aims to plummet the net carbon emission to 0% by 2060. Even Saudi ARAMCO (Saudi Arabian Oil Company), the country’s largest and primary driller and exporter of crude oil, pledged to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

CHECK OUT THE LINK:      Saudi ARAMCO's advertisement highlighting their pledge to sustainability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEIEwHNhpgM

The country’s deterrence from oil dependence to sustain the economy as well as the inevitable global decline for the need of oil in the midst of the pandemic have indeed decreased the country’s net carbon emissions. Additional steps including the planting of 450 million trees by 2030, the country’s endeavors to foster foreign investors to make the capital a financial hub in the middle east as well as the implementation of hydrocarbon cycling has obviously contributed to the overall efforts to prevent speeding up the worsening effects of climate change.

# data[].attributes.headline
LONG TERM SOLUTION THAT MAY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL UPON IMPLEMENTATION 

# data[].attributes.subject
LONG TERM SOLUTION THAT MAY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL UPON IMPLEMENTATION 

# data[].attributes.body
At best, physical random inspections with regards to the overall well-being of domestic workers must be initiated by the government

# data[].attributes.headline
BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS 

# data[].attributes.subject
BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS 

# data[].attributes.body
Language barriers since not all migrants nor even the city’s local citizens and government officials are fluent in speaking English.

The cruel prohibition of the workers to access the employer's internet

Strict supervision of the employers when it comes to the phone contact history of their employees.

# data[].attributes.body
A method for domestic workers to reach out and communicate to appropriate government offices should be established. A hotline or a speed dial dedicated for abused migrants should be made available.

Embassies must also strengthen their ties with the different employment agencies that helped with the recruitment of these workers in order to periodically check upon the status of these migrants. Social media may be a feasible method to strengthen the connections between the domestic workers and their embassies and report any instances of abuse.

# data[].attributes.body
In order for migrants to work and reside in Saudi Arabia, they must be sponsored by a local Saudi national. In the case of domestic workers, their employers are the ones who should run the errands to ensure that the current status of their employment is legal. For instance, it is the responsibility of the Saudi employer to apply for and annually renew the iqama (residence permit) of their domestic helpers once they have been recruited from an agency. Moreover, the employees themselves cannot issue nor even oversee their legal documents in Saudi Arabia  (including travel and health permits) without the permission of their employers. Some domestic workers do not even have their physical iqamas with them since they are kept by their employees instead.

This sponsorship system (kafala system) may actually foster abuse of labor as this puts many domestic workers in the mercy of their employers and much of this abuse is concealed within the walls of their sponsor’s employers. Common violations to fair labor include late salaries, underpayment, being overworked, batter, and assault.

# data[].attributes.headline
Fight for Descent Work and Economic Growth 

# data[].attributes.subject
Fight for Descent Work and Economic Growth 

# data[].attributes.body
CHECK OUT THE LINKS: Instances of abuse and unfair pay especially for domestic workers

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/09/09/news/5-abused-ofws-ask-govt-help-vs-saudi-employer/1814123

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/23/saudi-arabia-personal-drivers-face-abuse

30% of KSA’s immigrants are domestic helpers who face the everyday toll of being away from their relatives, missing out important milestones that their families might be achieving, and being deprived of a constant and strong support system in times of hardships. No words may be enough to describe the pain of domestic workers while taking care of another person’s children and families without being able to physically be there to take care of their own.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
At least 41 Sri Lankan women, the majority of whom are migrant domestic workers, have spent months on end arbitrarily detained at a deportation center in Saudi Arabia, awaiting repatriation to their home country, Amnesty International revealed today.

The women have been held at a Deportation Detention ( Tarheel) Centre in Riyadh for periods ranging from eight to 18 months. At least three of them have young children detained with them, and one woman is in urgent need of medical care and treatment which she is not receiving.

Their plight is a stark illustration of how domestic workers remain caught up in the inherently abusive kafala (sponsorship) system. In March 2021 Saudi Arabia brought in reforms to its kafala system, however these reforms excluded migrant domestic workers who make up 30% of the country's 10 million migrant workers.

"Detaining migrant workers for prolonged periods of up to 18 months when they have done nothing wrong and are victims themselves is cruel and inhumane. These women left their homes and families behind to earn a livelihood in Saudi Arabia only to find themselves locked into an abusive sponsorship system that facilitates exploitation and abuse. Now they are indefinitely detained with no opportunity to challenge their detention and no indication of when they can be reunited with their loved ones," said Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International.

"Their ordeal clearly illustrates the urgent need for Saudi Arabia to extend labour law protections and reforms to its kafala system to migrant domestic workers. The Saudi Arabian authorities should immediately release all women detained solely for their migration status and work with the Sri Lankan authorities to facilitate their return home."

Detaining migrant workers for prolonged periods of up to 18 months when they have done nothing wrong and are victims themselves is cruel and inhumane.
Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International

None of the women have been informed of any charges brought against them; nor have they been granted access to a lawyer or received any consular assistance. Many were detained after they were unable to obtain an exit permit from their employer to leave the country or a work permit to regularize their stay in the country. Under Saudi Arabia's kafala system which ties migrant workers to their employer, this is grounds for indefinite detention.
Detained in limbo with no end in sight
Amnesty International interviewed 11 individuals with close knowledge of the detentions, including migrant domestic workers, an activist and an official from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh.

In at least five cases, women were detained because they fled from an abusive employer and had not obtained an exit permit from their employer to leave the country.

One of the women awaiting repatriation said she left her job as a domestic worker in October 2020 following months of irregular pay since she first began working in Saudi Arabia in mid-2018, which left her significantly out of pocket for the work she had done. Her employer even deducted the cost of toiletries from her salary. When she resigned, her employer gave her some money for an airline ticket and left her on the street near the airport to find her own way back to Sri Lanka. She was handed over to the police by airport officials then detained after trying to buy an airline ticket as she did not have an exit permit.

Another woman who has been arbitrarily detained for four months tried to change jobs due to unpaid wages and extremely long working hours. When she called the police to ask for help they instead picked her up, took her into custody and transferred her to the detention centre.

During a global public health crisis such as COVID-19, detention solely for migration-related reasons cannot generally be considered a necessary or proportionate restriction on the right to liberty. Amnesty International opposes detention solely for immigration purposes, with only the most exceptional of circumstances.

For many of the women the anxiety of their prolonged detention is compounded by the fact that they have families at home who depended on the money they sent from their jobs in Saudi Arabia.

One of the detainees had run away from an employer who regularly beat her. After she sought help at the local police, she was sent to the detention center where she has now been held for eight months. She is a mother of three girls, and her family in Sri Lanka rely on her income.
Plight of domestic workers in Saudi Arabia
Migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia routinely suffer abuse derived from the kafala system. Less than half of them are women, who often come from South Asia, work in private households to cook, clean and provide childcare. According to testimonies obtained by Amnesty International, they often face grueling working conditions and work long hours without breaks or days off. Many migrant workers have also faced irregular or non-payment of their agreed wages. They also face verbal and physical abuse and have their passports regularly confiscated by abusive employers who act with impunity. They are not allowed to leave the country without the permission of their employers, which makes the workers extremely dependent on them and increases their vulnerability to abuses of rights, including forced labour and physical and sexual assault.

In March 2021, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Labour introduced limited reforms to its kafala system, allowing migrant workers to exit the country and leave jobs without the permission of their employers if they fulfil certain conditions. However, these will do little to eliminate the risk of labour abuses and exploitation faced by migrant workers face who continue to be tied to employers who retain tremendous control over them.

The recent changes announced are a step in the right direction but barely scratch the surface of this inherently abusive system. They cannot be celebrated while they exclude migrant domestic workers who remain trapped in abusive situations
Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International

"The recent changes announced are a step in the right direction but barely scratch the surface of this inherently abusive system. They cannot be celebrated while they exclude migrant domestic workers who remain trapped in abusive situations. The government needs to extend the protection of the labour law to domestic workers who make up almost 30% of the migrant workforce as required under the UN and ILO treaties Saudi Arabia has ratified," said Lynn Maalouf.
Expedite release and repatriation
Most of the Sri Lankan women detained in the deportation centre wish to return to their home countries. Prison officials have repeatedly informally told the women that they would be released and repatriated imminently, but no concrete steps have been taken so far.

Amnesty International wrote to the Sri Lankan and Saudi Arabian authorities on 31 March to demand they expedite the release and repatriation of the detained women. A Sri Lankan official at the Embassy in Riyadh told Amnesty that they are unable to routinely visit the women due to capacity issues and the need to make a specific request They have also not provided the women legal assistance. The official also said that the Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are liaising with "Saudia airlines" in Colombo to arrange a flight home. The women have yet to receive any confirmed information about such arrangements. Amnesty has not yet received a response about the findings from the Saudi Arabian authorities.

The 41 Sri Lankan women are among hundreds of women migrant workers from other nationalities detained at Exit 18 Deportation Detention Centre.

"We call on the Sri Lankan authorities to facilitate the voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of all these women as soon as possible, and ensure consular support to all those detained. In the interim, Saudi authorities must ensure the conditions of detention conform to international law and standards and that the women can access adequate health care and legal support," said Lynn Maalouf.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
41 Sri Lankan women indefinitely detained at Saudi deportation centre

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At least 41 Sri Lankan women, the majority of whom are migrant domestic workers, have spent months on end arbitrarily detained at a deportation center in Saudi Arabia, awaiting repatriation to their home country, Amnesty International revealed today. The women have been held at a Deportation Detention (Tarheel) Centre in Riyadh for periods ranging from [...]

# data[].attributes.headline
THE TWO UN SDGs THAT RIYADH'S POLICIES SHOULD FOCUS ON ENHANCING

# data[].attributes.subject
THE TWO UN SDGs THAT RIYADH'S POLICIES SHOULD FOCUS ON ENHANCING

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Me at the top of The Kingdom Tower: one of the buildings that defines the Riyadh skyline 

# data[].attributes.headline
Focus City: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

# data[].attributes.subject
Focus City: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

# data[].attributes.body
Riyadh is my second home. I have been residing here for almost two decades already.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
A sandstorm in Riyadh yesterday March 4, 2022

# data[].attributes.body
Situated in the tropic of cancer and so Riyadh receives more direct sun rays => less variation and distinction in seasons

Climate is extreme; with average temperatures reaching over 45 degrees in the summer (from March to September) and as low as 1 degree Celsius in the winter (from October to February)

Receives little to no monthly precipitation; weather is extremely dry

Average precipitation is 2.6 inches/ year

Sandstorms are common due to desert winds that blow mostly from the northwest

# data[].attributes.body
About one-sixth of Saudi Arabia’s population resides in Riyadh

Predominant religion of the city is Islam

Arabic is the country’s official language.

Islam is the predominant religion; citizens are Sunni Muslims

# data[].attributes.headline
Immigrants and the Overseas Filipino Workers 

# data[].attributes.subject
Immigrants and the Overseas Filipino Workers 

# data[].attributes.body
KSA has an average population growth rate of 1.59%. However, the Saudization program to depopulate the capital from expatriates may reduce the census by 1.09% in 2030.

Immigrant population mostly includes Southern Asians (Inidans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis), Filipinos, Levants (Jordanians, Lebanese, Syrians) and Northern Africans

# data[].attributes.body
In 2020, GDP is worth 2625 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals

In the third quarter of 2021, GDP per capita grew by 11%

0.2% monthly inflation rate (as of January 2022)

In 2018, VAT was implemented at 5%. As of 2022, VAT is now at 15%

Riyadh is the center of the country’s financial hubs

Economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, petrochemicals, and the mining sector

However, the government is now seeking ways on how to become a resilient economy by relying the country’s income more from non-oil products. This is the goal of KSA’s Vision 2030

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
#SaudiVision2030 | Saudi Vision 2030 Definition

# data[].attributes.body
The capital city of Saudi Arabia

Seat of the monarchy

Situated in the center of the country in the Najd (“highlands”) region

A rocky and relatively flat plateau rising 600 m to the east up to 1200 m to the west above sea level

Landlocked; does not have permanent and natural bodies of water

“Riyadh” came from the Arabic word روضة  which means “garden” since the city was once a desert surrounded by oases of palm trees

In present times, the outskirts of the city is surrounded by vast deserts. The most famous of which is The Red Sands.