JEDDAH — Residents in Saudi Arabia who responded to a Western Union survey praised the country for a variety of reasons while revealing fascinating insights into their lives in the country. Respondents commented on the peace of mind, the comfortable lifestyle in the Kingdom, the ability to raise a family, in addition to the safety standards and lasting friendships that they have forged over the years. Working in the Kingdom has also been beneficial to the expatriate community in helping them to achieve several personal goals. Buying a home, having a better lifestyle and better savings were some of the reasons highlighted in the survey. The results of the survey and its interesting insights were drawn from the “My Yellow Brick Road” Saudi Arabia campaign which was launched by The Western Union Company, a world leading money transfer company. According to the survey, “High Levels of Safety” and “Making Good Friends” stood out as key factors in helping expatriates feel at home in Saudi Arabia while “Better Savings” stood out as the top personal goal for expatriates residing in the country. The “My Yellow Brick Road” Campaign brought to life the personal stories of individuals from different countries who participated in the survey. The campaign's theme derives its title from the popular children's novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” where the main character embarks on a magical journey travelling along the Yellow Brick Road to achieve their goals. “The stories of these residents while following their own yellow brick road highlight their contribution to Saudi Arabia while reflecting their appreciation for the opportunities the country has provided them,” said Hatem Sleiman, Regional Vice President – Middle East at Western Union. “For these people, Saudi Arabia has truly become a home away from home giving them a supportive environment to prosper while helping them to fulfill their personal and professional goals.” The responses from the survey highlighted a stimulating mix of personal and professional experiences indicating the strength of the bond residents share with Saudi Arabia. Aghiad Albirais is originally from Syria and has made Saudi Arabia his home for the past 9 years. Responding to the survey, he said “I work as a doctor in the healthcare industry and the work I do ensures quality healthcare for my patients and benefits the country. For instance, I have developed a new system of weight loss in the form of a diet consistent with the existing lifestyle and food intake of people in Saudi Arabia and this has really helped my patients to achieve excellent results. Working in Saudi Arabia has helped me save money, have a better lifestyle, and pay debts.” According to Badria Salloum, a Yemeni national, “having been in KSA for the last 26 years, it really feels like home because I have made good friends, Ifeel safe here and I have more peace of mind. Professionally, my job in the healthcare industry allows me to provide quality healthcare to my patients and serve the people of Saudi Arabia and I am proud of that. From a personal standpoint, I try and give back to society in my own way by working for philanthropic causes to help people in need who have nothing. Working in Saudi Arabia has helped me save money, have a better lifestyle and travel to new places.” – SG
