My Saudi Life

Saudi Life

I got Job in Saudi Arabia in 1981 as Chief Mechanical Engineer in Mohamed Al Zahid Establishment. Three sons and father were the owners of the Company. I was surprised that all the 4 are having different opinion and each one insists that only his opinion should be heard. Each one is telling that the other is mad and I should not hear them.

They wanted to computerize everything and I went for 2 weeks in Zahid Tractors to study their setup. I gave the report but as it involves big money, they asked me to wait. I was given accommodation and office in Alkobar and their workshop in old Dammam road. It was fasting time and one day one of them came and said people from Aramco will come to inspect our workshop to give some job to us. There was a Srilankan foreman, I asked him to be with me. They came and asked various machinery not available I kept quite as we do not have that. But the foreman said it is in some other site. They took him to that place and as those machinery were not there we lost that.

Next week one of the owners came to the workshop and asked me to watch what he does. When he saw a worker taking juice he cut one week salary for him and said that I should do same. I said it is too hot and taking juice will be required and improves his efficiency and I will not do such crime.

Then one day I was called and  informed that 3 of our workers died and I should give a certificate that they have not died during working time. I inquired and found that they were going for official work and died in an accident. I made a report showing the facts and said that compensation has to be given for the family. After seeing the report they were very angry. I said that there is one more paper below that which is my resignation. I said I will not work for them further, they can kill me, put me in jail or send me back. Though I said that I was afraid as they will do anything. They said if I remain they will send me for Hajj in their cost. I said I do not want to go for such Hajj and if Allah helps I will go for Hajj with pure money. After a weeks suspense they left me as I have gone through Govt of Kerala. I returned to Cochin within 2 months of my Soudi trip. Of course I was depressed as my family and colleagues were humiliating me as one who left highly paid job. I came to know that within 6 months the company is blacklisted and closed. I am thankful to Allah that I could also go for Hajj 3 times with Halal money after going to Muscat in 1993, 1998 and 2006.

So if you live with principles Allah will eventually help you, though there will be some setbacks in the beginning 

Dr.Mohamed Ali esa