Latest news with #non-Saudi
Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Authorities shut down two warehouses for repackaging expired children's food
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce has shut down two illegal warehouses in Riyadh for repackaging and relabeling expired children's food products, seizing more than 8 tons of spoiled goods prepared for redistribution with forged expiry dates. The warehouses, located in the Aziziyah and Khalidiyah districts in southern Riyadh, were raided by the ministry's inspection teams in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). Among the confiscated products were nuts, legumes, candies, and ground coffee, alongside stickers with falsified expiry dates and rubber stamps used in the fraud scheme. Authorities have detained those responsible and initiated legal action, with all seized items earmarked for destruction. The violators face penalties under the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, which include up to three years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million, or both, as well as public disclosure of their names and deportation of non-Saudi workers Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on commercial fraud and protecting consumers from deceptive and hazardous practices in the food sector.
Time Magazine
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Detained by ICE on Her Honeymoon: Ward Sakiek's Saga
Ward Sakeik stands in a Dallas kitchen making watermelon juice. For 140 days, someone else decided what and when she would eat. The 22-year-old wedding photographer spent the last five months in ICE detention after being arrested on her own honeymoon. Recently released and reunited with her family, the simple act of planning her day feels overwhelming. "I feel like I'm so behind in life," she says. Her case became a rallying point for immigration advocates in a time of tumult and uncertainty for anyone not born in the U.S. But Sakeik says her experience was all the more bewildering because every question she faced had been resolved over a decade ago. She and her husband had planned their honeymoon carefully, specifically choosing destinations within the territory of the United States because of her immigration status. Sakeik is stateless. Born in Saudi Arabia, she moved to the U.S. with her family when she was nine. Saudi Arabia does not automatically grant citizenship to children born on its soil, and acquiring citizenship there—especially with non-Saudi parents or lineage—is a rare and difficult process. Sakeik's family is originally from the Gaza Strip, which along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem is regarded by international law as Occupied Palestinian Territory.' Their family never flew under the radar ever since day one,' says Sakeik's husband, Taahir Shaikh, a U.S. citizen. 'America knew who they were when they came into the border. They went through the court system. They were given due process. They complied with their deportation orders.' Those orders had been suspended as a matter of routine. Shaikh says the family was granted an Order of Supervision (OSUP) by ICE, a system allowing noncitizens awaiting deportation or other immigration proceedings to stay in the U.S. under certain restrictions—such as regular check-ins—rather than being held in detention. ' She's gone to the same ICE processing center every year her entire life for 14 years,' Taahir says. ICE officers would mention how she's grown up since they had last seen her, and even congratulated her on her college graduation in 2023, he recalls. Her stateless status left her vulnerable. 'She doesn't have an embassy or a consulate back home that can fight for her legal protection,' Taahir Shaikh notes. Read More: Barred from the Birth of His Son, Mahmoud Khalil's Case Brings Family Separation into FocusThe couple planned their honeymoon accordingly. "I told my husband… we're gonna have to travel within the U.S., even though I would love to go to Turkey," Sakeik recalls. "So we decided that we're going to do two weeks in the Virgin Islands because it's U.S. territory." At the Dallas airport, airline employees confirmed their plan was sound. Upon their return, they planned to continue their honeymoon at national parks in Arizona and stayed nine days in the Virgin Islands, but as they prepared to fly home, Sakeik was detained by ICE—first at the St. Thomas Airport, then again when they reached Miami. What followed was months of confusion. In St. Thomas, a Customs and Border Protection officer told her that if she could provide proof of her scheduled reporting date with ICE, she would be released. She did, but 'I still was detained regardless.' History did not seem to matter. "For the last 14 or 15 years that I've been here in America, I was never hiding from ICE. They know exactly where I [was]. They know where I live, they know my family, they know the air I breathe, they know everything," she says. Even when she was transferred to Dallas facilities, the disconnect persisted. 'They're my people,' she recalls thinking. 'They know what's going on.' But the officers who held her seemed unaware of her record. 'When a lot of them were confused, that's when I [thought], who the hell do I blame?" Sakeik was held in three different facilities during her detention, the longest at the El Valle Detention Center outside of McAllen, Texas. There, dust would visibly fall whenever the lights would turn on. When she complained to facility management, "he literally told me, 'you are in the detention center. What do you expect?' The dormitory housed about 100 women, mostly Latina immigrants and some Russians, most of whom wore blue uniforms indicating they were not considered criminals. Sakeik calls them 'blues.' 'We're all different. The way we came [here], the way our lives are, what we live for, what we've achieved, our jobs, and what documents we have.' The names of previous detainees were carved onto the mental bunks. "On my bed alone, I have probably had like a hundred names.' After years of running her own business and making her own decisions, Sakeik found herself subject to someone else's routine for every aspect of her day. She found solace in Just Dance DVD's, which also kept her active. Then, on June 12, she was awakened in the middle of the night and told to gather her things. An official told her she was about to be flown 'to the Israeli border' on a flight her husband later learned was scheduled for Egypt. But waiting on the tarmac, she was told she was staying after all. Twenty days later, on July 2, Sakeik was eating Maruchan ramen with a friend when an ICE officer called her aside. "I went outside and I saw that he was holding documents. So I literally thought in my head, he's about to make me sign another travel document to God knows wherever," she recalls. "And then he looked at me, 'Hey, you're being released.' I started laughing. I was like, yeah, you think so?" "I didn't believe that I was getting released up until I hugged my husband… that's how far off it was from me. I didn't believe it. I didn't trust anybody." But after more than 10 years in America, Sakeik had a community to vouch for her. Her release came after a sustained advocacy campaign organized by her husband and people who knew her. Taahir had started a social media page, and with their legal team started a petition to present to their local congresswoman. Taahir also gathered testimonials from people from her mosque, past university professors, business partners, friends, and her photography teacher. Imam Omar Suleiman, founding president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, got their story out to millions, sharing Sakeik's story in a Friday sermon. 'She literally embraced every opportunity the country gave her,' Taahir says. 'She went through the American school system. This is a girl who has an annual blood donation record at her local Carter BloodCare. Every single client or person that's interacted with her can vouch that her heart is [pure].' It is also more devout. The time in detention brought Sakeik closer to her faith; she decided to start practicing wearing a hijab. "That's the biggest blessing,' she says, 'because I promise you, whenever your freedom has been taken away from you and you have your time with God, you really start to reflect." Sakeik now has an insider's view of the Trump Administration's sweeping immigration enforcement campaign, which extends beyond those with criminal cases to target undocumented individuals regardless of their legal or compliance status. To satisfy presidential demands, field offices are directed to meet new daily arrest quotas—75 arrests per office—raising agency-wide targets to 1,200–1,500 arrests per day, up from only about a few More: Can Trump Deport U.S. Citizens Like Elon Musk and Zohran Mamdani?Her experience reflects an agency with spotty internal communication. "Some of the ICE officers themselves would even tell me, 'I don't know why you're here,'' Sakeik recalls. 'Some of them would straight up tell me, 'If it was up to us, we'd release you.'"She's planning to reopen her photography business in the fall but is taking time to readjust to life outside detention. "I sleep a lot. I stay mainly indoors,' she says. 'It's just the same routine I had in detention, I'm having difficulty letting it go." She shops online to avoid the anxiety produced by visiting stores. "Everything in Costco is considered contraband at the detention center.' But Sakeik also has pledged not to forget what she left behind. "I know how excited I was to receive a letter in there. I would literally fly off of my bunk when the mail lady would come," she says. Sakeik plans to start a letter-writing campaign to support women still inside, and speak for them in now that she's free. "You know, there're plenty more women detained that unfortunately are not getting the same media attention or are too afraid to speak up," she says. "So if I can be that one voice… then yes, why not?"
Fintech News ME
13-06-2025
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Stake Launches First Real Estate Development Fund in Saudi Arabia
Stake, a real estate investment platform based in Dubai and Riyadh, has launched its first private real estate development fund in Saudi Arabia. The fund is located in Riyadh's Al Malqa district, near major commercial and government zones including the King Abdullah Financial District and the Diplomatic Quarter. It is fully Shariah-compliant and open to both local and international investors, with a minimum investment of SAR 500. This development is part of Stake's broader regional expansion following its entry into the Saudi market in early 2024. The platform became the first regulated by Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority (CMA) to offer non-Saudi investors access to the Kingdom's real estate sector. Within five months of launching in the country, Stake introduced three private real estate funds, attracting over SAR 135 million in foreign direct investment from investors in more than 70 countries. Backed by entities including Tharwat for Wealth Management, Rasaf Investment, and Mawan Real Estate, the new Riyadh-based fund positions Stake as a key player in supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 agenda to diversify its economy and expand foreign participation in real estate. The fund launch comes as Stake also surpasses AED 1 billion in real estate transactions since its launch in 2021. The platform has facilitated over 250,000 individual investments across more than 420 properties, primarily in Dubai, with a user base of over one million individuals across 170 countries.
Saudi Gazette
21-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
HR Ministry proposes revised penalties for Labor Law violations
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed Al-Rajhi, violations and penalties, Istithlaa Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has proposed revision of the penalties for violations of Labor Law and its executive regulations. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi has decided to update the list of violations and penalties, based on the new amendments to the Labor Law and its executive regulations. The Ministry published the table of violations and penalties on the Istithlaa public survey platform, seeking the opinion of the stakeholders and the public before implementing the new proposals. The ministry noted that this update aims to clearly and precisely define violations for both establishments and inspectors, reducing the need for discretion and personal judgment in implementing regulations across different categories of companies and establishments. These updates help address ongoing changes in the work environment, such as flexible work and remote work. The clarification of penalties provides transparency, encouraging establishments to comply with regulations and ensuring the rights of both workers and employers. The table published by the ministry includes a wide range of violations, ranging from serious to minor. The fines imposed vary based on the establishment's classification into one of three categories: establishment with 20 or less than 20 workers; 21 to 49 workers; and 50 or more workers. The violations are also classified as serious and minor. The following are the fines for various serious Labor Law violations: 1- SR200,000—SR250,000 for practicing the activity of recruiting, outsourcing, or providing labor services without a license. 2- SR200,000 for employing Saudis without a license 3- SR10,000 for an employer for hiring a non-Saudi worker without a work permit. The fines will be multiplied on the basis of the number of workers. 4- SR2,000—SR8,000 for employer for hiring non-Saudi workers in professions or activities restricted to Saudis, or registering a Saudi worker without a valid employment relationship. 5- SR10,000—SR20,000 for an employer allowing his employee to work for a third party or for their own account. 6- SR5000 for an employee working for another employer. 7- SR1,500—SR5,000 for the employer if he fails to comply with occupational safety and health regulations. 8- SR1,000 for employing a worker under the sun or in adverse weather conditions without taking precautions. 9- SR1,000—3,000 for the employer's failure to bear the fees and costs required or to pass them on to the workers 10- SR300 for the failure to pay workers' wages and entitlements on time or withholding wages, which may be multiplied by the number of workers. 11- SR1000—SR3000 for any discriminatory action by an employer. 12- SR1000—SR3000 for failure to form a committee to investigate behavioral violations, as well as for failure to investigate and recommend disciplinary action within five days, or failure to impose disciplinary action within 30 days 13- SR1,000 to 2,000 for employing children under the age of 15 14- SR1,000 for keeping worker's passport or residency permit. 15- SR3000—SR5000 for failure to facilitate the tasks of supervisors and employees assigned to supervision 16- SR1,000—3,000 for failure to comply with the regulations for advertising job vacancies and conducting interviews 17- SR1000 for failure to provide maternity leave for working women 18- SR500 for failure to provide services and facilitate arrangements to enable people with disabilities to perform their work. Fines for the non-serious violations include the following: 1- SR1000—SR3000 for failure to grant the worker the approved weekly rest period, or increasing work hours without additional payment, or failing to adhere to daily rest periods 2- SR1000—SR3000 for employer's failure to provide a worker with a service certificate and return their documents after the termination of the employment relationship 3- SR300—SR1000 for failure to provide medical insurance for the workers and their family members. 4- SR300—SR1000 for failure to disclose information about operation and maintenance contracts with government agencies or establishments in which the state holds a minimum 51 percent stake or disclosure of incorrect or incomplete information 5- SR1000 for employing Saudi male workers in activities restricted to Saudi female workers.
Argaam
04-05-2025
- Business
- Argaam
Specialized Medical issues prospectus to list 75M shares on TASI
Specialized Medical Clinic Co. issued the prospectus for floating 75 million shares on the Main Market (TASI). The shares represent 30% of the company's SAR 250 million share capital, divided into 250 million shares, each with a nominal value of SAR 1. For More IPOs The IPO price will be determined after the book-building process. The subscription period will run for two working days, from May 28-29. According to the prospectus, the book-building process and subscription period for participating entities will run from May 11 to May 15. Last March, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) approved the company's application to list its shares on TASI. The subscription is limited to two categories of investors: Tranche (A): Participating Parties: Those qualified to participate in the book-building process, to which a total of 75 million shares, or 100% of offered shares, will be allocated. In the event of sufficient demand from retail investors, the lead manager will have the right to reduce the number of their allocated shares to 80% of the total offer shares, at 60 million in minimum. Tranche (B): Retail Investors: Saudi nationals, any non-Saudi natural person living in the Kingdom and any GCC national, who holds a bank account with one of the receiving entities and has the right to open an investment account with a capital market institution. A total of 15 million shares (20% of the total offer shares) will be allocated to individual investors. Key background Founded in 1994, the company is headquartered in Riyadh and focuses on developing, managing, and operating multi-specialty general hospitals. It currently runs two hospitals in Riyadh: SMC (1) on King Fahd Road and SMC (2) on King Abdullah Road. Three more hospitals are under development in the city. The two hospitals offer around 600 beds and 250 outpatient clinics covering general and specialized fields. They are staffed by nearly 500 doctors and over 2,500 medical and nursing professionals. Company Profile Company Specialized Medical Clinic Co. Core Activities Healthcare Capital SAR 250 mln Number of Shares 250 mln Share Par Value SAR 1 IPO Summary Issue Percentage 30% Offered shares 75 mln shares Total No. of Shares Offered to Individual Investors 15 mln shares (20% of post-IPO) IPO Minimum Limit (Participating Entities) 100,000 shares IPO Minimum Limit (Individual Subscribers) 10 shares IPO Maximum Limit (Participating Entities) 12.5 mln shares IPO Maximum Limit (Individual Subscribers) 1 mln shares Offer period From May 26-27, 2025 Final Allocation June 4, 2025 Refund (if any) June 4, 2025 Company Shareholders Shareholders Before IPO After IPO Number of Shares (mln shares) Ownership (%) Number of Shares (mln shares) Ownership (%) Abdulrahman Saad Al-Rashed & Sons Co. 100.99 40.4% 70.69 28.3% Abdullah bin Saad Al-Rashed & Sons Co. 51.60 20.6% 36.12 14.4% Al-Thammad Trading Co. 50.49 20.2% 35.34 14.1% Rashid bin Saad Al-Rashed & Sons Co. 32.55 13.0% 22.78 9.1% Khalid Al-Enezi 9.56 3.8% 6.69 2.7% Mohammed Al-Qanbaz 4.81 1.9% 3.37 1.3% Public -- -- 75.00 30.0% Total 250.00 100 % 250.0 100 % **Public ownership will represent 30% of the company's share capital at the time of listing. However, total public ownership will reach 34.02% post-IPO.
