JEDDAH JOURNAL 8: SAUDI SOCIETY MAGAZINE, NEW

UNCLAS JEDDAH 000219 SIPDIS SIPDIS RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELAB KISL KWMN PREL SA SCUL SOCI SUBJECT: JEDDAH JOURNAL 8: SAUDI SOCIETY MAGAZINE, NEW JOBS FOR WOMEN, AND IDB PROVIDES GRANT TO ISLAMIC SCHOOL IN U.S. SOPHISTICATED NEW SOCIETY MAGAZINE IN SAUDI ARABIA ¶1. Recently launched society magazine "Layalina" has been causing quite a stir in Jeddah over the last few weeks. Owned by a Kuwaiti publisher, managed by a French editor, and printed in Riyadh, the magazine's glossy photos of women without abayas and head scarves is groundbreaking for the Kingdom. Now on its fourth issue, the magazine is primarily a collection of photographs featuring prominent royalty, hip upper-class Saudis, and the occasional foreigner (including the Consul General) at society events, restaurants and business gatherings. According to managing editor Pascale Dimas, 15,000 copies of "Layalina" are distributed in Jeddah each month, with another 25,000 available in Riyadh. "You cannot imagine how positive all of the feedback has been," said Dimas. "I have not yet heard anything negative." Consulate contacts indicate, however, that some conservatives have objected to the (for Saudi Arabia) risqu portrayal of couples in public and the "revealing" photographs of women. JOBS FOR WOMEN ¶2. Recently Hyper Panda supermarkets, owned by SAVOLA Group, on of the Kingdom's largest companies, published job announcements in Arabic newspapers for Saudi females only. Applicants are being sought for jobs including: Marketing Specialist, Women's Apparel Supervisor, and Sales Women and Security Guard. An interesting set of basic qualifications are specified in the advertisements, including: a. Able to work evening shifts b. Age not less than 25 years c. Commitment to Shari'a and Islamic virtues d. Approval of male guardian e. Priority will be given to widows. JOBS FOR WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT ¶3. The Consulate General has learned about a new career attracting young Saudi females in Jeddah: Disc Jockey at women-only parties. Weddings, birthdays and graduation parties are examples of the women-only events that female DJ's can work. Up to the last two years, there were hardly any Saudis, men or women, working in this field, now there are at least 10 young women performing at these events. These women were trained by Egyptian, Moroccan or Lebanese DJ's who used to dominate this field. Now, there is even a Saudi instructor training new female DJ's and charging them SR 5000 for the training course. IDB PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ISLAMIC SCHOOL IN RHODE ISLAND ¶4. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) recently notified the Consulate General that its Board of Executive Directors has approved a grant for 295,000 USD towards the purchase of a building for the Islamic School of Rhode Island, in West Warwick. Gfoeller