Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH219
2006-03-15 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
JEDDAH JOURNAL 8: SAUDI SOCIETY MAGAZINE, NEW
how-toVZCZCXRO9283 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHJI #0219 0741146 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151146Z MAR 06 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8918 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1307 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1379 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6270 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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
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
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