Saudi Blogs

Check out Ahmed’s neat selection of the 10 Must Read Saudi Blogs.

I would like to thank Ahmed for including my blog in his list (where he rightly describe it as angry) and for introducing me and other readers to Saudi blogs of note.

Also, Usama Hussain's article about Saudi blogs is out: A new voice in conservative Arabia. The article sheds light on the diversity Saudi bloggers opinions and their struggle to be heard in a country where free speech is limited and controlled by state owned media.

Comments

[Silverdragon]

Hi there - you might be interested to read this article on an Australian online independent current affairs site:

http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?ArticleID=2355&CategoryID=209

Good luck with your blog and don't lose your optimism - the world can still be a beautiful place - it just needs a little help and a big dose of common sense right now!!

Cheers from Down Under!

[mohammed]

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2004/07/timeshare-comes-to-mecca

Jan. 23, 2009 update: That pious talk about building Le Meridien Towers (in Arabic: Burj Al Muttahed) in Mecca with "Sharia principles" and "Islamic values" (see the Oct. 2, 2005 update, above) turns out to have been a cover for fraud. The Towers' website posted a long and complex announcement today explaining what went wrong: the key paragraph is this one, referring to Saudi Amjad (SA) and Al Fassel Global Services (AF):

Although a lot of clients have received their deeds for the properties they have purchased, there are the unlucky few who have not. After several enquires to AF and SA, these clients were told that due to internal issues their deeds had been delayed and would be issued soon. However, it quickly became apparent that AF was holding on to some of the funds and not passing everything to SA and that was one of the reasons why the deeds had not been issued.

Looking to the future,

Al Muttahed have recently announced that they will buy back all the units from every purchaser that has in the possession a set of title deeds at the initial purchase price. … For clients who still have no title deeds – Unfortunately Al Muttahed is not offering a refund in your situation.

Comment: This stunning news confirms a pattern of irregularity in Islamic finances.

Mar. 2, 2009 update: A second letter to timeshare owners informs them that Al Muttahed is not replying and the Saudi embassy in London won't help.

Mar. 9, 2009 update: A third letter sounds even more despondent: owners are elaborately instructed how to send their deeds back to Al Muttahed in Riyadh, followed by this observation: "Insha'Allah, we pray that upon receipt of your documents, Al Muttahed will action the payment ASAP, which should be credited to your account."

June 16, 2009 update: I discuss this general problem of fraud at "Be Careful of Investing in Islamic Financial Institutions."

[mohammed]

HRH Prince Faisal bin Mugrin bin Abdulaziz, son of Prince Mugrin head of internal security, Al Muttahed a leading Saudi development firm listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange and Northcourse owned by Wyndham a NYSE company have been involved with a property scandal in the holy city of Mecca(Makkah) Saudi Arabia.

Le Meridien Hotel Towers Makkah offered a noble and spiritually rewarding product to Non Saudi's however this blessed gift is nothing but a shameful con.

The product was exclusively marketed globally by North Course based out of Dubai with ambitions of being the leading timeshare advisors, managers and operators in the entire Gulf region.

In cahoots with Saudi firms, (Saudi Amjad/Al Muttahed (a Saudi StockCompany) & Al Fassel Global Services) Northcourse, the creators of this project have been perpetrating a holy sin, marketing and promising the blessed gift of owning property in Holy Makkah close to the prophets Mosque to Non Saudis knowing full well that what they were doing was illegal, immoral and plainly deceiving buyers.

Le Meridien the hotel chain purported to be the timeshare resort managers through disclaimers denies any association with the project

"It has come to the attention of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., (Starwood) that units at Le Meridien Towers Makkah hotel in Saudi Arabia are being offered for sale or rent as condominiums or timeshare by third parties. These timeshare units are not offered, licensed, sponsored or endorsed by Starwood, Le Meridien brand or any Starwood affiliates.

Starwood and Le Meridien brand disclaim any relationship with such timeshare or condominium units."

Apartments have also been sold to non Muslims as North Course claimed the investment would reap huge financial rewards, with the developer (Saudi Amjad / Al Muttahed) being aware to what was going on and signing contracts and issuing title deeds.

How can the Saudi Government condone this kind of scandal, this blasphemy in the Holy City? Northcourse, Almuttahed and Al Fassel Global Services need investigating and serious action taken against them, using the holy city for business purposes and cheating faithful out of money in this way is shameful.

The Saudi, other Gulf authorities should punish the perpetrators of this evil crime. Muslim companies, communities, mosques and Governments around the world should boycott doing business with the companies mentioned above.

[athar]

I am pursuing legal action against these companies and also the government for supporting and hiding this scam. I am also preparing background information and research to take this exposure to CBS News and FOX News to run on programs like 60 Minutes, etc.

I am based in the USA and this is not a scam since you will not be paying me any money whatsoever. I can be contacted at rafiqathar@yahoo.com and you must provide legal documentation showing proof that you invested in LeMeridien Timeshare. If we can be objective, and organize detail information then we can expose them and shame them globally.