Job Discussion Forums

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

Something that I haven't seen specifically covered is wasta. I've seen it talked about in terms of students having and wielding it. But, I've only seen one teacher talk about having any. Is there anyone here that feels like they have any? If so, how did you come about getting it or it being given to you?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The first way to get wasta is to be born in the right local family. (that works for Al-Nahyans in the UAE, bin Sauds in Saudi Arabia, or a Bush or a Kennedy in the USA)

For the rest of us, it is the same way one does it in any country... meet the right people, do your job well (or perhaps in a way to please your employer), and be ready to return favors to those who do favors for you.

That is really all it is...

VS

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

ok, sounds easy enough.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

cnthaiksarok · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:49 am Post subject:

Met a teacher recently with a royal iqama.

Some non-teachers I met over the years:

A dutch gent managed one of Prince W's (of Kingdom Holdings) smaller compounds AND was his personal chef.

Another managed the same prince's major compound. (I still have a pic somewhere of a batmobile that the P had bought and displayed at the entrance of said compound.)

Anyways, the two above had so much wasta it was dripping out of their ears, but were still very cool and humble enough.

You might be interested to know that some military base passes carry with them some amount of "strength" (certainly an Aramco car/badge does as well.)

Back in the day, I had a police college pass, a security college pass and a prince's personal biz card. When stopped at routine checkpoints, they couldn't get me to drive on any faster. Laughing

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

I worked with a western teacher who was employed for a year in another capacity by a Saudi princess. She said there were perks; however, being on call 24/7 at the whim of the princess wasn't worth it.

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

I acquired some wasta by tutoring two sons of a Prince. They were attending an American high school. After that, supervisors became very deferential.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I knew a Saudi manager who knew the name of Prince Sultan's pet pooch !

damn_my_eyes · Joined: 13 Jul 2013 Posts: 225

I met Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed at Newmarket racecourse in England.

Said hello to him and he said hello back....does this mean I have any wasta?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:54 pm Post subject:

Dear Yasuke,

Often, I'd say, wasta comes your way either by accident and/or by staying in-country long-term.

Remember, though, that it's always a two-way street. You can get wasta only by doing something for the person with wasta. And whenever a Saudi with wasta uses it for you, an implied quid pro quo is included.

You need to be VERY careful about accepting wasta; it always comes with a price tag. And that price could be too expensive.

Regards,
John

saudiman · Joined: 26 Jun 2013 Posts: 23 Location: Jazan

Wasta is essentially the use of one's connections to get things done, and it perforates every level of Saudi society. This has both pros and cons (just use your imagination here).

Generally, the subject matter is taboo and seldom talked about. While most Saudis view wasta as a hindrance because it can limit their ability to take care of simple every day tasks, obtain employment and take care of their families, it is also a crutch which they may lean on to obtain these same ends if it is available. It is a violent cycle. Fortunately, government agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Commission are currently making efforts to crack-down on wasta.

Saudis like to have connections in every industry and sector. The higher the connection, the more valuable he is. If you want wasta, you need to have connections or be in a position to one day help the person from whom you seek it.

rollingk · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 212

cnthaiksarok · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 2:20 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 2:36 pm Post subject:

Dear Yasuke,

Examples: 1. As a teacher, you could be asked to "help" a failing student by changing his grades. 2. You could be asked to "tutor" a student, perhaps despite your not wanting to and/or possibly for free.

Teachers don't have much to offer as "payback" for wasta, so if you accept it, there are only so many ways you can return it. Whether you do or not would depend, at least at times, I guess, on how much "professional integrity" you have. But there will always be some payback involved.

Regards,
John