Job Discussion Forums

dismus · Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 16

At Ramadan are universities, offices, etc. normally closed? I've been trying to get hold of a university by phone and by email without any success.
I get the impression that some do and some don't.
Cheers in advance.

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:45 am Post subject:

Almost all educational institutions stay open during most of Ramadan, but, in common with businesses throughout the Kingdom, they work reduced hours. 9-3 is typical. It can be difficult to get through to universities at any time of the year, especially by email. Phoning is better, but try to get the number of the specific person you want to speak to.

dismus · Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 16

Thanks for that.
In fact I have been phoning each day for a week or so now (between 10 and 12 Saudi time) using the phone number from the web site, which is the phone number they originally rang me on. Each time there has just been no response whatsoever. It's strange and frustrating. But at least you have confirmed, more or less, what I believed was the case anyhow.
Thanks again.

trapezius · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject:

Customer service is 'haram' in the country.

If you can get any business of any type to answer your call any time of the year and then to satisfy you, you are a superhuman.

dismus · Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 16

I'll keep trying. I'll let you know if I take on superhuman status.
Cheers.

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject:

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:37 am Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:38 pm Post subject:

Dear Cleopatra,

"Saudis tend not to let you know directly that they have been offended, which is not at all the same thing as saying that they have not been offended and will not bear that in mind next time you come to them looking for a favour."

I've always thought of that as "anti-wasta," and it doesn't get much worse than that. Politeness, respect, courtesy - those attitudes/qualities go a long way.

Regards,
John

Linda467 · Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 138 Location: A Secret

Admin personnel are human beings and they react as such - I�ll do the same Smile

John, I couldn�t agree more with you in your last sentece

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject:

I agree 100% with the excellent advice above. I'd like to add one thing: think long and hard before you ever go over the head of a Saudi administrator. It can cause the administrator to lose face, and that person will hold it against you forever. Make sure it is worth it before you take that step!

johnslat · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject:

Dear Mia,
I agree - but there can be cases where you need to "go up the chain-of-command," which may be different from going "over the head" of a Saudi administrator.
The latter implies (I think) taking your issue to the next level without either consulting with or getting permission from the administrator who can't/won't help you. If, however, you can get no satisfaction from one administrator, the best course may be to at least request that you be able to take up your issue with the administrator at the next level. Indeed, just making the request might be enough to force some action.
Regards,
John

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

All of this advice is fine and correct, but the problem is that there are a whole lot of severely competence challenged administrators (including Western) in the Kingdom. Sometimes I think the Dalai Lama would lose patience trying to get anything accomplished.

If you come across incompetence in most places in the world, or just lose patience with the person you are dealing with, there are things you can do other than smile and make all nice to the person who is screwing up your visa, passport, or whatever, and thus screwing up your holiday, banking abilities, ad nauseum. In the Kingdom, competence and efficiency are not highly valued, and the problem of "face" means that this is highly unlikely to change anytime soon.