"Dear Folks": Chapter 9

"Dear Folks": Chapter 9

BY Ken Slavin / /

As Acting Manager of Aramco’s Transportation Department, Ken Webster embarks on many travels throughout Saudi Arabia in 1950 and describes them in detail to the folks back home in the States. From observations on the new Dammam deepwater port (a project to which his brother, Allyn, an assistant engineer, is assigned) to interesting descriptions of visits with Aramco exploration teams in the Empty Quarter, to tours of the King’s farms, to “lessons” in Muslim law and religious ceremonies, his fascination with and respect for the Arabs and Aramco shine through in every word.

"Dear Folks": Chapter 8

"Dear Folks": Chapter 8

BY Ken Slavin / /

In stark contrast to the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East and worldwide headlines describing fighting, bombings and the flight of up to half a million Palestinians from their homeland to refugee camps – sparked by the U.N. vote to partition the region two years earlier -- 1949 is a year of enormous expansion and success for Aramco, professional growth for Ken Webster and exotic travel for the Webster family.

Vertical Farming Trial Comes to Dhahran

Vertical Farming Trial Comes to Dhahran

BY The Arabian Sun / /

The Dhahran Community Nursery is planning to produce 150 kilograms of fresh produce every day through a new vertical farming project that utilizes eight greenhouses and three separate hydroponic systems to grow greens, vegetables, and fruits.

The Beauty and Fragrance of al-Taif

The Beauty and Fragrance of al-Taif

BY The Arabian Sun / /

For centuries, people have gone to al-Taif, high in the Sarawat Mountains, to escape the summer heat and enjoy the cool, lush scenery in a relaxed atmosphere. But the southwestern city really comes to life when the curtain opens on the most important event of the year, the annual Rose Festival.

AramcoWorld - April 2021

AramcoWorld - April 2021

BY AramcoWorld / /

AramcoWorld, Saudi Aramco's flagship publication, is widely recognized as a leading source of nonpolitical coverage of the history, geography, arts and cultures of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and the wider Islamic world, with an emphasis on the interweavings of the plural cultures of East and West, past and present.

Karin Avila’s Story: From Salinas Valley to the Middle East

Karin Avila’s Story: From Salinas Valley to the Middle East

BY Anushka Bose and Karin Avila / /

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Karin Avila, an Aramco Brat who moved to Saudi Arabia from California during her teenage years. Her family resided in Ras Tanura, where her father was a general physician at the Saudi Aramco hospital. Karin’s story brought back my own nostalgic memories of the Kingdom...

CEO Tours Company Facilities During Ramadan

CEO Tours Company Facilities During Ramadan

BY The Arabian Sun / /

What makes Aramco the world's most valuable integrated energy company, producing one out of every eight barrels of oil in the world, is its people. Year round, it is our people who travel far from home, in challenging environments, with unwavering attention to safety and health, providing energy that is the foundation for the world’s economy and the nation’s ambitions.

"Dear Folks": Chapter 7

"Dear Folks": Chapter 7

BY Ken Slavin / /

The remainder of 1948 is full of exponential growth for Aramco (more than 4,000 American and 17,000 Arab employees by mid-year), royal and military visits, and a social schedule that would cripple most.

Saudi Aramco Q1 2021 Interim Report

Saudi Aramco Q1 2021 Interim Report

BY Saudi Aramco News / /

The energy markets saw a strong recovery in the first quarter of 2021 due to the ongoing re-balancing of supply and demand fundamentals, in addition to improved sentiment for an increase in global demand spurred by ongoing vaccination programs.

Aramco Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

Aramco Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

BY Saudi Aramco News / /

The Saudi Arabian Oil Company (“Aramco” or “the Company”) today announced its first quarter financial results, posting a 30% year-on-year increase in net income to $21.7 billion and declaring a dividend of $18.8 billion to be paid in Q2. The results were underpinned by higher oil prices and an improved economic environment in the first three months of 2021.

Kamran Ahmed Khan Weds Bushra Irshad

Kamran Ahmed Khan Weds Bushra Irshad

BY Zoya Imran / /

Bushra Irshad, the niece of Engr. Iqbal Ahmed Khan married Kamran Ahmed Khan, the brother of the son-in-law of IAK on the 26th of March 2021. In Pakistani culture, a few pre-celebrations take place before the actual wedding ceremony. The festivities started with the Engagement Ceremony held at the bridegroom’s place on 15th November 2020.

How My Time in Aramco Led Me to Build a Travel Start-up

How My Time in Aramco Led Me to Build a Travel Start-up

BY Furqan Khan / /

“Travelling is a great experience, but how can it be better?” That’s the question I asked myself when I was reflecting on my past travels. Before I get into my start-up’s story, let's go back to Saudi Arabia for a minute. I was born in Dhahran and lived there for 13 years before moving to Ras Tanura.

Jim Schultz Retires After Almost 11 Years

Jim Schultz Retires After Almost 11 Years

BY The Arabian Sun / /

James (Jim) J. Schultz, HR manager with the Corporate Venturing Department, retires from the company at the end of April. Born in Oakland, California, Schultz has spent almost 11 years with Aramco, joining the company in the fall of 2010 as a senior HR analyst.

Aramco Wins International Award for COVID-19 Response

Aramco Wins International Award for COVID-19 Response

BY The Arabian Sun / /

Aramco, through its Sea Water Injection Department (SWID), recently received international accolades for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company received the “COVID-19 Response and Recovery of the Year” Award given by the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) at the organization’s virtual Resilience Excellence Summit.

"Dear Folks": Chapter 6

"Dear Folks": Chapter 6

BY Ken Slavin / /

1948 shapes up to be another boom year for Aramco. Mildred Webster continues to chronicle her family's lives and interesting tales from Arabia. Ken Webster even manages to augment her faithful correspondence with a letter about some of his responsibilities as manager of Aramco's construction department.

AramcoWorld Reading Selections - April 27, 2021

AramcoWorld Reading Selections - April 27, 2021

BY AramcoWorld / /

Fenced to protect excavations that since the 1950s have yielded remains of at least 10 Neanderthals, Shanidar Cave lies in the foothills of the Baradost Mountains in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.

Cem Karan Receives PhD in Computer Sciences

Cem Karan Receives PhD in Computer Sciences

BY Aramco ExPats / /

Third generation Aramco brat Cem Karan received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Computer Sciences this month. His proud parents, Aramco retiree Ned and Carole Karan, and Cem's also-proud wife were able to watch and listen to his defense of his thesis on robotics on Zoom video.