Syed Arzam Sher Completes Cambridge-IGCSE O-level
Syed Arzam Sher completed his O-level through Cambridge-The International General Certificate of Secondary Education on August 10, 2017.
FDR and Hafeez Qureshi: Two Philatelists of Note
In 1975, Saudi Aramco began construction of a series of gas plants at Shedgum, Uthmaniyah, Ju'aymah, Berri, Jubail, and Yanbu in the Eastern Province. At that time this was the largest gas gathering and processing system ever undertaken.
Wealth Strategies Series: Family Wealth Transitions
What are you missing in your estate plan? An estate plan may have been created, but many plans are still missing crucial elements that can make or break the plan. Find out if you and your family are fully prepared with our complimentary checklist!
Adventures in Duct Taping
Is there anything one can find in their tool box or on their work bench more useful than duct tape? I doubt it. If there’s a rip in something, you can use duct tape to fix it. If a pipe is leaking, chances are you can staunch the flow of water at least for the time being by wrapping the pipe with copious amounts of duct tape.
A Tree Stands in the Desert....
A Saudi desert expert recently told me about an unusual tree that grows near the old town of ‘Ain Dar, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The tree is four or five meters tall, and local lore maintains that it has been around for hundreds of years. It is extremely rare; he only knows of one other tree like it, near the archaeological site of Thaj to the north.
James Churchill: Offshore in Arabia
It seems like most of the Aramco annuitants we’ve profiled over the years primarily spent their time in the Kingdom living in one of the four main camps—Ras Tanura, Dhahran, Abqaiq, or Udhailiyah. Last week was an exception, when we had the privilege of profiling Dr. Syed Azam Sher, the son of a Pakistani expat who spent his years in the KSA...
More Tales of Metal Haberdashery
Last month we featured an article about exquisitely-crafted hard hats certain fortunate Aramcons were able to purchase back in the ‘70s by an artisan from Iran. Since then a number of readers have written to us with similar stories. We found them fascinating and would like to share them with you.
JHAH Wellbeing Magazine - July 2017
Welcome to the Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Wellbeing Magazine, where the latest health and wellness news, and current and upcoming events, is available at the click of a button.
Beginning Anew: One Man’s Journey
The story we share with you this week is told by an Aramco brat, Erik Hebert, whose parents Cindy and Byron many of our readers know. Cindy taught first and second grade in the Kingdom while Byron worked in materials supply and project management for Dhahran Hospital Development.
Not the May Ball II - Dhahran Rugby Reunion
A group of 60 former Dhahran Rugby Union Football Club (DRUFC) players and other ex-Aramcons attended a reunion weekend in Chester, England, in July 2017. The event, known as “Not the May Ball II”, was based on the original Rugby Club May Ball, which was one of the highlights of the Dhahran social calendar.
Goodbye, Saudi Arabia
I never intended to become an English teacher. But, I had always intended to come to Saudi Arabia. Twelve years ago I was on a train making my way to interview for a place to read Arabic at Leeds. I had never visited the Middle East, nor even heard Arabic spoken. In truth, I had little idea about anything.
This Road to Arabia Leads Through Seoul
On occasion, the timing of things, the intersection of events in a person’s life, works out better when left alone than it would have otherwise had we planned everything in advance. Call it serendipity or luck or kismet or anything you like.
Hard Hats for Hardy Men
Ever since the birth of "The Age of Oil" in the mid-nineteenth century thanks to the ground-breaking efforts of innovative pioneers like Abraham Gesner and Edwin Drake, few areas of human endeavor have spawned a greater number of notable characters than the oil business.
Memories of an Equal Playing Field for All
One of the great pleasures we derive from operating this website is having the opportunity to feature stories from Aramco annuitants through which they share with readers experiences from their years of living and working in the Kingdom...
“My Dad - Now Here Is a Man”
Let’s face it, if you’re a retired Aramco annuitant like me, you’re not getting any younger. But the good news is, we have many wonderful memories to be thankful for and time left to make still more. And for those of you reading these words who are younger...
Changes to Your Aramco Savings Plan
You may have recently received a notification of upcoming changes to the Aramco Savings Plan, which may affect you. Read on for more details.
A Silver Beaver in Arabia
Over the years, newly hired expats from all over the world have arrived in Arabia to begin working for Saudi Aramco with varied levels of foreknowledge about what to expect from their new lives in an exotic land redolent of history and mystery. Fortunately for Al Denyer, Badge Number 99257...
Driven to Succeed RT - Golf Club Produces Youngest Club Champion
The Ras Tanura Golf Club (RTGC) produced its youngest club champion in its history with the recent win by 13-year-old Karl Reyes, who captured the 2017 Club Championship over a highly competitive field of golfers through two days of stroke-play qualifying rounds and another two days of straight-up (without the use of the handicap system) matchplay competition.
Doreen Cumberford: Busier than the Proverbial Bee
With some—certainly many, probably most—Aramco annuitants, retirement is less an exit from the working world but more an all-consuming exploration into a world of new opportunities. That certainly seems to be the case with Doreen Cumberford.
Brats to the Core, and Proud of It
Who but the progeny of Aramcons would take pride in calling themselves "brats"? It's one of those ineffable mysteries of the universe that reason cannot explain. With that said, we shall forever acknowledge their cheekiness with a smile and continue to post reports about their activities and interests and gatherings, this issue being no exception.