Saying farewell to friends in Jeddah...

At 3pm on July 16th and located in the auditorium, people in the Jeddah office gathered to say goodbye to me.

The Chairman opened up with his speech, one interspersed with humorous account of my time in Arabia and his tribute for what he sees as my legacies. He was generous with his compliments...Thank you Mr Z!

I was presented with a very nice delicate Persian carpet. A truly beautiful piece. A huge cake to cut and be shared with everyone......afterall, a farewell is about bringing closure to wonderful time we have shared together.

Below is the text of my speech.

PARTING WITH FRIENDS…..
- Farewell is hard. Even harder when saying goodbye to people dear to my heart. I thank you for being here today.
- Today, at this farewell I have an opportunity to introduce Mr R who is not only my successor but my new found friend. Please welcome Mr R! I ask of you to extend you support to Ranjay as you have given me.
- I have composed a poem for you and will read and speak alternatively.

By the Cornichee of the Red Sea
I sat thinking of what to say
Four years filled with fond memories
Not easy to say goodbye – on this day

I‘ve seen the sun of dawn and dusk
Of hopes and dreams and a dissappearing past
I hope I can freeze the frames
Of happier times of us as friends.

I sat there watching sea gulls fly
Listening to rolling waves of the ocean roar
It pains my heart to bid goodbye
Setting sails to a distant shore.

I never know to bid farewell
In swollen hearts and words that tell
for yesterday holds so much more
and so much more, to close the door.

I will think of you in happier sun
of smiles and cheer, and days of fun
I’ll frame times we have shared together
And cherish your kindness with the Kingdom’s splendour.



- Joining this company and living in Saudi is a dream come true for my family and I. As I have told a few people – it all started during a Haj pilgrimage in Feb 2003. My wife and I had a yearning to come and live in Saudi and be close to Mekah and Medinah – and our prayer was answered when in Sept of the same year we started living in Jeddah.
- The hardest part of this goodbye is about leaving friends. And I want to thank you all for having taken my family and I as you friend.
- Mahdi, Mohd Ali, Mussa……
- The HR team – we will have a dinner together on Wednesday.
- Mr L, for being a personal and professional colleague
- Board colleagues
- Mr Z, who has been an inspiration ( as well as source of perspiration ) for me.
- My first dinner with the chairman Mr Z in April 2004 in Jeddah Hilton was where he shared his vision for Arabia “Double growth rate, 1billion dollars in 2010”. He sketched his grand plan on a napkin while he had salad and I was having steak for dinner.
- This next para is dedicated to you Mr Z.

Leaving footprints on desert sand
Successes we weaved with extended hands
Memories we created from shared dreams
Experiencing life’s tapestry of love and grieve
in yesterday, through thick and thin
will come to rest to my heart within.

- There are many things which have given me pride and satisfaction during the four years.
- Arabia business is a unique one when it comes to diversity with 34 different nationalities
- Arabization / Saudization continue to be a high priority – a balance at the same time with being able to co-exist and interdepence with expat talents.
- I have tried my best ; but one of my regret remains that I could have done more in localization.
- However, it is satisfying to see managers / leaders like Muhanned Hilal, Rayan, Omar Najjar, Assaf, Amer, Ahmad Babtin just to mention a few - blossoming and progressing in their career.

From the deepest part of my secret heart
nestled within, among the things—
precious and dear, that sweet life brings.
For on this day, breathe soft and tender
we so like birds of a different summer
by Fate to flock and soon shall flight
and find our homes in distant light.

If I should spare my sadness and tears
sorrow felt and silent fears
it is not that I fail to feel
this burning yearn that cannot heal
and memories of you close to my heart
whisper—that though we part
in coming day of far away;
I’ll be watching you fly – going for the sky!

- The last part of this poem is dedicated to all of you.
- You have made these four years – the best for my family and I.

and while:
I await the day, on a different land
For us to meet, to hold your hand
We’ll talk of friends we common know
Of better days and this new tomorrow
When this chapter of me comes to close
shed not a tear on sorrow prose
but turn the page, this is not the end
for we had come as strangers, and left as friends.

- On behalf of my wife and myself – I say thank you!