As part of austerity measure, Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that it was adopting the Gregorian or Western calendar as a basis for paying civil servants.

The kingdom had adopted the lunar Islamic calendar when it was founded in 1932.

The new development brings the birthplace of Islam in line with many of its energy customers.

The Islamic lunar calendar is actually 11 days shorter than the 365-day solar year, which will actually save the kingdom money by cutting salary days for many public servants.

It is part of a larger series of cost-cutting measures recently imposed that includes cancelling some bonuses offered to state employees and hiking fees for entry visas for foreign visitors and residents.

Millions of Muslims from around the globe visit Saudi Arabia annually as part of the hajj pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites.

Saudi King Salman has also ordered a 20-percent cut in salaries for civil servants and a 15-percent reduction in financial perks for the kingdom’s advisory Shura council as part of far-reaching economic reforms.

The world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia has seen decreasing revenues since oil prices have been in decline since 2014 as OPEC nations maintain robust output amidst static demand.

Source: https://www.thecable.ng/saudi-arabia-abandons-islamic-calendar-oil-crisis

Great decision

Interesting read from Saudi Arabia dem don dey tire small small

'Change' everywhere.

Recession in oil exporting countries

some tyms i wonda if vene nd suadi could be afectd lyk dis den i tank God 4 my dear 9ja cos we re hardwokin.

pedel:
'Change' everywhere.

Change is now 'dole'

Lalasticlala, have you been to Saudi before?

This post deserved front page for education purpose.
Mynd44, Lalasticlala, seun

Meanwhile back home Ogbeni Aregbesola is declaring public holiday for same.

The kingdom has come to terms with the cold reality that they are no longer the undisputed leader of the oil cartel and the harsh fact that OPEC can no longer manipulate oil prices anymore. The US shale producers have mastered the craft of dealing with oil price shocks despite Saudi Arabia's attempts to flood the market with oil thereby reducing the price of oil and making it less profitable for American shale producers. Of course they are also doing all this to prepare for the Aramco IPO. I still believe they have the will to break off oil and diversify their economy. Hope Nigeria is taking cues as well.

So Saudi is feeling the heat with all their foreign reserves.

Interesting.

This just means 11 days prorated reduction in annual wage bill.

Same pay a worker earned in 355 days (Islamic year) will now be earned in 365/366 days. Gain to government.

They are tired already.
Saudi Arabia may soon drop the ideas of their clothing system and adopt that of USA so as to minimise cost of getting clothes by their citizens.
Also, they may start to grant non-muslims special permission to perform "hajj excercise in Mecca and Medina" as part of their moves for 21st century globalization programmes.
When will they drop the name of Islamic republic
(kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and become United States of Arabia? Nonsense.
Economic, financial and scientific realities will reset all these useless religion fallacies all over the world with time.
Nigerian securities should be on alert because some backward illiterates from north may be insinuating that it was America that forced "the Georgian calender" on Saudi Arabia as part of America moves to turn the Saudi Arabia to a christian state, which may result into violet protests.

Omeokachie:
Meanwhile back home Ogbeni Aregbesola is declaring public holiday for same.

Then, Mr Ogbeni must receive 'repentance' on this..

hello

As a basis of paying salary..oil price crash really hit OPEC members very hard...

it looms

It's a welcome development since they need to be in line with the clients they are supplying.

The calendar disparity affects lots of business. Good move by the Saudis.

Smh,

So Muslim Saudi now accepts a Christian calendar.

Wonderful.

These are people most sunni Muslims imitate, a country Muslims regard as their holy land, but you begin to wonder where some get all these their extremist ideologies especially those in northern Nigeria.
I think Muslims deserve to know the real origin of Islam, not all these tales we hear.

Ok

Omeokachie:
Meanwhile back home Ogbeni Aregbesola is declaring public holiday for same.

Wicked

This ...happened so saudi is affected am so proud of naija

Hooooo....

Jarus:
this just means 10 days gain

Ten days is 2 whole weeks, bro

Thats a whole lot of commercial and economic duration..

inme:
I trust those morons from North to start protesting against this decision in few days

Which one consine dem, na dem contry ni?

Good job

Mrpresident1

You see what I'm saying?

f