The year’s Ramadan, expected to begin on June 17, promises to be an exceptionally difficult one for Saudi Arabia, particularly as the Kingdom braces for one of its hottest summers ever. According to Saudi climatologist Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, temperatures could reach up to 65° Celsius (141° Fahrenheit) in the country over the course of the month.
Speaking to the Saudi Gazette, Al-Ghamdi predicted the 50° Celsius to scorch residents even in the shade during Ramadan.
If Al-Ghamdi’s predictions are accurate, the month will mark the highest temperature recorded since 1913, when the thermometers climbed to 56.7°C in Death Valley, California.
Hot, and Out of Help
Instead, what many Saudis are concerned about is the prospect of facing the holy month without domestic workers helping around in the house.
The so-called "maid crisis" began in 2011, when Indonesia banned its citizens from migrating to Saudi Arabia for domestic work. The ban came after an Indonesian maid was executed in the Kingdom and was in response to Jakarta’s growing frustration with the treatment of domestic help in the country. Prior to the ban, there were about 1.2 million Indonesian migrant workers in the Kingdom, most of whom worked as maids.
"During Ramadan, one tends to pray and socialize more than other months," Ameena, a Saudi nurse, told Arab News. "It is almost impossible for a housewife to spend the day cleaning, cooking, praying, reading the Holy Quran after breaking fast, socializing and then watching some television programs. It’s kind of mission impossible."
Ameena is about to face her first Ramadan without help, after her Indonesian maid left her ten months ago. Though this may complicate things for her household, it’s difficult to overlook the irony inherent in her and many other Saudis’ concerns, particularly as the month is meant to be more about patience and charity than it is about catching up on TV.
But the problem has become so serious that many have resorted to hiring black market maids instead of waiting for recruitment agencies to provide them. Some have even complained about having to pay upwards of $1,333 for black market maids, claiming they are out of options.
So here’s to hoping the air conditioner holds up, and wealthy Saudis like Ameena can nail down staff to pick up after them. Otherwise Ramadan in the Kingdom could wind up to be one hot mess.