How Hongkongers find their feet in shifting sands of desert kingdom Saudi Arabia

byVerified News Online

AdvertisementHong Kong economyHong KongHong Kong EconomyHow Hongkongers find their feet in shifting sands of desert kingdom Saudi Arabia

Middle Eastern country is looking to lure global talent as it diversifies its economy and Hongkongers are among those eyeing opportunities

Reading Time:6 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP

Illustration: Brian Wang

Vivian Au

King Leung King-chung was just like many other Hongkongers used to a comfortable life with plenty of entertainment options and different cuisines close at hand – moving to the Arabian Desert to set up a business was the furthest thing from his mind.

AdvertisementLeung, a finance graduate from the University of Hong Kong, had started his own tech start-up that included coding for websites during his second year of study. He then became one of the youngest start-up founders among his batch to join an incubation programme at the city’s Science Park.Following such a promising start, a move to Saudi Arabia after graduation to start a shaved ice shop was unexpected, to say the least.

“I am a person hoping to challenge myself, and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone,” the 26-year-old said.

Leung bought a one-way ticket to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh two years ago, having also considered a move to mainland China and Africa, convinced that he could forge a career in a country seen as having the most potential among fast-growing economies.

King Leung (right) moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023. Photo: Handout
King Leung (right) moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023. Photo: Handout

His journey, however, was anything but smooth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest country economically and by area in the Middle East, with a population of about 32 million and gross domestic product of US$1.084 trillion in 2024. It was a baptism of fire that came at a steep financial cost.

AdvertisementAdvertisementSelect VoiceChoose your listening speedGet through articles 2x faster1.25×250 WPMSlowAverageFast1.25x

Related Posts

Cuts to US ‘fentanyl tariffs’ help Chinese exporters gain on competition

AdvertisementChina exportsEconomyChina EconomyCuts to US ‘fentanyl tariffs’ help Chinese exporters close the gap on competitionAnalysts said the reduction in US tariffs creates space for Chinese producers to gain on Asian competitors – particularly in low-cost goods
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP1Alice LiandRalph JenningsPublished: 6:00am, 1 Nov 2025With the US cutting its tariffs on Chinese imports by 10 per cent – halving a duty initially imposed by Washington over allegations of complicity in the fentanyl trade – analysts said the reduction may further strengthen the competitiveness of Chinese exporters, particularly in mass-produced goods.
AdvertisementFollowing a meeting on Thursday between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea, the world’s two largest economies reached a consensus on the issue, with the US agreeing to remove half of its 20 per cent in fentanyl-related tariffs on China, effective immediately.
The 90-day pause on tariff inc..

Dogs punched, slammed: Pet groomer assaulted pets; arrested after viral video sparks outrage

Representational image A pet groomer in North Carolina has been arrested after disturbing videos surfaced showing her punching and slamming dogs during grooming sessions. Kirsten Rhea Taylor, 28, was taken into custody on Thursday in Mooresville and charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty, reported New York Post. Authorities identified her as the employee seen in videos recorded at Classy Critters, a local pet grooming business. The footage was captured by a co-worker and posted to Facebook, sparking public outrage and prompting an immediate investigation by Iredell County Animal Services. The videos reportedly show Taylor hitting dogs multiple times and roughly handling them, including slamming one frightened dog against a wall. At least four client-owned dogs were seen being treated aggressively, police said. Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the case was handed over to the sheriff’s office, which later issued arrest warrants. The owner of Classy Critters confir..

Trump pauses all asylum decisions; order follows shooting near White House

Representational (AP file photo) Trump administration on Friday ordered US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to stop making all asylum decisions, following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC. The pause comes after Wednesday’s attack, which officials say was carried out by an Afghan man who received asylum earlier this year. One of the soldiers has died. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US in 2021 under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole programme and was granted asylum this spring. The order affects all nationalities and covers “affirmative” asylum cases handled by USCIS. Officers were told to continue interviews and case reviews, but stop at the point where a decision would normally be entered. In-person appointments scheduled for Monday, where applicants receive final decisions, were also cancelled. In a statement to CBS News, USCIS director Joe Edlow confirmed the decision. He said, “USCIS has halted all asylum..