Over 10,000 residents call the DQ home. Meet Your Neighbor profiles interesting people in our international DQ Community. Learn about the diverse experience, interests, and backgrounds of DQ dwellers. Read on, and Meet Your Neighbor.
Describe your personality in 3-5 words/adjectives and expound.
Curious, adventurous, sometimes mercurial. I was very outgoing growing up, but as I have gotten older I’ve become a bit more reserved. I am a people person and I think I make friends easily, but definitely need time to myself to recharge.
What are your hobbies?
Travel and golf. Both have been constants since I was a teenager, although admittedly I am much better at traveling than I am at golf. Actually, the two have much in common; you can enjoy both solo or with others; every round, just like every journey, is a new experience. Both have highs and lows; both get you out into nature; and both allow you to make new friends.
How many years have you lived in Saudi Arabia?
Off and on for almost nine years. I have left and returned more than once. Seems like each time, Saudi is not through with me.
What brought you to Riyadh?
I was living and working in Mongolia at the time when a very good friend and former Riyadh-based lawyer and mentor, Ronald Pump, asked me If I would be interested in moving to Saudi Arabia. Not one to turn down a new challenge, I traded the Mongolian steppes for the Arabian desert.
What changes have you seen/experienced in Riyadh since you first came here up to now/today?
It goes without saying the social changes since 2009 have been monumental. For me, though, in my profession, the most dramatic change has been the changes to the foreign investment process. As a corporate lawyer I have helped foreign companies set up their operations here for many years. I remember when the licensing division at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) was really just two people. Setting up companies was hard and tedious and it took a long time. Now, SAGIA has become a much more efficient organization. Once you satisfy the document requests, getting a foreign investment license can be issued in a matter of days. That was unheard of when I first arrived.
How long have you lived in the DQ?
A total of about 4 years, but not all at once. When I first arrived in 2009, it was almost impossible to get an apartment in the DQ for a number of reasons, but it has always been, and still is (although changing) an outpost of tranquility from the hustle and bustle of Riyadh.
What were your first impressions of the DQ?
I remember distinctly coming into the DQ for the first time to an embassy event and was a bit starstruck; it was an amazing evening in which I met people from all over the world doing all kinds of interesting things here in Saudi. It kind of set the tone for my time in the DQ.
What do you like most about the DQ?
The DQ is a place of convergence of so many unique individuals. It is a place of gathering that has given me many happy memories.
What is something you wish the DQ had, but currently doesn’t?
Would be nice to have a golf course…
Any tips for your DQ neighbors?
Stop at the crosswalks and watch out for pedestrians and bikers. Wear reflective clothing at night if you are out walking/jogging. It’s getting busier here in the neighborhood.
Jason Mundy works at the Johnson & Pump in association with Al Sharif Law.
You may reach him at jason@alshariflaw.com
