European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 18, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes May 1985 hard times for the saudis by Elaine Sciolino new York times twas the disposable an Era of such High living that Little used things could be thrown furniture was replaced every six cars were traded in As soon As new models arrived and designer Silks from Rue do Faubourg were worn Only for the first wealthy saudis Are beginning to feel the effects of a three year recession that promises to Cut deeper in the years to the source of the problem is painfully obvious Oil production has plummeted from a High of 10 million barrels a Day Only four years ago to 4 million last this year it will fall even to million barrels a the Oil producing kingdom is trying to Cope with the effects of a billion drop in income from three years ago by cancelling delaying postponing and scaling Back projects and slashing subsidies on everything from wheat to behind the doors of saudi it is nearly impossible to judge How much the recession is in Large part because outward appearances and hospitality Are dear to a favorite saudi Story is the legend of Hatim Al whose hospitality was so great that he killed his horse rather than let unexpected guests go without Din the recession is already bringing social dislocation and financial even the wealthiest saudis arc at least i built an said one of the country self made but even i wont give my visiting relatives a new car this As i always have they can have a Twoy Earold Bow from my garage some saudis have Cut Back on sumptuous dinners at one of the few forms of entertainment in a country without movie Heaters or when we invited 10 people for we cooked for the billionaire now Well Cook for in Riyadh and the two largest 40 per cent of All commercial and residential buildings Are according to Western economists and landlords Are complaining that they have to let office and residential space at discounts up to 25 huge unoccupied apartment known As Rush housing because they were put up quickly by developers expecting a continued influx of foreign stand As symbols of an investors dream gone the first Bel tightening measure for Many saudis has been to keep last years sales of american cars have plummeted 50 percent in the last two at one Riyadh sales of Mercedes 500 diesels Are Down 12 percent since last instead of buying eight Cylinder people will buy six Cylinder said sales Man Ager for Olayan which Sells jaguars and land but its not easy for anyone to accept that his income is sales and discounts at retail unheard of in the salad Are so popular now that the government has stepped in to protect Consumers from bogus now shopkeepers Are required to list regular and Sale prices with the saudi chamber of Commerce and to limit sales to twice a one Young woman found it difficult to sell tickets to her luncheon fashion show until she began giving Dis counts on the even the women philanthropic made up almost entirely of the wealth Iest saudi demanded 10 percent while no one is advertising used private the usually peripatetic saudis Are taking fewer one minor saudi Prince who runs a Small construction company took nearly a dozen overseas vacations last year this he has yet to leave the the government is urging saudis to vacation within the country and is offering package deals to the Hills of Asir province and the red saudis Are tipping less than they used one wealthy saudi businessman illustrated the Point when he picked up the Tab for three a total of 27 about he left 30 in the old he said i would have left last 300 saudi businesses went a sobering experience for other saudis who went into business in the Days when profits were As High As 50 even Well run businesses have been no doubt about our profit will be lower than said Omair the Berkele educated general manager of Riyadh furniture one of the country largest manufacturers of office and institutional some people Are but up photo Jidida has also been hit by where is it better can we go somewhere better to invest saudi officials use the word normalization rather than they see it As an Opportunity to Intro Duce a More rigorous work ethic to a people who came to believe that they were destined for easy one of our problems is that we have had almost total satisfaction in saudi minister of plan Ning Hisham Nazer said in an we now have to create a productive saudi who is healthy and Well but who labors for what he Prince Muvrin bin governor of Hail prov put it More bluntly a saudi will have to learn that he cannot throw away his car when the ashtray gets adjusting to the new economic reality will not be especially for the Young saudis who came to expect a Mercedes and a Plum government Job after col lege Young graduates who a year ago were demanding starting salaries of a year plus generous living and housing allowances Are now forced to take jobs for a recent graduate said he preferred to wait until his a real estate could afford to buy him a Mercedes before he went looking for a in a Frank interview in a Jid debased Maysoun founder of the National industrialization a private investment complained of wasting vast sums of Money to train Young the youth wants to do the least amount of work and get the maximum return Jalal unless our citizens become patriotic and More we will not be Able to maintain our effects of recession in empty housing stands As Symbol of investors dreams gone new York times photo