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Welcome to Austrade Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Our office is set up to provide services to both Australian and local companies which are interested in developing the following trade and investment relationships:

  • The direct export of merchandise goods and services from Australian to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Yemen.
  • The setting up of agency representation or appointment of distributors by Australian companies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Yemen.
  • Two-way foreign direct investment (FDI), including the establishment of joint ventures.

We do not provide services for companies who are interested only in exporting to Australia. Please refer to 'Exporting to Australia' below.

Listed below are the staffing details of Austrade in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Yemen showing specific responsibilities:

Michael Kavanagh

Michael Kavanagh

Senior Trade Commissioner and Commercial (Counselor)

Leads Austrade's team of export and investment facilitation staff. Based in Riyadh, he has responsibility for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen.

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 150
Email: michael.kavanagh@austrade.gov.au

Ismail Farag

Ismail Farag

Business Development Manager

Responsible for Health and Medical, Education, Gourmet & Processed Food and Consumer Goods.

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 158
Email: ismail.farag@austrade.gov.au

Kumar Sreekumar

Kumar Sreekumar

Business Development Manager/Office Manager

General enquiries on supply capability from Australia.

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 157
Email: kumar.sreekumar@austrade.gov.au

Mohammed Kamal

Mohammed Kamal

Business Development Manager

Responsible for Agribusiness, Automotive, Non-processed food, and Business and Finance.

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 159
Email: mohammed.kamal@austrade.gov.au

Mohammed Kidwani

Mohammed Kidwani

Business Development and Marketing Officer

Responsible for Water and Power, Sports and Recreation, Tourism and Defence.

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 153
Email: mohammed.Kkdwani@austrade.gov.au
Image coming soon

Reem Abudaff

Marketing Support and Research Officer

Responsible for Fashion, Cosmetics, Jewellery and Art.

 

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 151
Email: reem.abudaff@austrade.gov.au

Loui Sebastian

Loui Sebastian

Client Service Officer

Tel: +966 1 488 7788 Ext 156
Email: loui.sebastian@austrade.gov.au

Andre Barbour

Andre Barbour

Business Development Manager, based in Jeddah

Responsible for Transportation, Oil & Gas, Construction, Mining and ICT

Tel: +966 2 652 8540
Fax: +966 2 652 8560
Email: andre.barbour@austrade.gov.au

Office location and business hours

Saudi Arabia

Diplomatic Quarter
PO Box 94400
Riyadh 11693
Tel: +966 1 488 7788
Fax: +966 1 488 7458
Email: riyadh@austrade.gov.au
(also covers Bahrain and Kuwait and Arab Republic of Yemen)

PO Box 122390
Jeddah 21332
Tel: +966 2 652 8540
Fax: +966 2 652 8560

Public holidays and weekends

Our office is closed on Thursday and Friday for our weekend.  This is the official weekend observed by Saudi Government.  Many private companies also work half-day on Thursday.

The weekend in Bahrain and Kuwait is Friday and Saturday.

 

Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region. During Hajj (when pilgrims visit Mecca) all government establishments and some businesses will be closed for 10 to 14 days. 

SAUDI ARABIA

2010  Saudi Arabia public holidays 2010  Australian Embassy/Austrade’s public holidays
Sep 21  Eid al-Fitr/Ramadan ends Jan 2 New Year's Day (in lieu)
Sep 23  Saudi National Day Jan 26 Australia Day
Nov 28  Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Jan 27 Additional DFAT holiday
Apr 3 Easter Saturday
Apr 4 Easter Sunday
    Jun 12 Queen's birthday (in lieu)
Sep 11-13 Eid al-Fitr*
    Sep 23 Saudi National Day
    Nov 16-17 Eid al-Adha*
    Dec 25 Christmas Day
    Dec 26 Boxing Day

KUWAIT

Note: *Subject to change in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar.

2010 Kuwait public holidays 2010  Australian Embassy/Austrade’s public holidays
Jan 1 New Year's Day Feb 25 Kuwait Independence Day
Feb 25 National Day Apr 1 Good Friday (in lieu)
Feb 26 Liberation Day Apr 4 Easter Sunday
Feb 26 Mouloud Jun 13 Queen's Birthday (in lieu)
Feb 27 Recently gazetted July 8 Prophet’s Ascension*
Feb 28 Recently gazetted Aug 15 Additional DFAT Holiday
Jul 9 Al-Esra Wa Al-Meraj Sep 12 Eid al-Fitr*
Sep 11 Eid al-Fitr Oct 4 Labour Day
Nov 17 Eid al-Adha Nov 17-18 Eid al-Adha*
Dec 7 Islamic New Year Dec 26 Christmas Day
    Dec 27 Boxing Day

EGYPT

Note: (a) *These holidays are not official, although Coptic Christians may observe them. (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes the Bairam Feast, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some restaurants are closed during the day but most tourist attractions and hotels are not affected. Some disruption may continue into the three-day Grand Feast itself.

2010 Egypt public holidays 2010  Australian Embassy/Austrade’s public holidays
Jan 7 Coptic Christmas Day* Jan 3 New Years Day (in lieu)
Feb 26 Birth of the Prophet Jan 6 Additional DFAT Holiday
Apr 25 Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only) Jan 7 Coptic Christmas
Apr 28 Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter)* Apr 4 European and Coptic Easter
May 1 Labour Day Apr 5 Sham El-Nessim
Jul 23 National Day Jul 25 Revolution Day (in lieu)
Sep 11 Coptic New Year* Sep 12 Eid El- Fitr
Sep 10-13 Sep Bairam Feast
(End of Ramadan)
Oct 10 Army Force Day (in lieu)
Oct 6 Armed Forces Day Nov 16-18 Eid Al-Adha*
Nov 16-17 Grand Feast Dec 26 Christmas Day (in lieu)
Dec 7 Islamic New Year Dec 27 Boxing Day (in lieu)
    Dec 28 APS Public Holiday (in lieu)

BAHRAIN

Note: * Subject to change in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar

2010 Bahrain public holidays
Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Jan 7 Ashura
Jan 20 Al-Hijrah
Mar 9 Mouloud
Sep 21 Eid al-Fitr
Nov 28 Eid al-Adha
Dec 16 National Day

YEMEN

2010 Yemen public holidays
Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Jan 20 Muharram
Mar 9 Mouloud
May 1 Labour Day
May 22 National Unity Day
Sep 21 Eid al-Fitr
Sep 26 Revolution Day
Oct 14  National Day
Nov 28 Eid al-Adha
Nov 30 Independence Day

 

Australian Embassy

Abdullah Bin Hozafa Al-Sahmi Avenue
Diplomatic Quarter
Riyadh 11693
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 1 488 7788
Fax: +966 1 488 7973

The Australian Embassy in Riyadh is accredited to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen. It comprises representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Defence, and Austrade.

Exporting to Australia

We do not provide services to Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Yemeni companies which are interested only in exporting their merchandise products and services to Australia. We recommend that you contact the following organisation who will be able to assist you:

 

Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry
PO Box 6005
Kingston ACT 2604
Australia
Tel: +61 2 6270 8037
Fax: +61 2 6273 3196
Email: ed@austarab.com.au
Contact: Mr Robert Newton -  Executive Director

 

If you experience any problems in making contact or dealing with the above organisations then please contact us at riyadh@austrade.gov.au

 

The following organisations and their websites may also be useful for Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Yemeni exporting companies:

 

Australian Customs Services
NSW Head Office
477 Pitt St
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Tel: +61 2 9213 2000
Email: information@customs.gov.au

The Australian Customs Services is the only organisation authorised to handle any enquiries relating to the level of import duties applicable on export of merchandise goods to Australia.

 

Standards Australia
GPO Box 5420
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
Tel: +61 2 8206 6000
Fax: +61 2 8206 6001
Email: mail@standards.com.au

Standards Australia is the Australian Government endorsed peak standards development body in Australia.

Business, legal and accounting services

The following useful contacts are provided on the basis of our knowledge of their experience with business development between Saudi, Bahraini, Kuwaiti and Australian companies. Normal commercial procedures should be adopted for engaging their services.

Banks

In Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Hollandi Bank
PO Box 1467
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 11431
Tel: +966 1 401 0288
Fax: +966 1 405 4797

 

SABB
PO Box 9084
Riyadh 11413
Tel: +966 1 405 0677
Fax: +966 1) 405 0660

 

In Bahrain:

HSBC Bank, Middle East
Khalifa Road
Manama
Tel: +973) 1722 2112
Fax: +973 1722 6822

Standard Chartered Bank
PO Box 29
Manama
Tel: +973 1722 3636
Fax: +973 1722 5001

 

In Kuwait:

National Bank of Kuwait
PO Box 95
Safat 13001
Tel: +965 242 2011
Fax: +965 243 1888
Email: webmaster@nbk.com

 

Gulf Bank
PO Box 3200
Safat 13022
Tel: +965 244 9501 (20 lines)
Fax: +965 244 6126 or 244 5212
Email: customerservices@gulfbank.com.kw

Lawyers

In Saudi Arabia:

Kadasah Law Firms
(in cooperation with Bryan Cave LLP)
PO Box 20883
Riyadh 11484
Tel: +966 1 474 0888
Fax: +966 1 476 2881

 

Law Firm of Mohammed Al Sharif
(in Association with Johnson & Pump)
PO Box 9170
Riyadh 11423
Tel: +966 1 462 5925
Fax: +966 1 464 4898

 

In Bahrain:

Hassan Radhi & Associates
PO Box 5366
6th Floor, Diplomat Tower
Manama
Tel: +973 1753 5252 
Fax: +973 1753 3358
Email: radihilaw@batelco.com.bh

 

Baker & McKenzie
PO Box 11981
6th floor, Al Salam Tower
Manama
Tel: +973 1753 8800
Fax: +973 1753 3379

 

In Kuwait:

Al Sarraf & Al Ruwayeh
Tel: +965 240 0061
Fax: +965 240 0064
Email: asar@asarlegal.com

 

Al Saleh and Partners
Tel: +965 246 7670
Fax: +965 243 1039
Email: asap@alsalehandpartners.com

 

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