Take a look back at the top hits and highlights of 2023 including our favorite photos, stories, celebrations, and more.
Thanks to our readers, contributors, and sponsors for another great year!
Our Favorite Articles
Aramcon Reunion in the Hill Country
"On 23 May 2023, several Aramcon’s travelled to Johnson City and Fredericksburg, TX to chew the fat and have some wine that was not homemade. The weather was perfect and everyone was reminiscing about the good ole days in Saudi."
Desert Designs Co-Founder ‘Happy and Sad' as Iconic Store Closes
By Art Clark
"Qamar (“Kim”) Ahmed is a lucky lady, even though she recently lost one of the loves of her life. Desert Designs, which she founded in al-Khobar with her husband, Farid Bukhari, in 1990 to preserve, “recycle and cycle” Saudi Arabia’s unique heritage crafts, closed July 31..."
Desert Divas Reunite in Savannah
By Nancy Vance
"The "Desert Divas" have had an annual reunion since 2002. This year we met in Savannah, GA. The photo was taken in front of the infamous fountain in Forsyth Park. We never run out of fond memories. From left to right Rita Steininger, Donna Jones, Diane Burgoyne, Sue Foster, Carol Dachelet, Becky Sigmon, Patti Fleming, Lee Theil, Nanette Langan, Stephanie Jones, Nancy Vance, Sharon O'Brien, Hedy Orkney."
Reflections on the 2023 KSA Reunion by John Cannon
By John Cannon
"First, some observations about what has and hasn’t changed since I was last in Kingdom in 1990. The first and most obvious change is how women are adapting to increasing freedoms and cultural changes. Women greeted us from behind the immigration desk when we arrived. Women are working."
Aramco Retiree Golf Group Teed It Up at Horseshoe Bay in Marble Falls on Lake LBJ Near Austin, Texas
By Mike Haas
"The Aramco Retiree Golf Group held its ninth event at Horseshoe Bay (HSB) Resort on Lake LBJ in Marble Falls near Austin, Texas. Golf activities included three rounds of golf at HSB Resort Ram Rock, Slick Rock and Apple Rock golf courses."
Aramco Retiree Golf Group Teed It Up at TPC Sawgrass and World Golf Village, Ponte Vedra, Florida
By Mike Haas
"The Aramco Retiree Golf Group held their eighth overall and first 2023 event in Ponte Vedra, Florida at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, March 27-31, 2023. It was a fun-filled 5-days of activities including four rounds of golf at TPC Sawgrass Stadium and Dye’s Valley courses, World Golf Village Slammer & Squire, and King & Bear golf courses."
"This article was originally published in 2003. We're curious to know what has changed over the past 20 years. Please share your insight by leaving a comment in the comments section. Do you spend whole days in the house? Do you feel cabin fever taking hold? Then take a day trip out around Dhahran – you may be surprised at what you find."
"Old friends gathered for a wonderfully impromptu mini-reunion in Phoenix, Arizona. Darice Tiffany, Carolyn McMahon, Jan Lincoln and Karen Fallon typically get together for a regularly scheduled monthly luncheon, however, last month, Delores Marshall came to town so Darice invited more friends from around the area to join in the fun."
"Some 24 years later, eight ex-Aramcons and one much-needed friend from Bahrain happened to be on the same piece of land! We made full advantage of the fact by arranging a fabulous afternoon tea at the 5-star Merchant Hotel in Belfast. Stories were shared, memories revisited and a general disbelief at how quickly time had passed (and how silver some of our hair had turned!)"
Dhahran to London, May 1978 – Part 1
By Richard Thom
"In May 1978 three of us drove back to the United Kingdom. Many people have driven to Europe from Saudi Arabia or vice versa and the reasons vary - from picking up a new car in Europe, taking a holiday, starting or finishing a contract, or simply a great adventure."
By Jasmine Carvalho and Yasmin Khory
"After 3 years, 60 Aramcons came together for the 7th Toronto Aramco Reunion on September 30, 2023 at Woodbine Beach Park, Toronto. The azure skies, the blue waters, the sandy beach, the trees showing traces of fall colors and the green grass by the shelter that was rented for the event made for a perfect day."
By Leslie Homolka Craigmyle
"My colleague, Heather, and I were supposed to go to a wedding in Hyderabad, India that week in January 2022. However, COVID was still very much on the national consciousness and rumors were flying that if we went to India, we were not going to be able to return to Saudi."
SAEEA 25th Reunion and Eid Milan
By Engr. Iqbal Ahmed Khan
"Saudi Aramco Ex-Employees Association (SAEEA) celebrated its 25th Reunion and Eid Milan on May 07, 2023 at Tandoor Restaurant, Karachi. A total of 89 persons attended the function (52 male, 32 female and 5 children). Shakeel Ur Rahman and Saleema Kamal became SAEEA's newest members."
Good News From Lahore - Let's Be Happy
By Junaid Idrees
"Ex-Aramco family friends connected in Lahore, Pakistan after a long time, and were met with the good news of the launching of “Aramco Retirees Association – Pakistan (ARAP)”, based in Lahore. Aramco and its retirees continue to connect thousands of people. About 70 Saudi Aramco Ex-Employees and their families from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and the UK attended a grand dinner in Lahore on November 15, 2023. "
Smiling Faces and Green Hearts Meet in Hyderabad, India
By Mohammed Ifteqaruddin
"As per announcement made in the Urdu Siasat Daily Newspaper the Saudi Aramco ex-employees Association (SAEEA) members, Hyderabad, India have gathered at the residence of employee Shaik Khan Mohammed on May 14, 2023, 14:00 hours, Sunday."
Our Favorite Articles from our Contributing Authors:
In a class of their own, we continued to bring you monthly installments from 3 authors whose unique voices recount tales of desert adventures, familiar cultural experiences and heartwarming recollections to keep you close to your Arabian roots. Here are our favorites...
The Saudi Bisht – A Winter Wardrobe Winner
By Brid Beeler
"One of the lessons western expats learn quickly after arriving in Kingdom is just how bone-chilling cold it can get in the desert during the winter. Arabs, of course, know all about those cold desert nights and have devised a clever garment called a bisht, which is the perfect thing for warding off the plummeting temperatures and wind chill on those frosty nights around the camp fire."
By Anushka Bose
"This past week, I have been feeling ever so nostalgic about one particular aspect of Dhahran—its Tandoori House-Olive Garden Restaurant. Housed under one roof, the unique fusion restaurant boasted a menu of Indian, Chinese, and Italian food. Oh, how I miss the food there!"
Tales of the Bedouin – Part XXXII: Aramco Helicopter Ride 1979, Tom Swords, Part 2
By Mark Lowey
"Part 1 of this story describes the helicopter ride with Aramco employee Tom Swords and concludes with a shout-out to Tom, his whereabouts and fate unknown. Shortly after the publication of Part 1 in the Aramco Expats Highlights, Kelly Swords, Tom’s daughter, saw the article and wrote to Tom and her mother, Jo, in their family’s group text."
Our Favorite Photos
Here's a look at our favorite photos. Visit our photo galleries to see all the photos. Share your photos with the Aramco ExPats community by submitting them to info@aramcoexpats.com.
Khobar - 1960
2023 KSA Reunion Tour
Dhahran Guest House
Dhahran Road Runners Marathon
Event of the Year - 2023 KSA Reunion
Upcoming Event - The 2024 Aramco Hafla Reunion Texas
2024 Aramco Hafla Reunion Texas
By Aramco ExPats
"On behalf of this year’s Hafla Organizing Committee, we welcome all Aramcons (Annuitants, Retirees, Brats, and friends) to the 2024 Aramco Annuitants Reunion at the Omni Las Colinas Hotel in Irving, Texas."
We Thank You
Our team would like to thank you for your continued support and for your article and photo contributions.
