Shahd Alhamdan
JEDDAH – Abeer Siaf and her sister are Saudi women who work in their traditional family bakery in one of Albalad’s alleys in the old downtown since 2013.
Their mother on her deathbed took pledges from her daughters to keep the old bakery business running. The mother foresaw that her daughters could earn money independently. Despite the fact the two sisters live in a conservative environment and culture, they with their hard work, have earned the respect and appreciation of their neighbours.
The bakery, which has been open for more than 80 years, sell several kinds of traditional Hijazi bread such as, ‘Shorek’, ‘Sahayera’, and Bread with meat.
The two women divide the working hours between themselves, in two shifts in morning and evening, in order to take care of their children and homes.
The sisters, both holding bachelor degrees have never worked in any place except this bakery. They believe that their work and effort should be geared toward their family business, especially that their dad had built a decent reputation in the market.
They are keen to develop their bakery into a well-known shop. As Abeer believes people want to buy their unique ‘Shorek’, ‘Sahayera’.
