Speaking from personal experience, Rana makes some of the most
scrumptious homemade truffles in the Kingdom and probably in the whole
GCC. During a recent convalescence I received some of Rana’s truffles
in their lovely gift wrapped box which is part of her trademark and
can vouch for how delicious they are. Therefore it gives me great
pleasure to have this opportunity to interview Rana and I am proud to
both promote and recommend her business as well as have her story
shared here on how she became an independent Saudi businesswoman.
To begin with Rana, please share a little bit about yourself. I
understand you had spent much time outside of the Kingdom. Where was
that and under what circumstances?
I lived in the UK for 5 Years because my Father (he was a military officer who took up his masters degree in England) then I moved to the U.S for another 4 years we lived in Charlottesville, Virginia. So most of my childhood and early teens were outside the kingdom.
When did you return to Saudi Arabia? And as a Saudi woman who had
lived extensively outside, what kind of an adjustment, if any, was it
for you on returning to the Kingdom?
I returned when I was 13 years old , it was hard at first, but what made it easier to live in Riyadh is when my dad came back he used to work in the military hospital & upon that
( all Saudi’s who had traveled for research or continuing their studies lived in a big compound (a western Arab mixed community)) it helped us a lot to adjust with the community
You can say it was an adjusting stage (spiritually & socially) we lived there almost 5 years
What did you find that you missed most when you returned to Saudi Arabia and why?
The freedom , the ability to go outside & walk when ever I feel like it without any one following me around & criticizing me!!
the well of driving your own car whenever you want
Family gathering & hang outs
The ability to have your own life, with your own privacy.
Also I missed the regulations and rules of the U.S.
As I understand you not only have your own business but also work at a
local Riyadh hospital. Was it easy to gain employment as a Saudi
woman in Riyadh? How do you like working in a hospital? What are the
advantages and disadvantages?
At first it was hard I had to prove my elf between the western world
Because the department that I worked in was pure westerns’ 90% & I was the only Saudi employee there, I had to prove that Saudi people are also hardworking, great, well educated & friendly
So most of my friends in the hospital where westerns’, & as for the Saudi community it was hard too, they didn’t accept a female Saudi to work in an environment with men
I had my part of Criticism (I didn’t care what people thought) it took me 5 years till other females kicked of working in my hospital other than medical sections.
The advantage: proved my points as a Saudi women
The disadvantage: How people looked down upon me as a female working in the financial environment
When did you get the idea of starting up your own business?
Just recently I’m new I started nov’08 , it is a hobby, all my friends pushed me to start selling & showing people & letting them taste my delights
I’m in to cooking since I was young (I’m known to mix up things & wallaaaaa magic a delicious treat)
Was it easy establishing your business? How did you start up? How
did you advertise?
Yes thank god, I’m very sociable
I started through my family’s friends , my friends & my sister’s friends (my work environment & my sisters (King fasial specialist hospital) & my sister-in law (Saudi hollandi bank)
I have great friends (which they will never hesitate to advertise for me any where they can think off)
My brother also had a helping hand, (he told me to advertise my work on facebook) so I did , now I have lots of customers (thank god) in a few months of advertising…
& as for the logo & the accessories one of my best friends is handling it all for me.
So yes am blessed with family and friends.
Please share the details about your business such as its name and the
delectable’s that you offer!
Its called ELITE DELIGHTS, I fell in love with the name as for future references I would want to sell sweets & savory (enshallah)
My menu is Truffles, Cakes, Cookies & Cupcakes mini & normal size
The truffles are made of a mouth watering ingredients such as:
1) lemon cake filled with almond topped with white chocolate
2) white chocolate cake filled with Twix chocolate bar & coated with dark chocolate
3) marble cake filled with white, chocolate frosting, coated with dark chocolate
4) chocolate cake filled with sneakers chocolate bar &coated with dark chocolate
5) cappuccino cake filled with chocolate fudge & macadamia nuts & coated with mil chocolate
6) American coffee cake dipped with dark chocolate
7) Oreo cookies dipped with dark chocolate
8) chocolate cake mixed with zafran coated with milk chocolate
9) chocolate cake filled with caramel coated with dark chocolate
10) red strawberry velvet cake coated with milk chocolate
11) ginger, cinnamon & coconut cake coated with white chocolate & drizzled with dark chocolate
12) carrot, banana & walnut cake coated with white chocolate
13) chocolate cake & chocolate chip cookies mixed together & coated with dark chocolate
14) pistachio nuts mixed with chocolate cake dipped with milk chocolate
15) caramel (butter scotch) cake coated with dark chocolate
16) Joori Rose flavored cake stuffed with chocolate cream dipped with dark chocolate
17) orange cake filled with orange cream dipped with milk chocolate
18) chocolate cake filled with mars chocolate bar &coated with dark chocolate
19) praline cake flavor with peanut butter filling coated with milk chocolate
20) vanilla cake filled with marshmallow cream & dipped with dark chocolate
21) chocolate cake filled with coconuts chocolate bar & coated with dark chocolate
22) Apple Cinnamon cake
23) vanilla cake filled with vanilla frosting & dipped with milk chocolate
Still to come other flavors…
As for the COOKIES
Mint , mixed nuts, Plain, Rice Crisps
As for the CAKES:
Rich Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake, Strawberry Cake, Date Cake, Marble Cake, Coffee Cake
Are the majority of your customers Saudis or expats?
70 % Saudi’s & 30 % Expats
And for those who are fortunate to be reading this interview and
located in Saudi, how can they reach you to place an order?
They can contact me on my mobile : +966590093415
Or email me elite[email protected]
or check my face book page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=37892793182&ref=ts
Or Elite Delights Group
What advice would you give to other women, whether Saudi or expat in
starting a home run business in the Kingdom?
Be strong, confident & have lots of faith in yourself in achieving any goal
& you have to be very very patient because in life you need to work hard & struggle to achieve & leave a good name for yourself among people
Filed under: culture, Food, gender, Interview, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi Living, travel, Women Issues | Tagged: culture, customs, gender, gender issues, KSA, Riyadh, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, women | 24 Comments »
