I know this seems to be becoming a bit of a slap-a-saudi Blog, but it's really is not my fault, they give you so much ammunition.
HSBC are the parent bank to
SABB (Saudi Arabian British Bank) although SABB would say otherwise, I think the logo gives it away, don't you?

All this month I have been trying to move a few dollars over to my USD account in Jersey. For some strange reason my money isn't mine, inasmuch as, if I want to shift it I must effectively ask permission. This really makes a mockery of the internet banking system because you have to go to the bank to register where you want to send money. Now you see what I mean about ammunition.
Well I already have two banks registered with SABB, HSBC Jersey GBP and First Direct GBP. So given that I am not going to make a special visit to the nearest branch to set up my dollar account (the bank charges here are high enough already with out adding taxi fare) I decided to use one that I have already registered (the exchange rate is not favourable but I will take the hit). Even though that account is, according to the web site, set at a transfer value far in excess of the money I wish to transfer still I get the message "International Transfer rate set to zero call......."
Added to that all the replies I have received whilst trying to get this sorted have been deleted from my account. This might have something to do with the fact that I mentioned in my last message to them that I would be complaining to the Saudi Banking Authority and to HSBC HQ. Even the banks are a law unto themselves!
Well yes, I suppose I could have my salary sent straight to Jersey, though this is not really an option. I used to do that, but the company pay us late every month, 2-3 weeks. Having my salary paid into a Jersey account the cheque is sent from America??????? Not only does this take a further 3 weeks to appear in my account it costs $30 to do so.
I suspect, though I couldn't swear to it, that my lawyer is holding my assets in my account so I don't leave the country without paying him (itself a bit of a waste of effort coz I can't bloody leave!) How so you may well ask? Saudi law is non existent. In the west they would have to get a court order to do such a thing, here you just have to know the right people and be a Saudi of course.
Saudi Law is what the judge decides it will be on the day. There is no precedence. It is purely arbitrary. If he didn't get laid last night you lose. If you are not a Saudi it's a hard fight. A Saudi and a Pakistani both charged with the same offence will receive vastly differing sentences even if all the circumstances are the same. A non-Saudi is not allowed to bring a non-Saudi witness to testify against a Saudi. The fact that Saudis commit a large number of crimes against non-Saudis might have something to do with this. It's called looking after your own, something that we in the west have allowed to fall by the wayside.
http://www.hrw.org/reports/1997/saudi/Saudi-03.htm
Note if you change the '03' to '01' '02' '04' '05 ' '06' '07' '08' '09' '10' you will be gobsmacked.
So even though, in my case, there are two hundred co workers here that could tell the court the same story of contractual abuse and incompetence as I will, I cannot call one of them. It is corrupt and racist and the norm, but just watch the bastards scream if they should be treated the same way in the UK.
And still I can't move MY funds out of Saudi.
HELD AGAINST MY WILL IN SAUDI ARABIA