Challenge to Saudi expat tax The Shura Council is Saudi Arabia's equivalent of Parliament, but unlike in the UK, its 150 members are appointed by the King, not elected. As the kingdom is an absolute monarchy, the council has no direct legislative powers, which are reserved for King Abdullah. Khalifa al-Dowsary, another member, threw harsher criticism at the government: "The ministry always doesn't show any tolerance in its decisions and as far as it is concerned, you either take it or leave it. This shows that it has no room for diplomacy when it makes its decisions. The tax is part of Saudi Arabia's "Saudisation" policy, designed to lessen the country's dependence on foreign workers and reduce the 10 per cent unemployment rate. Critics say however that foreign workers have skills locals do not have, and are often also much cheaper. An unnamed source told Arab News that several companies have submitted false records to avoid paying the levy. But Ali Hakami, head of HR at the industrial supplier Sika Saudi Arabia, said that the work visa system was too sophisticated to allow falsification of nationality. Anoush Ehteshami, professor of international relations at Durham University, said the criticism may indicate the possibility of amendments to the law. "Although the Shura has no direct powers, membership of the council is indicative of influence," he said. In recent years, the Shura has increased its numbers, its constitutional influence, and its range of committees, all with the royal encouragement. King Abdullah has appointed these people to advise him, and he is highly unlikely to ignore their opinion.