Working in Saudi Arabia

[Danneskjold]

I have a job offer to work in Saudi Arabia. Given the free medical and accommodation, and the lack of income tax, the pay is probably close to what I would get as an engineer in the US - and that's substantially more than what I get in South Africa.

Now for my questions:
1) Does anyone have any experience living and working in Saudi Arabia (I would be in Khobar)? Any idea how much it would cost to feed and clothe myself, or me and my wife and daughter?
2) I know 20 years ago there was the bombing there. Is it an OK place to bring my family, or would I be better off seeing less of them for a couple years while enriching us all? I'm asking mostly out of safety concerns and living conditions for women and children.
3) Any other advice I need to hear? I'm all ears.

They're pushing for a quick answer, and I'm leaning strongly towards "yes" - if it's a mistake, give me a reason to say "no".

Thanks.

[R. Lafayette]

Saudi Arabia is a tough place for a western woman to be. Your wife has to know and accept that going in. Ditto for the kid if she is used to the western woman's level of freedom to speak, dress, think.

[Badger]

I spent a little time in Saudi for work. It's an orderly society but oppressive. I don't recall food being crazy expensive. Why not try it by yourself for a month or two before bringing your family over? You can always quit if it's not for you. Do some research on the expat community. You will need friends or its going to be very lonely.

[EDELWEISS]

My SHORT answer--it might be fine for a single male BUT theres no fvcking way Id expose my family to those assimals . RSA is a "known" for you. You know where to go and where NOT to go. You know how to protect your family and what NOT to do, and you know just by looking around there might be a few folks who will be on your side but in the heart of moooooslem who will be on your side???

[That Guy]

You will earn much money but you will be in a backwards society where most people only pretend to respect you (because they need your skilled labour) if they even go that far.
Most will despise you as an unbeliever.
Scharia is the law over there and the state leaders resp. their executive branch can almost do whatever they want.

A good example is what happens when you have a car accident.
As a foreigner you will be held responsible by default. Because it wouldn´t have happened if you hadn´t been there. That´s the striking logic and it does not matter to them if the other guy was hitting your car while you where stopping for a red light or parking at the side of the road. You are responsible and will be punished.
If it´s your word against the word of an arab, they will follow his testimony.

Take that into account, too.
It is a country where public beheadings and amputations are carried out every friday afternoon (for public entertainment and intimidation).
Indians and Pakistanis are imported, their passports gets taken away and they are subsequently used as slaves.

On top the low oil price and tensions with iran are destabilizing the whole region.

[3corners]

I worked in Saudi for 2 and a half years, I would say go and earn your money, do not take your wife and kid, you can live there cheaply and well, just no pork and alcohol. You are only a short trip to Bahrain which although it has similar security issues also has a large US Naval presence. There is a large ex-pat community so social life is ok, just understand you will be living in an extreme islamic tribal monarchy and adapt accordingly. The eastern province has the concentration of the Shiite minority so has a lot of security issues and the ongoing involvement in the war in Yemen means stay well away from the southern border. Have a bug out plan to get to Qatar or UAE.

[SEANSTRAIT]

Never been to Saudi but I have spent way too much time in Muslim countries. I won't do it once I retire and there is no way in hell I'd take my family. I know the money is tempting but some things just aren't worth it. Just one man's opinion.

[TheGrayMan214]

See if your employer is involved in the US State Department's OCAS (Overseas Security Advisory Councli) or some equivalent. If they are, OSAC prepares information for use by business entities doing business abroad on relevant security concerns. The country fact file available online from State is a good start as well.

[C.J. Singleton]

I worked in Saudi for 2 and a half years, I would say go and earn your money, do not take your wife and kid, you can live there cheaply and well, just no pork and alcohol. You are only a short trip to Bahrain which although it has similar security issues also has a large US Naval presence. There is a large ex-pat community so social life is ok, just understand you will be living in an extreme islamic tribal monarchy and adapt accordingly. The eastern province has the concentration of the Shiite minority so has a lot of security issues and the ongoing involvement in the war in Yemen means stay well away from the southern border. Have a bug out plan to get to Qatar or UAE.
+1 on Bahrain if you stay in Juffair or other areas frequented by westerners and tourists you wont have any problems other than traffic. Since the uprising a few years ago the riot cops have gotten good at keeping the demonstrations isolated in the communities where they start.

Ive been there three times and usually enjoy myself but I do wish my Dad would hurry up and get my step Mom and adopted brother out of there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[bog]

Something to think about or keep tabs on......

With the very low oil prices the Saudi Arabian government is running a huge budget deficit. They provide a huge amount of social services and government assisted programs such as very low gasoline prices to take care of the people with the oil money. It's unclear to the rest of the world how long they will be able to run the country at a deficit or whether they will cut back on services to the people or finally let oil prices rise. If they cut back on services it would probably cause civil unrest.

[StealthNeighbor]

I've lived 3 times in Saudi Arabia...the last time, for 2 years (helped sell 'em $15.7B in U.S. helicopters), so I know a lot about the AO. I also had my wife and 2 small children there for 2 120-day visits...the first time literally the day prior to the start of the 2011 Arab Spring...so I'm happy to give you some decent perspectives on all aspects...

PM me and I'll provide a phone number so we can chat.

[Boetman]

F&ck that shit!!! Go make your money, buy a boat invite me and become pirates. Would it be more unsafe in SA for the family or in our RSA? Doubt it. Only think you have a better means of protecting them here than over there. Also, I like to see my daughters hair wave in the wind while playing in her little swimming pool and enjoy my wife dressing up sexy (makes her feel better about herself and the hunk she married):flapper::flapper:. Are muzzies worse than our scum we gotta deal with daily, highly doubt that.

[golucky]

I worked in Saudi for 2 and a half years, I would say go and earn your money, do not take your wife and kid, you can live there cheaply and well, just no pork and alcohol. You are only a short trip to Bahrain which although it has similar security issues also has a large US Naval presence. There is a large ex-pat community so social life is ok, just understand you will be living in an extreme islamic tribal monarchy and adapt accordingly. The eastern province has the concentration of the Shiite minority so has a lot of security issues and the ongoing involvement in the war in Yemen means stay well away from the southern border. Have a bug out plan to get to Qatar or UAE.

^^^This^^^ My father, ex-navy, said the mostly the same, having spent most of my high school years there.

[djk010468]

No amount of money would draw me there. Simply not worth it. I will not live even a day someplace where I need to bend knee to a man in a dress, or anyone for that matter. Where you have no rights except those they decide to give you. Where you are surrounded by them and if you have a dispute you are in enemy territory.

I would consider this existence hell and would not subject myself to it, not for all the money in the world. Subjecting your family to it is pure selfishness, and you will never forgive yourself if something bad comes of it. If you do decide to condemn yourself to hell for a time for the money, leave them at home.

Especially now with the progressing collapse of their oil wealth - which is the only thing that made them worth anything. They see the writing on the wall. They will soon slip the masks of civilization and descend into the barbarism that is their true nature.

[Boetman]

No amount of money would draw me there. Simply not worth it. I will not live even a day someplace where I need to bend knee to a man in a dress, or anyone for that matter. Where you have no rights except those they decide to give you. Where you are surrounded by them and if you have a dispute you are in enemy territory.

I would consider this existence hell and would not subject myself to it, not for all the money in the world. Subjecting your family to it is pure selfishness, and you will never forgive yourself if something bad comes of it. If you do decide to condemn yourself to hell for a time for the money, leave them at home.

Especially now with the progressing collapse of their oil wealth - which is the only thing that made them worth anything. They see the writing on the wall. They will soon slip the masks of civilization and descend into the barbarism that is their true nature.

F%ck me, that is pure potent truth right there. Very Very well said.

[T-Rex]

Lived there as an expat for two years. There are a lot of variables when working in Saudi, but several constants remain.

Living in Saudi opened me up to a lot of different perspectives on how others live. It has a very westernized veneer, but underneath it exists a highly traditional society. The sexes are highly segregated in many areas. Public transportation, restaurants, and specialty stores are the most prominent examples. If you bring your family, you will be able to bring them into the "family" sections of otherwise sex segregated areas.

This is a highly religious society. The underpinnings of the ruling Saud clan lies in its alliance with the wahhabi Islamic clergy. Without it, even with all of their oil wealth, it will not have any authority to rule. Everything is justified by its relationship to Islam - even the most banal of things such as sex segregation, food, drink - most documents out there start with the Arabic inscription "In the name of Allah, the benificent, the merciful." Public worship other than Islam is prohibited, although clandestine Christian services take place in most areas. Alcohol is prohibited as well. Either plan on going dry while in the kingdom, or learn how to make beer, wine, or moonshine yourself. Look up "The Blue Flame" and "Aramco" for the guide.

Everything revolves around the prayer times, which are generally 5:00 AM, Noon, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. Once the prayer call goes out, everything closes for about thirty minutes. It is very unmistakable with "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar" blaring from minarets in the towns and cities, but not so much if you live in an expat compound.

This is a society filled with contradictions. What is public proclaimed isn't necessarily privately done. There's public declarations against "Western" behaviors, but it is well known that those with connections have access to alcohol. They may make statements against homosexuality, but it is plain as day that a good percentage of Saudis engage in homosexual relationships. There is a saying out there: "Women are for breeding. Men are for love". Expats view Saudis as extraordinarily lazy. We had a joke about them: "If Saudis thought sex was labor, they'd hire a foreigner to do it."

Saudis are among the most dangerous drivers on the planet. I thought they were pretty crazy back when there was nothing but two lane asphalt strips connecting the towns and cities, seeing car wrecks towed off to the side of the road every 500 meters or so. Apparently they have "upped their game" since most of the roads have been upgraded. Look up "Saudi drifting" for some of the most eye-popping examples.

Many Saudis smell like a combination of Right Guard and BO. I think the smell is sandalwood, but it is definitely off putting.

Shopping for food and necessities in Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah is no different than what you would see in most Western countries except you won't be able to find any pork or alcohol. There are shwarma sandwich street vendors in most towns and cities. Shwarmas are thinly sliced lamb sandwiches placed in Arabic flat bread, and they are delicious. In the supermarkets, look for Austrian grape juice and yeast placed side by side. You know what to make from that.

Use this opportunity to get some of the highest karat gold money can buy. Most of the gold that is available in the gold souks (markets) is of the 18-24k variety.

More than likely, you will be working for a contractor in partnership with a local company. The contractor will hold your passport while you are under contract and you will get a work permit known as an "iqama". When you are scheduled for a vacation, you must get an "exit visa" in cooperation with your employer and the Saudi government.

Expats are usually housed in compounds where few or any Saudis reside, with families being housed together. Those who are on single status housing are housed separately. People who are from third world countries are housed in separate areas as well - usually Filipinos, Pakistanis, Indians, and Bangladeshis.

If you bring your children along, they will not go to school with the Saudis. They will go to one of the international schools out there, or they could go to boarding school in Europe for the duration.

The psychological adjustment period is about three months. Bring what you can with you but do not openly bring religious items, pornography, drugs, alcohol, or pork products with you upon arrival unless you are planning to end up in the custody of the Saudi police. Punishments for possessing these items can range from seizure to deportation.

One thing to never forget is THE SAND. Even though you may be in a city, the sand is everywhere. It gets into everything to the point where it gets maddening.