I live in Saudi Arabia. AMA!

[Shmithecat]

I still hear so many daft claims about certain aspects of living in KSA. Happy to confirm or deny what you've been told!

Are they still publicly executing 2 or more people a week?

I don't think I could live there - husbands job or not but I appreciate it must be a fascinating experience

IfyouseeRitaMoreno
Were you affected by the Saudi women to drive movement? How is it being received?
I left for our holidays just before it became law, but I'm excited to see how it's going when I get back! I'll apply for my license when I can. But we also have a driver so probably won't drive that much unless I need to - the roads are pretty crazy out there and as much as I'm a confident driver, it's a pretty daunting prospect.

Do you have Saudi friends? Or are they all expats?

Both! Contrary to what you read, not all Saudis are Qur'an wielding fanatics. They're kind, generous, courteous and smart.

Are there any male trailing spouses? What is your friendship circle like?
I only met one male trailing spouse - he was the husband of an American lady who worked as a proffesor at a uni in Jeddah. He was a retired professor. Lovely couple.
My friendship circle is mainly expat - we live in a compound marketed at Westerners. I have an artist friend who exhibits all over the world l. Another lady who is titled in England that runs a breeding yard for a member of the Saudi royal family. So many different walks of life and fascinating experiences. And a few of those friendships are for life.

OneThreadOnly0101
Hello! I'm in KSA too.
Went for my first drive on Thurs and it was surprisingly unscary, although it wasn't super busy which helps. Had some cheerful waves from the men who spotted me. I haven't seen any other women on the road yet.

It's a strange place. I've been here for over 5 years and while it's where I live I still wouldn't really consider it home. I think it's due to compound living. It keeps you suspended in a bubble where real life is on hold.
Hi! Congrats on the drive! It's been a long time coming but I feel sort of privileged to be around when it happened.

No, I don't consider it home and I still have days when I loathe the place. But we're here for a purpose and it's not the lifestyle. Although I do make the most of it.

ObObO
Do they have many (or any) animal rescues/charities?
None that are official. But many people do large scale rescue and rehoming under their own steam. I've done TNR and rescued/rehomed cats since we moved here. It's thoroughly heartbreaking, one of the truly depressing sides to this country. But things are moving slowly for the better. Not fast enough but the right direction.

I visited once on a layover and found it strange to be in a place with no visible history. Not something I’d thought about until I arrived.

It's an odd place. Sometimes horrific, sometimes beautiful.

Malmsey
Do you think your ‘I’m all right Jack and gosh, it’s nice I don’t have to lock my door’ attitude lends legitimacy to the beheadings and amputations of the regime?

My attitude doesn't legitimize the beheadings and amputation punishments in any way. Just like expats who live in certain US states don't legitimize the death penalty, for example.

Can you go to the gym? Go swimming? Go running/cycling?

Are there normal shops there like Primark/Aldi or local equivalents or is everything ridiculously posh and expensive?

What is a “compound” exactly and does everyone mingle or is the society very divided?

W1neNot
Are they still publicly executing 2 or more people a week?

I'm not sure, I can't find exact recent figures. MBS did state a few months ago that the death penalty could be restricted to murderers only though. Leaving rapists, armed robbers, drug traffickers and terrorists to life in prison instead. He's pretty progressive and has done wonders in his role in a very short time. I do believe he'll come good.

I don't think I could live there - husbands job or not but I appreciate it must be a fascinating experience

Of course, there's many I know that have said the same. And yes, fascinating is one adjective for it!

Undercoverbanana
Can you go to the gym? Go swimming? Go running/cycling?
We have a gym in the compound. 20+ pools. I'm not aware of any swimming pools outside (but I've never looked so not sure). You can cycle but it's a bit awkward in an abaya and a bit hot...

Are there normal shops there like Primark/Aldi or local equivalents or is everything ridiculously posh and expensive?
Yes, we have M&S, H&M, Boots, La Senza, Newlook, Mothercare, The Body Shop etc! You can go to local souks for mega cheap shopping, or go to big malls for regular/high end stuff. There's also every conceivable restaurant and fast food chain going. And some lovely local food outlets too. Carrefour isnine of the big supermarkets. Another chain called Tamimi stock lots of Tesco products. There an Ikea. All sorts!

What is a “compound” exactly and does everyone mingle or is the society very divided?
It's basically gated community with all basic convenience and a western approach to life. We wear regular clothes, swimsuits, it has a salon, hairdressers, gym, Costa coffee, cafe and restaurant etc. And a mini supermarket. A preschool, large playground, small softplay, cinema etc. Not all compounds are equal but ours is pretty good.

Thanks for answering OP.

You say “gated community” - is that because your movement is limited? Can local people come and visit you, use your gym, shops etc?

How does healthcare work and is it equitable?

What is the food like?
If you could all move back to the UK tomorrow, would you really miss it?
Is the weather humid as well as hot all the time?

Undercoverbanana
Thanks for answering OP.
You say “gated community” - is that because your movement is limited?

Life outside is a bit restrictive - there's no public transport (although the metro build is well underway and with women driving, it should ease things a lot) so getting about can be an issue. Also, having to don a bloody abaya every time you go out the front door is a bit of a bind.

Can local people come and visit you, use your gym, shops etc?

Yes, we have friends who live in other compounds or in the city who visit us. There's a security process to follow which differs for each compound. But it's easy to follow. You can't enter uninvited though. There's armed national guard on our compound with gun towers and armoured vehicles etc. Quite often, who you work for will determine which compound will live in on a security level. Because of dhs job/company, we live in a high security compound.

How does healthcare work and is it equitable?

Employers are legally obliged to provide health insurance to all employees, it's not optional. Of course, there are different levels of cover as with all insurances.

Frosty66612
What is the food like?

Incredible! So much choice. My favourite is Yemeni food. I don't have a sweet tooth but if you do, it's heaven. And potential type 2 diabetes...

If you could all move back to the UK tomorrow, would you really miss it?

I'd miss my friends and the relative freedom my son has. I'd miss the fact that weather rarely stops play. I'd miss my cleaner and my driver - not because of what they do as part of their jobs, but because they're wonderful people who have been a constant in all our lives for a few years now and I love them. So does my son and my cats.

Is the weather humid as well as hot all the time?

Depends where you are. Jeddah is hot and humid all year round, no winter as such.
Riyadh is hotter in the summer but dry, and does have a relative winter. Still very warm in the winter month's days, but sometimes single figures at night.

I've done TNR and rescued/rehomed cats since we moved here.

Good to see you’re helping to move it in the right direction, OP

ObObO
I've done TNR and rescued/rehomed cats since we moved here.
Good to see you’re helping to move it in the right direction, OP

Sadly, especially in the first compound we lived in, if we hadn't done something we'd have just been stepping over dead cats every day. But more and more compounds are realising that tnr works much better than poisoning/dumping them outside the compound.

Daft question: Are you muslim?
Does you abaya cover your hair?

Having a driver, armed guards, public executions and loads of rules makes it sound like Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale!

I met a South African lady last summer and we got talking about travel. I asked her where she would like to visit and she said KSA. I was taken aback, but she said it was a beautiful country with beautiful people.

What line of work is you husband in?

Nice responses!
Btw, apparently DH can get your licence sorted through his Absher account - available as of this week. Not tried it as im flying out today.

The "gated community" bit, to me, means that within the walls, the rules are relaxed - so I'm wearing shorts today, no abaya needed. And the gym, swimming pool and restrauants aren't segragated. No, local people cant come in, unless visiting someone here.

Good grief that’s awful Must have been a real shock to the system when you first moved there and saw that.

I know every country has it’s problems with underdeveloped animal laws but it makes you appreciate those that seem a long way ahead of some others when you hear about things like this.

Oldowl
Daft question: Are you muslim?
Not daft at all! No, I'm not. I'm a total non believer in any sort of god.

Does you abaya cover your hair?

No, it's just a long dark loose cloak - collar to cuff to ankle. I don't cover my hair, I never have done. When the mutawa (religious police) were in service I used to carry a scarf just in case but I only ever saw 1, and since MBS took away their powers, you just don't see them anymore. In fact, some women have stopped wearing abayas altogether after MBS declared in an interview a few months ago that women didn't have to wear them, just loose modest clothing.

Having a driver, armed guards, public executions and loads of rules makes it sound like Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale!

It does a bit!

I met a South African lady last summer and we got talking about travel. I asked her where she would like to visit and she said KSA. I was taken aback, but she said it was a beautiful country with beautiful people.

It really is in some places. It has its ignorant twats just like any other country in the world. But I can honestly say I've never been treated badly or experienced anything too bad.

What line of work is you husband in?

Construction And IT.

what are the rules on face covering for women? I read an article in Time - pictures showed all in abaya but some masked, some not.

Oh, thanks Dunes. I'm not heading back yet but dh is going back today so will get him to get things in place.

How long do you intend to live there?

specialsubject
what are the rules on face covering for women? I read an article in Time - pictures showed all in abaya but some masked, some not.

There are no rules. It's down to each woman (or admittedly, down to the influence of her elders/family in some cases). Some women feel obliged to wear them, some women are happy to wear them. But it's not a legal requirement. And there different 'levels' of coverage - hijab (headscarf), niqab (full face cover with opening/slot for eyes) and burkha (total head coverage and full face veil). It'll depends on how they interpret their religious duties.

What advice would you give to someone moving there? (Potentially to Jubail)

What would you pack in 500lbs airfreight that would be useful?

I also have always wanted to visit KSA and may have the opportunity. Except DH is dithering and other jobs are proposed to him so who knows?

Ginger1982
How long do you intend to live there?

Another couple of years maybe? We want to come back mortgage free and with a decent pot for our ds' education.

Does his company start with B?