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!

londonginge

I don't think it's been half as bad as I was expecting! I'm comfortable with the choices I've made and the reasons I made them, so the heckling isn't a problem. The thread has been taken in the main as I would have hoped.

Great thread OP, so interesting.

Apologies if this is a silly q but I’d love to know if you can sunbathe on the compound? In a swimsuit / bikini etc.

wooster16
Great thread OP, so interesting.
Apologies if this is a silly qbut I’d love to know if you can sunbathe on the compound? In a swimsuit / bikini etc.
Yes! It's fully westernized. Although how anybody can actually sunbathe in 50°c heat is just beyond me!

In Jeddah, there are private beach clubs where you can also wear regular swimwear. The cost about £30/40 to enter though.

How easily can you find jobs in KSA/ other middle Eastern countries? DH has taught ESOL but now does something completely different. Is there a need for ESOL there?

Do you have a choice not to live in a compound and live in the local community or do you have to live there as a condition of your visa?
Also are you, dh and ds learning Arabic? Do they teach Arabic at Ds's pre school or is everything in English?

Very nosy question, but how much does your DH earn?!

kitzz
How easily can you find jobs in KSA/ other middle Eastern countries? DH has taught ESOL but now does something completely different. Is there a need for ESOL there?

They're fairly easy to find! There is always a need for English teachers within public sector jobs/Saudi unis. The pay isn't huge by Saudi standards (maybe £2k a month?) but it's tax free and will likely include free accommodation etc. I'm not sure if those positions would support an accompanied/family visa though ie it's usually 'singles' that do these kind of jobs. There's a few in the company my dh works for and none of them have family with then in Saudi, they're here alone.

pinkmagic1
Do you have a choice not to live in a compound and live in the local community or do you have to live there as a condition of your visa?

No, it's not a condition of his visa. It's usually down to the employer - they can give you an allowance for your accommodation and you decide where to live or they allocate and pay for your accommodation as part of your package. We've had both scenarios and I prefer to be allocated.

Also are you, dh and ds learning Arabic? Do they teach Arabic at Ds's pre school or is everything in English?

Dh and I aren't actively learning (although we both have a few words between us) but yes, they teach Arabic and French at preschool, although most of the teaching is in English.

gesu
Very nosy question, but how much does your DH earn?!

It fluctuates a bit as SAR is pegged to USD so exchange rates affect the total but all in all, the total package is about £220k pa.

Are women allowed to work there?

Who works in the compound e.g. in the hairdressers/gyms etc. It is westerners?

Really interesting thread btw

jalady385
Are women allowed to work there?
Who works in the compound e.g. in the hairdressers/gyms etc. It is westerners?

Yes, women are allowed to work there. The main bulk of staff in our compound are Filipino. Admin/management staff vary - Cypriot, Eastern European, British etc.

You mention that Journalism there is truly shocking in your first post. How so? Is there any restriction on broadcasting International news stations etc?

How do you feel about the blockade against us in Qatar? Do you think it will ever end? (I hope not tbh) it's so nice to be able to go out in Doha and not be besieged by drunk Saudi guys. The hypocrisy is unbelievable!

Ah yes we used to have the Saudi’s in Bahrain driving across the causeway for their weekends of debauchery.

Hi op, i think youve said you are white. Any idea what its like for professional asian (ie, brown skinned) people in ksa?

Where have I insulted you - simply stating facts.

You pay tax if you live in a country - sales tax, road tax, whatever the local variations.

You have made a choice to live in a country that publicly executes children.

Every country has issues and many commit human rights abuses but the KSA is one of the worst. That is my point.

The nature of the many, many abuses are particularly vile. I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable.

Why am I posting about human rights abuses when you want to talk about shopping? I think human rights are important, I'm sorry if they get in the way.

I think it's interesting on MN the AMA thread about the OW was very critical and most posters agreed it should be. But the person being criticised on this thread is not the morally ambiguous poster who has chosen to live in a regime that commits human rights atrocities daily but the poster who points this out.

So sleeping with another woman's husband is worse than giving succour, comfort and support to a regime that still stones women? Answer that.

Yawn ^

purplecorkheart
You mention that Journalism there is truly shocking in your first post. How so? Is there any restriction on broadcasting International news stations etc?

No, just the quality and content. It's truly awful. One of the big online papers is the Saudi Gazette. Have a look if you've got 5 mins to waste.

That's why they blockaded us, because of Al Jazeera. But all Gulf news sources apart from AJ are utter drivel. Often written in colonial Indian style English. "The miscreant was repremanded by the cops" type stuff

One thing I am very jealous of is Saudi Airlines. We always used first class to London and it was so beautiful compared to shitty old BA. That's one thing I miss so much. Jeddah to London was just a feather duvet and sweet dream away.

JJS888
How do you feel about the blockade against us in Qatar? Do you think it will ever end? (I hope not tbh) it's so nice to be able to go out in Doha and not be besieged by drunk Saudi guys. The hypocrisy is unbelievable!

I find the hypocrisy of any blockades based on suspected terrorism funding quite bemusing in the ME tbh. Pots and kettles all over the place! It doesn't affect us as such but I'm glad it's made life more pleasant for you.

wizzywig
Hi op, i think youve said you are white. Any idea what its like for professional asian (ie, brown skinned) people in ksa?

Totally depends on the company ime. In a Arab owned company, you'll not get very far at all. But if it's a Euro/US/western company, you're generally treated with a lot more respect and equality. Shameful but sadly true.

Wordle
Yawn ^
Yep

When you say rascim, do you mean against black people-against whom? (Sorry if daft question!)