Riyadh/Saudi

[TeaAndHobnob]

Anyone lived there? I have a potential opportunity coming up, good salary, free accommodation, private health. Don't have children so no worries about schools. My husband would come too, the salary is more than enough for both of us and it's possible he could work there too (it's an international school and he is a teacher). Seriously considering the move. I know Brexit/Covid etc, but anything else I should be considering? We would keep our UK house - the mortgage isn't much and my SIL could move in if she wants to look after it.

I lived in Riyadh 12 years ago, things have changed and improved since but it was really a good experience. My father was working there and I was 18 when I moved with my parents.
My advise would be to move there although I would not move there permanently. I would recommend something like 3 to 5 years - some of the people I met there had been living for more than 10 years but every 2/3 months they would go back to their countries for some holidays.
The facilities in the compounds are amazing, we lived in Cordoba Oasis Village compound and it was lovely.
Be aware that you will need to wear the abaya (black tunic) when you are outside the compound.

Thanks @mrsshopaholic88 much appreciated.

I think it would be fun and an adventure - I wouldn't want to stay long term. I think 3 years tops tbh. And go now while my dad is still in relatively good health.

Currently in Riyadh Abayas are no longer required for non citizens. I only wear one going to goverment departments and the like. Otherwise modest clothing is fine. Inside compounds anything goes.

I'm in Riyadh. Like @habibihabibi (awesome name btw) I don't wear my abaya anymore.

What school?

It's BISR @mmgirish although given I haven't heard back from them it might be moot anyway

Are there jobs that both of you can apply for ? My children are at BISR and there are alot of teaching couples so I assume they, like many international schools, like hiring 2 teacher families..

Yes there are. What's the school like from your point of view? Are your kids happy there?

I've been in Riaydh for over 5 years. Where's your accommodation?

Difficult to gauge as since we enrolled almost all learning has been virtual and is now 100% live lessons. Must be murder for the parents of the littlest children.
The goverment has given no real indication of when schools will reopen.
The school has relatively new leadership and has had recently expanded to five campuses, three outside Riyadh that are for military kids .
Some staff have been here for many many years and others turnover quickly. Most teachers are British, quite a number British Muslim. My children have really good rapport with their teachers and from what I have heard the SEN department is outstanding.

Feel free to PM

My two children go to bisr and are pretty happy with it. The other children are welcoming and so far we have been lucky with teachers. Primary age seems laid back but they ramp up the work in senior from what I can see.

Re the abaya, yes you can go without but my twelve year old has been told off in the mall just for having it unbuttoned. Outside the compounds and DQ,Riyadh is still very conservative.

@Pinknelly who told her off?!

Security guard

I think this would be a fascinating experience. I would find this really interesting, but I could never do it as I am very outspoken and would get myself into trouble.

@Pinknelly not his place at all. Which mall? Cheeky fucker!

@BananaPop2020

I'm not exactly the shy retiring type, and have kept myself out of trouble for nearly 8 years now. My whole family thought they were going to see me on the front of the Daily Mail, pleading for some kind of ambassador intervention when I first moved out there.

@Shmithecat2 made me smile 😀

Yeah I was really annoyed smthithecat. Atyaf mall. And he scurried away before I could explain to him that actually she is perfectly reasonably dressed. I think being the shy retiring type would work against you in Riyadh 😁. But being laid back and not sweating the small stuff definitely helps.

@Pinknelly I'll be going to Lulu in Atyaf over the next few days.. I don't wear an abaya anymore. This should be interesting 😂. MBS has clearly stated that they're not required. Let's see what happens 😈

Atyaf mall enforces the dress code, the security guard told my DH off last weekend cos he was wearing shorts. Still let him in though .

I still wear the abaya when out and about as I can't be bothered to buy a whole new wardrobe to accommodate the dress code in warm weather but now it's getting cooler, it'll be jeans and jumpers.

It’s probably the same security guard Afwan 😁. I was annoyed because she did have an abaya on, just open. Also she is twelve. My husband wasn’t allowed in the zoo because of shorts then as he walked away to wait for us in the car the head security guard ran after him and told him to enter. Shmithecat do it! And report back please 🙂

It's al hamra oasis village. Just had an email through about my interview, so they were obviously just taking their time!

Thanks for all the info. Obviously I still have to actually get the job but I'm starting to feel quite excited about the possibility

Good luck tea, I live on al hamra so if you have any questions feel free.

How is the situation over there now? Are schools back in person?

Schools still shut.
I believe they are talking about reopening them in August (ie next accademic year).