Jeddah or Riyadh?

[OopsIDidItAgain123]

I’m a single nurse (in my 20’s) and have been offered a job in Jeddah.
I already have a job offer for Riyadh, the problem is I haven’t even received the formal offer yet as my department/speciality is full staffed- people simply aren’t resigning (which seems impossible compared to the nhs!).
There are vacancies for my speciality in Jeddah. My aunt lived in Saudi Arabia 10 year ago and said Riyadh is much better for a social life- the embassies, it is the banking and business capital etc. Is this true? How likely is a single western female to meet other westerners in Jeddah?

I realise the visa process for Saudi Arabia can be very long so I would rather start it ASAP- I cannot do another winter in the U.K. without the hope of getting out soon.
Would I be a fool to accept the job in Jeddah and should wait for Riyadh to have vacancies? It is at a major hospital in both cities. Thank you!

Apologies- this was meant to be posted in overseas, not chat!!! It’s not a chat topic.

Thank goodness, I thought you were cursing some poor kid with these as names!

Given their record on human rights, especially woman’s rights, I wouldn’t be considering either.

I realise that is not helpful, so hopefully someone more useful will be along in a bit!

I'm not sure what its like if you are a single female, but based on the experience of some family members, life even as an expat married woman in Saudi Arabia can be very challenging. I would do some serious reading because it could be a huge culture shock.

One relative lived on a compound and wasn't allowed out unless accompanied by her husband, not even to go shopping. In a lot of public places there is still segregation between men and women. She found that having to wear an abaya and head scarf in public was also a big change as a non Muslim. Although she had lived in Cyprus for many years she also found the weather, especially in summer, very challenging. While having the fancy parties etc was great, every day life was a struggle for her.

If I was looking to move to the Gulf, I would definitely not be looking at Saudi as my first choice.

How has your aunt found it?

When I first graduated and was doing the nursing job fairs the UAE were very highly represented. The women (and there were never any men on their stands) made it sound amazing, high wages, low patient to staff ratios, state of the art hospitals, lovely weather, private swimming pools. The reason I didn't go is there was a case of a British nurse back in the 80s or 90s who was being tried for harming a patient in one of the Middle Eastern countries. I can't remember the details but it did make me think about how powerless I would be as a single female foreigner if I made a mistake or had an accident at work and someone was hurt. At the time I believed that Saudi had the death penalty, which might not be true but it scared the Willie's out of me.

As someone who has visited the country twice, I think there are better countries in the world where you could do a nursing job and have a good lifestyle. You won’t have a free life there. Saudis are the last people on the planet I’d work for. If you want to quit your job out there, how easy is it? Do they retain your passport? Are you confident you will be treated well?

I don’t know what the job market in Oman is like, but have a look there. Amazing country and people. Totally different to Saudi as the former ruler actually believed in human rights.

Absolutely nothing on earth would me me work in KSA.

I can only throw some perspective having lived in Jeddah as a child. I have only fond memories of it. I remember living on a compound with lots of westerners and my parents had a great social life revolving around barbecues and sitting around the pool.
I don’t know about life as a single person if it is any different in either place and it was a long time ago.
The one thing about Jeddah over Riyadh is it’s close to the coast and Riyadh isn’t. What is the point of being in a hot country if you can’t go to the beach? That was our fave thing to do of a weekend.

I'm in Riyadh OP and agree that if you like living by the coast/access to water then Jeddah is probably better for you (but with that comes the high humidity).

It's true that there is probably more going on in a capital, like in any country. In saying that Jeddah's position as a trading post on the Red Sea coastline means that it's perhaps slightly more liberal than Riyadh, though that is changing in the four years I've been here and Riyadh is catching up. It is perfectly acceptable to walk around unaccompanied by a male and I've yet to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable.

Out of interest how long do you plan on staying for?

Thanks for the responses!
My aunt loved it! She made many friends there, travelled all over the region and even met her husband who was from a city 40miles from us in the U.K. but it took being impressive Riyadh to meet him.

@FiveGs I’m thinking of staying for at least 2 years- That’s how long my contract is and after that I would consider renewing it for another year or two. My aim is to save a lot and travel when it’s allowed. I am sociable and enjoy meeting new people- I love beaches too, so it’s a hard one for me! Do you have to wear the abaya in Riyadh now? Also, how varied is the social life? Am I likely to only Socialise with other hospital workers or is it generally mixed in the expat community?

Being in Riyadh! That’s autocorrect on my phone, I didn’t mean impressive

It is a great place to meet people and your contract sounds about the right length though I know of others who have stayed for much longer.

I don't wear the abaya in the winter as I'm in jeans and jumpers but in the summer when it's 45c+ then I throw one on over a vest and shorts when going to the shops/mall, it's just easier. I live on a compound so the group of people I mix with is quite varied, depending on how involved you want to get. Embassy parties are fun (when they're on) and you definitely mix with a wide range of people then.

KSA is also a great place to base yourself in seeing more of the region too. Good luck!

Is your aunt still there or is it ten years since she left? If it is the latter I really would not be giving her opinion a huge amount of sway. You need to research things like who if anyone controls your ability to leave, what happens if you have a debt u cannot pay, if you want to enter a relationship etc.

So I now have the offer for Riyadh- it’s ready to sign! However I’ve now been offered a more senior position in Ajman, the uae. I have never worked in such a senior position before (always basic staff nurse in the U.K.) so I would be anxious, however my agent seems to think I would
Be competent.

Anybody have any insights into Ajman and if I would better there than Riyadh? I like to socialise and not sure how sociable Ajman would be as I gather it’s a far smaller hospital and city (it’s not in Saudi Arabia either so is more expensive).

OP, why do you want to move apart from to avoid winter in the UK?

I am keen to gain more experience in a different system- I would like to meet new people, save money, pay down my mortgage. The new skills and opportunity to save/pay down the mortgage are huge pulls.

Countries that have execution by firing squad, hanging, stoning etc? There's no position or amount of money that would tempt me.