Jeddah or Riyadh

[OopsIDidItAgain123]

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!

Quite like Riyadh for a boy but not a fan of Jeddah personally

I grew up in the ME and wouldn't touch Saudi with a barge pole. Particularly as a single woman.

I wouldn't even visit Saudi as a woman,et alone move there.

Sorry, not especially helpful, but have you looked in to the politics and culture at all?

Yes- I am very aware of the politics and culture of Saudi Arabia. I also have family who have lived there- albeit 10 years ago, thus I have made an informed decision that I would like to work there, the problem is I’m not sure how the cities currently compare to each other.

@jellyfishinatent

Quite like Riyadh for a boy but not a fan of Jeddah personally

😂

Out of interest then, what do you view as the good points? I've never talked to someone who would happily go back, having lived there before.

OP never ask about the Middle East on mumsnet, they hate it!
I've not lived in Saudi but I'm a seasoned expat and have many friends who have done it. In your situation- Riyadh, it's a bit bigger and livelier.

Riyadh is dryer too, Jeddah Imis more humid which can be hard work after a while.

Have you read this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3312838-I-live-in-Saudi-Arabia-AMA

There's some really go information on living in Saudi there.

Jeddah.
Yes, it doesnt have the Embassy parties, but it also doesnt have the Saudi Royals, and so is generally much "freer".
It is still a big city, with plenty going on.
It has the advantage of being coastal, for sea breezes, although with that comes humidity. But basically the summer is a bitch all over KSA, and you wont be doing much outside in either place!

PS Visa process doesnt have to be long - DH got called about a job in Saudi in Feb, and got a visa in May following interviews etc.
What will hold things up currently is Ramadan has just started, and many will be on reduced hours until after Eid.

I lived in Jeddah as a kid, my Dad was working there, so that was 1980s!

back then, Jeddah was much freer, women didn't routinely cover their face, only their hair.
On Thursdays and Fridays we would go to The Creek and swim and dive on the coral reef.

I am guessing the reef is now destroyed through pollution etc.