SAUDI ARAVBIA going to.

[EternalOptimist]

No, it's desalinated and tastes foul.

it's the wild life in it thats the problem.
I knew this bloke who left a glass of water on his bedside locker overnight, next day when he got back from work, it contained a fully grown water louse




honest

[wurzel]

it's the wild life in it thats the problem.
I knew this bloke who left a glass of water on his bedside locker overnight, next day when he got back from work, it contained a fully grown water louse



honest

They have giardia there. Imagine the worst guff you've ever done being emitted through your mouth

[gooddayall]

how long is the contract?

does it include flights/hotel? or are you funding it yourself/your co.?

summer is Saudi is HOT and I mean really hot

it is fixed 1 year permanent with them, only 2 flights included , pay is 8 000 usd / month - and I am really hoping this is tax free. I have read somewhere (probably here) that there is no point in using my UK ltd , but rather go perm with the SA company.

[Olly]

it is fixed 1 year permanent with them, only 2 flights included , pay is 8 000 usd / month - and I am really hoping this is tax free.

So you've got to pay for your own holiday flights and possibly the exit/entry visa?

You don't mention whether accommodation / food / car are included, if you want to live anywhere with some kind of "freedom" that will soon add up. There's health insurance too.

Salary is less than £65K a year

Personally I'd rather rub crushed glass and needles in my eyes!
But heck, go there, it's an experience at least. It's a big city and there's the possibility you'll land on your feet.

P.S. I was there for 18months. Even for double what you're offered with all the extras thrown in I very much doubt I'd go back.

[Drewster]

Ah Salaam Alekheim

I am in Saudi as we speak..... (In fact I could pull the old "Have you used the Search button" as we have been discussing it in several threads over the past few weeks.....)

When are you coming out?
Where are you coming to (I'm in Jeddah)?
What is your Accommodation package? (Hotels?, Compound? A set limit? "Help" with finding? etc etc) - This is I think your biggest issue!!
That and visits in/out home - ie who pays!
A full year should be "good" from a Tax perspective but checkout official stuff from Hector to confirm (and possibly ex-pat boards for more)

By the way - Its hot all the time.... but sometimes its VERY hot.

Oh yeah - The biggest "Culture Shocks" are:
Saudi weekend is Thurs + Friday
Women ALL wear black tents (Abeya) in public (different in Compounds)
Everything stops for prayers.... 5 times a day.....

[gooddayall]

So you've got to pay for your own holiday flights and possibly the exit/entry visa?

You don't mention whether accommodation / food / car are included, if you want to live anywhere with some kind of "freedom" that will soon add up. There's health insurance too.

Salary is less than £65K a year

Personally I'd rather rub crushed glass and needles in my eyes!
But heck, go there, it's an experience at least. It's a big city and there's the possibility you'll land on your feet.

P.S. I was there for 18months. Even for double what you're offered with all the extras thrown in I very much doubt I'd go back.

It is an Active Directory + Windows design / admin role hence the pay .. you are probably a developer and hence twice the money.

[gooddayall]

You don't mention whether accommodation / food / car are included, if you want to live anywhere with some kind of "freedom" that will soon add up. There's health insurance too.

No accommodation included in the offer, just first and last flights are.

I am hoping to live on 3 500 USD max per month - that should include a studio apartment and monthly car rent.

[gooddayall]

would 1500 USD per month be enough to find a studio apartment that is located in a europeans-friendly area ?

[gooddayall]

a quick calculation shows that 8 000 USD a month tax free , should equal about 400 GBP / a day which converted in dollars and taking off 25 % taxes is 9 000 USD a month.

400 GBP / a day for Microsoft infrastructure is not too bad.

[gooddayall]

apparently one ( don't know about the rest ) of the living facilities for westerners , a compound , is guarded by 6 machine gun posts and a couple of armored vehicles....... sounds pretty safe to me...