Reply to: Any experience of Saudi Arabia????

[Olly]

90 days is probably exactly that - 90 days out of the country.
seriously, unless you're muslim (and a pretty keen one at that) looking to be in an arab enivronment, or getting a huge rate, then don't contemplate it for anything longer than 6 months.

Not many non-muslims get a chance to go to Saudi, actually not many people at all get the chance to see a bit of the country and stay a while. It's worth it just to see what's going on out there - believe me you won't be impressed by much of it, but certainly a fairly unique experience

[tim123]

I worked in Saudi (Dharan) for 4 years in the 90's. I was paying approx £6k pa for a 1 bed flat in a compound in Al -Khobar.
Bahrain would be good if you can get a multi exit/re-entry visa, however most jobs won't let you have one and you will have to surrender your passport to your sponsor.
.

What's the point of advertising that you give 90 days holiday (not as good as it sounds) if you won't let people use it?

tim

[Liability]

Just watch The Kingdom - lol awesome movie mind you

[scooterscot]

I once heard someone say the 3 d's for working in Saudi:

Debt

Divorce

Drink

[naijamanuk]

does anyone know any agencies etc that recruit in the IT field for Saudi or other Gulf states

[thelace]

http://wikitravel.org/en/Saudi_Arabia

"Although a fair percentage of Saudi drivers are suicidal, homicidal or insane, the majority of Saudi drivers are all three, and the country has some of the highest accident rates in the world. Accidents are common, and if a visitor is involved in one, they would be exposed to the extremely punitive Saudi legal system; see elsewhere on this page for the warnings about that."

Driving in and out over the causeway from Bahrain every day it looked like the Yanks had invaded...

Burnt out shells of cars littering the side of the road, many still on fire. At least 2 new accidents each way, each day. The Saudi government don't accept that it happens, hence it doesn't happen!

[sal626]

Grew up & worked there.....

I grew up in Saudia Arabia, from 77 to 90, went back to work there from 96-98, and have been going back to visit parents ever year or so until 06 when my dad retired.
Here's my 2 cents:

- Work - they are quite far behind in IT, it could be frustrating, depending which private company or govt department you end up working for. The majority of Saudis (that I came across) are basically lazy, although the younger generation are much better, so it can be frustrating working with them. You will get a good salary, and living is comfortable. To be honest, it used to be that if you were white skinned/western educated, you got a higher salary, even if you were not the most qualified. Probably not like that anymore...especially as a lot of americans/europeans have left now....

Living conditions - I've lived in Jeddah, and in you are going to Saudi, that is the best city to be in. It is relatively much more relaxed then the whahabi heartland of Riyhad (in fact most of the native Jeddah arabs dont really like the whahabi doctrine - its a subtle difference, but you can tell if you visit both places).

You will probably end up living in a compound, which is not a bad life - pool, air con villas, cable TV, etc. Being a muslim, I dont drink, but if you do, that is probably what you will miss the most. You can buy home brew from people in the compound, and the UK consulate in Jeddah has a bar/pub as well. The saudi view is that do what you want in your own house, but do not sell booze to muslims and dont be pissed walking the streets. Quite hypocritical as a lot of the western educated, rich saudis drink. If you dont really care about the booze, they have a good outdoor life (at least in Jeddah).....private beaches, great diving, sailing etc. Good shopping and all kinds of restuarants/food available.

Risk - Again, to be honest, foreigners (whites) were being targeted a few years ago. American embassy half a mile from our house in Jeddah was attacked. My mum said she could hear gunfire all afternoon. There were some attacks on compounds, but I think mainly in Riyhad. But in last couple of years things have calmed down (probably cause everyone has gone to Iraq...). But still there has been a mass exodus of europeans/americans from Saudi. If you do go out there, I wouldn't be too scared, but I would be vigilant when going out....then again, I'm brown skinned so wouldn't feel as "threathened"

Traffic - worst drivers in the world....fact.
Not joking....I've seen 8 or 9 year old kids driving....with mums and aunts in the back seat.

[MPwannadecentincome]

That said, while I was in Dubai I had an shunt with a Pakistani driver. Police came and automatically gave me the pink(?) slip (indicating that I wasn't at fault) with no questions being asked at all.

give or sell the pink slip to someone who needs it for saudi arabia

[wurzel]

absolute utter bollox

I think there is some truth in this. I was in Riyadh for 3 years in the mid nineties and it seemed to be the case that having a run in with a Saudi would lead to you being found at fault regardless. Never happened to me but I knew of a couple of people that it did happen to.

That said, while I was in Dubai I had an shunt with a Pakistani driver. Police came and automatically gave me the pink(?) slip (indicating that I wasn't at fault) with no questions being asked at all.

[lightng]

http://wikitravel.org/en/Saudi_Arabia

"Although a fair percentage of Saudi drivers are suicidal, homicidal or insane, the majority of Saudi drivers are all three, and the country has some of the highest accident rates in the world. Accidents are common, and if a visitor is involved in one, they would be exposed to the extremely punitive Saudi legal system; see elsewhere on this page for the warnings about that."

[lightng]

absolute utter bollox...(having said that as a western infidel there you are often seen very much as a second class citizen)

secondly anyone who trusts a Saudi driving not to have an accident over themselves needs their head read (or serious intensive driving lessons)

I said it - therefore it IS fact. Furthermore I expect other people to regurgitate it as fact in future postings.

[Olly]

My friend worked in Saudi for three years. He hired a saudi driver while he was there; he never drove himself. The reason was that if you are involved with a crash and you're a non-saudi, it is automatically assumed to be your fault. The logic is that the crash wouldnt have happened if you werent in the country.

absolute utter bollox...(having said that as a western infidel there you are often seen very much as a second class citizen)

secondly anyone who trusts a Saudi driving not to have an accident over themselves needs their head read (or serious intensive driving lessons)

[wurzel]

I'm not sure if that's an jibe and the expense of the Saudis "guarding" the compound or some monkeys somewhere

There was a big colony of them, vicious thing they were too which isn't surprising when you consider they were continually pelted with stones by locals from the safety of their SUVs!

[DaveB]

Does anyone have any experience of working in Saudi Arabia? What sort of salay / rate would be necessary, taking into account having to provide own accommodation?

Anything to do with an email re a couple of Security roles out there is it? PCI DSS and policy development / implementation. If so I got the same one

I wouldnt do it for the rates on offer. $7k-$9k month.

[Olly]

Did you ever see the baboons?

I'm not sure if that's an jibe and the expense of the Saudis "guarding" the compound or some monkeys somewhere

Erm...can't remember if I saw monkeys - erm...yes think I did, can't remember where exactly though. Top of the escarpment down to Jeddah I think there were some.