Saudi

Susane said:
Ah but you need a jumper or coat in winter as you do here because the drop in temperatures (like from 40deg to 15-20deg) can feel quite extreme so I'm told... and I've seen video's of the infrequent rain! cars surfing the roads, potholes flooded, kids dancing about in it like Gene Kelly. :lol:
Click to expand...


Yes, in some parts of the country it does get cold .. but generally it's freakish hot; and on coastal cities very humid.

It hardly rains, but you will see a lot of sandstorms; so much of them that you'll hate sand after the first one hits you and get into all your pores :p.

Pick-up diving! You must do that. I used to be a diving instructor a few decades ago, when I was much younger, looked better, and had the body to match. Now, I just barely float, if I let myself go I can just barely sink :)
 
:D I'll have to cope won't I. :lol:

Dive! I can't even swim! I guess he'll have to teach me.

Err... don't you have some typing to do. :nono: :D
 
Wail said:
As should I, I have a dessertation to submit in 7 weeks and I have yet to start writing .. all TP's fault! :p:D:p:D
Click to expand...

Why will it take you 7 weeks to write about a pudding? :D
 
:lol::lol::lol:

What a silly spelling mistake ... dissertation is what I meant, but I am sure you knew that :cuckoo:
 
Hi Susane,

I worked and lived in Saudi from June 1989 to December 1994. So things could have changed a bit since then, but their mentality probably hasn't. I was in a little town about 80km South of Riyadh, called Al Kharj. My family (wife) was with me from 1991 till the end, and my first born was actually born in Jeddah, but thankfully he is not a Saudi.

Saudi Arabia can be an excellent opportunity FOR WORK PURPOSES, and indeed was one of my best work experiences. Life itself can be quite dull, but if you live on a compound with other BAE families, you probably will not notice the difference, there can be a lot of interaction in a compound.

Riyadh is the capital, and as such laws are very strictly applied. Women cannot move around without the Abayia, and if your complexion is darkish (like my wife), sometimes the religious police (be very weary of them!!!!!!!!) can ask you to wear a veil: DO NOT GIVE IN, it is actually not necessary to wear a veil for a western woman. Also a woman has no rights, she does not even have an Iqama (ID document) she goes on the husband's Iqama. Moving about is (or rather was) a little difficult. I had to give my wife an official letter to go to Riyadh with the company's driver. There are loads of police blocks and not having such a letter could be a devastating experience for you and your husband.

NEVER EVER take a yellow cab. People have been known to disappear after taking them. White cabs are generally safer as these are driven by expatriates (Pakistanis and indians mostly) who just try to make a living. However I would recommend only taking a taxi if accompanied by at least one other person, 2 if female.

On the positive side, shopping will be an extremely wonderful experience. It was for my wife:lol:!

Wish you all the best in Saudi! How long you planning to stay?

Ciao
Paolo

PS: Riyadh is very very dry. Temperatures can rise up to about 60 degrees C in summer (although OFFICIALLY they never rise above 58 Degrees otherwise legally one has to stop working - it is actually a law!). In winter you can get rain but it mostly affects wadi's outside of Riyadh which in a matter of hours become fully fledged rivers and have been known to take unaware people by surprise with the said people drowning due to the intense floodwaters. Like posted above in winter the temperature drops to about 18-20 degrees during the day and around 12-14 during the night. You will experience this as COLD because your body will have become accustomed to the really sweltering temperatures of summer.
 
Last edited:
Excellent post Paolo. :thumbs:
Am just off to work but will digest and reply more later.
As for complexion, I doubt I'd be mistaken for an Arab, see Avatar, that's me with a tan. :D
 
Susane said:
As for complexion, I doubt I'd be mistaken for an Arab, see Avatar, that's me with a tan. :D
Click to expand...

Nope, I guess you don't have to worry :D.

When are you guys planning to leave to go to Saudi?
 
Ok, an update. :)

We both went for the interview in Blackpool, not the best day to see it for the 1st time. :gag:
My partner had told me just the basics, that it was for Alsalam and the job was in Saudi. So I researched on that basis...:bonk:
I know know that it's for their project for the RSAF Tornado's at Dhahran Airbase and we'd be living in Al Khobar.

The interview went well and they were impressed with my partners credentials and of course the fact that he's worked on Tornados before so he's got the job, the paperwork came through this week so once that's sorted he's off to do his 6 months probation period, on the job rather than at Wharton.

I can't go until probations over :( because he might not like the job or they might not be happy with him.
If all goes well then he's coming home in 4 months for 3 weeks and we are getting married, then his employers will arrange our married quarters and my paperwork for when the probation ends and he'll fly back to get me.

His boss ( who was at the interview) had taken lots of photos of the villas where we'll be living and they're maintained to a high standard by BAE, also the hangars where he'll be working are all air-conditioned.

I've done absolutely loads of research and I have to say that I'm looking forward to the adventure.
Oh and they have photographic clubs! look forward to lots of sand and camels posted on TP! :D
 
Despite some negative points in this thread, I wish you all the best with your adventure :D I envy you myself, I can't wait to get out of this country next year!
 
Glad to hear things are moving positively, and I hope that you both get to enjoy Saudi.
 
Hi Susane

I have not had the pleasure to visit Saudi, merely flown over it!! Though not lived there, I have however had the pleasure of spending some time in Bahrain and Dubai - both of which were nothing but welcoming, friendly and polite places.

I was welcomed everywhere with open arms and at no time did I ever feel threatened or intimidated when in either location. I went out into the wildest desert, to souks, to open air markets, often on my own and enjoyed every minute of it.

OK, Saudi may be more 'formal' than the more relaxed UAE and Dubai, but I found them both wonderful places.

Oh, and you won't be needing any cardigans or tP Fleeces for the evenings, unless of course you think 40-45deg C at night is cold...!!
 
John,

Thank you for putting in such nice, and positive, words about my part of the world.

Yes, Saudi Arabia is not as "relaxed" as the two other countries you've mentioned (Dubai and Bahrain) and to be honest, these two are the two most relaxed of all the GCC states. That does not mean that any are better than the others .. each has its own distinct nature ..., it's just to say that someone coming from the West would find these more adaptable.

As odd as it may seem, but one does get cold in that part of the world. More so since your body gets accustommed to the excessive heats of the summer that a winter of 20~25C will "feel" cold.
 
All advice welcomed, both good and cautious. :D

Got the letter just a few minutes ago forwarded by BAE from the Saudi HR & employment peeps along the lines of "recommended and approved for employment" my goodness the Arab folk have long names! :thumbs:

Wail I haven't forgotten about your most generous offer, will be in contact.
 
Last edited:
MikeeB said:
Despite some negative points in this thread, I wish you all the best with your adventure :D I envy you myself, I can't wait to get out of this country next year!
Click to expand...

I know! it's going to be hard waiting 6 months.

theMusicMan said:
Hi Susane

I have not had the pleasure to visit Saudi, merely flown over it!! Though not lived there, I have however had the pleasure of spending some time in Bahrain and Dubai - both of which were nothing but welcoming, friendly and polite places.

I was welcomed everywhere with open arms and at no time did I ever feel threatened or intimidated when in either location. I went out into the wildest desert, to souks, to open air markets, often on my own and enjoyed every minute of it.

OK, Saudi may be more 'formal' than the more relaxed UAE and Dubai, but I found them both wonderful places.

Oh, and you won't be needing any cardigans or tP Fleeces for the evenings, unless of course you think 40-45deg C at night is cold...!!
Click to expand...

Thank you MM, I know I'm going to get the most out of living there and the Bahrain causeway is only 45mins away. :thumbs:
 
Take your time :)
 
Wail said:
Take your time :)
Click to expand...

My fella's just rung me, he's told them at Stansted that he's leaving, they were great about it and giving him 2 good references to add to his cv.
He's coming home in the morning to spend the rest of the time 'til he goes with me! Yey! :D
 
Wow .. this is looking very nice, so far! It's always nice to get good references .. helps the ego a lot, if I may say.

I may have missed reading this, but when is he flying out? I hope not too short a notice :shrug: .. Mind you, I had 1 weeks' notice before I had to move here (to UK / Wales), of course, having lived here 24 years when I was younger helped make the transition a lot easier :p
 
Looks like things are really moving along! I'm quite excited for you :D
 
BAE said they want him out as soon as possible but of course we have to wait on the paperwork etc. It could be a couple of weeks or it could be longer.
Anyway money's not a problem so he'll just stay home until it's time to go.
 
Susane said:
....

Hmmm? :thinking: might need a new camera. :lol:
Click to expand...


Oh no .. you have to get a new attitude .. you must think along the lines of " I need a new camera, and lenses, and lots and lots of gear!"


You will find that a lot of things can be bought, especially camera stuff, a lot cheaper over there, even if you factor out the VAT, which doesn't exist over there :D
 
The best place I've found there is a chain of stores called "Abdulwahed" electronics. They are the official agents for Nikon, Canon and a few other stuff too. You will find they have outlets in most of the large malls. I deal with them, in Jeddah though, and have been happily doing so for close to 25 years.
 
Hi Susanne,

Just got back on TP after some forced time off. :shake:

So you're going to AlKhobar.:thumbs: That's on the east coast, and generally not as "closed" as Riyadh. Mind you, the humidity will be very high in summer. And at least you can go to the beach in summer (you can't swim everywhere, but yes, there are beaches you can bathe in, just have to look for them). Funniest I ever saw in AlKhobar was more "liberal" Saudi women swimming with the Abaya on (i.e. still wearing the batman outfit).

Like stated in another post above, you should not have too many problems finding photo gear .... but I don't think it's as cheap as it used to be. I was in Jeddah last year for work, and I found it as expensive as Europe.

In ending, I wish you and your husband to be all the best on this new experience! Ciao
Paolo
 
Thank you Paulo!

I saw a video of some ladies swimming in Arab versions of a female bathing suit, sort of a loose fitting adult size babygro, was quite sweet really. :)

I've heard the prices for TV's, PC's, camera's etc. are not as low as they used to be too, we'll be buying goods for our use while we are out there though rather than shipping stuff over.
Thank you for the good wishes.
 
Another update.
Security clearance ok'd, business visa in process. Medical to be done over there + all the other legal stuff.
Provisional flying date for my partner... 22nd December :'(.
Then a 4 month wait until I see him again to get married :D then 2 more months until I fly out to our new home.
 
Well, congratulations on things developing so well; but so sorry that he's got to leave before Christmas! That's a shame really.
 
May I ask what's the latest?

How's the culture shock coming along?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top