Saudi Arabia forum: Advice needed on moving to Saudi arabia

Posted in the Saudi Arabia forum

• a traveller

  02 Sep 2008, 11:23

  Advice needed on moving to Saudi arabia

  ...I am muslim,asian and British and have been living in London all my life. I may be offered a role wth a bank in Riyadh. The package woud include travelling, housing allowance etc. I have a few questions and was hoping you'd be able to answer:
  
  1) As a single male, what kind of challenges do you envisage me facing by living on my own over there? would it make a difference for me to socialise? is there anything for a single guy to do?
  2) How expensive is the cost of living there? what kind of inflationary increases are there across the board on a yearly basis? and what is the minimum amount you think i would need to live comfortably on?
  3) How hard would it be for friends to visit me? would they need to infor the ministry in advance? and if they do come rouind, would they need permission (as i assume i would) to go to another city? travel internally?
  4) how bad is the beuracracy there? and how slow? can't embassies help with expediting driving licences etc?
  5)I have also heard that it is also a racist place..ie the local population don't exactly welcome foreigners with open arms..would you say that this is true?
  6)What do you think would be the major obstacles in residing in saudi? what would i have to completely give up on (apart from the alcohol etc).
  7) do you think that working in an arab organsiation may hinder my career development internally? ie are promotions more political than on merit etc?
  8)How safe is riyadh compared ot other places? also is it easy to reside on the compund? ie more to do and people to meet? (ie to minimise the chances of going stir crazy..!)
  I really appreicate you taking time out of your busy schedule to answer these..hope you are well and still enjoying your time there!
  
  Take care

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• amy la vie replied to a traveller

  11 Nov 2008, 08:16

  u r so welcome

  first of all
  i want to say hi
  second,did u move to Riyadh?
  if yes ,so
  welcome to you

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• Waleed Amer replied to amy la vie

  21 Dec 2008, 08:00

  hi

  Dear Traveler,

  i'm ready to answer all your inquiries but please confirm if you still need assistance in this subject or you already cancelled the idea.

  i'm expatriate also in Saudi Arabia

  best regards

  Waleed

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• yvonne xxxx

  13 Mar 2009, 19:44

  working

  Waleed, good evening, I`m thinking about work in KSA

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• Muhammad Arif replied to a traveller

  16 Jun 2009, 13:49

  Welcome to Saudi Arabia

  I welcome you to Saudi Arabia. Its really place of peace and comfort. If you have already reached, You may be enjoying its living and If you are about to come, then feel free to come and start precious life here. Now a days, Riyadh weather is hot 40+. Its the capital and all facilities are available to live and work peacefully. I wish you best of luck ...... Best Regards (An Expatriate)

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• samiullah siddique replied to Muhammad Arif

  04 Aug 2009, 13:13

  [Email hidden]

  salam.
  dear sir .
  i m a new comer of this site.i just saw ur id and i sent this message.
  i have some problem about saudi rules regulation.i want khow about dis.
  for example i go to pakistan on exit visa and after how many period later i can come back to a new company in ksa.
  plz inform me about dis matter,
  i wll be thankfull to you,

  best regards,
  samiullah siddique

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