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alamographics

Rob

@alamographics

Active member

American looking for information about United Arab Emirates

Forum

99 posts

Contacts

15

About me

American

Lives in Dubai

Speaks English, Spanish, Russian, basic Arabic

Registration: 15 July 2009

Activity

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
7 years ago
Priscilla

Do you speak Arabic as an expat in the UAE? by Priscilla

Hi everyone, It is widely agreed that speaking Arabic is essential for a successful integration in the United Arab Emirates. Do you agree? Share your experience! Do you speak Arabic? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend ...

Rob

The most common language in UAE? Some may be correct in pointing out that Asians from the Subcontinent, together with Pakistanis, make up the largest number of overseas workers in the UAE, and surely a majority of these speak Hindi and Urdu. And ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
7 years ago
Priscilla

Do you speak Arabic as an expat in the UAE? by Priscilla

Hi everyone, It is widely agreed that speaking Arabic is essential for a successful integration in the United Arab Emirates. Do you agree? Share your experience! Do you speak Arabic? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend ...

Rob

Hello: I'm curious. what do you mean by, "it really costed you..." I've spent six years in the middle east and I can tell you from my personal experience that I've not met anyone who's thought that not knowing Arabic has ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
8 years ago
Priscilla

Keeping up with the news in the United Arab Emirates by Priscilla

Hello everyone, Living in the United Arab Emirates provides countless occasions to browse local newspapers, listen to local radio stations or watch local TV shows. As everywhere else in the world, local media play a key role in informing the ...

Rob

How you get your media in the United Arab Emirates depends on where you spend most of your time. For those that spend a fair amount of their day at fixed work location, the internet & social media constitute a broad swath of their news & ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
9 years ago
Fgplenty

Viability of a move to Bahrain ? by Fgplenty

I have a Skype interview with a company in Bahrain on Wednesday, and although I know the job suits me and am capable, I am not sure how politically stable the country is, and if the £70 k tax free salary, plus the usual benefits really is a ...

Rob

Bahrain is an awesome country. If I could find a well paying job I'd move there. I worked in Saudi 5 years and traveled regularly to Bahrain. I can tell you that even in the middle of the Arab Spring, Bahrain was a SAFE place to live and drive ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
9 years ago
melanie399

Dana / Nada Compound by melanie399

HI! I am moving soon to Al Khobar. Is anybody in the Dana or Nada Compound and can tell me about it? Or any other Compound wich is nice?

Rob

Hello: Thanks for the warning about Dammam. Sorry to hear about the traffic situation. As I stated before, it was a deal breaker in commuting from Saudi Arabia. I'm willing to give it a try from Dammam. At least we can reach the bridge quicker. ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
9 years ago
melanie399

Dana / Nada Compound by melanie399

HI! I am moving soon to Al Khobar. Is anybody in the Dana or Nada Compound and can tell me about it? Or any other Compound wich is nice?

Rob

Hello Abdulah: Did you get your housing situation sorted out? I was wondering if you'd considered the Dana/Nada since you're here on this thread. I thought D/N was accepting arabs but I'm not sure of the particulars as I've only ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
9 years ago
expat.com

Do and don't in Saudi Arabia by expat.com

Are you living in Saudi Arabia? We need you to share your experience of the local customs :) Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Saudi Arabia? Could you please share with us a list of the do's and don't's in Saudi Arabia? Thanks!

Rob

don't talk to strangers, and if they call you "habibi" you better run as fast as you can.Mind sharing the reason for that ?? :huh:Heh heh. If U have to ask for a reason, then U just may not get it anyway.-pbn Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
9 years ago
Faisal Shamas

Rejected from USA Visa by Faisal Shamas

Hello good afternoon friends, Well I just want to share my mind-set with all of you guys. i have been rejected from USA Visa twice from last 2 years and every time the allegation was the same that i might not come back to my home country. What the ...

Rob

Hello: Please consider your approach. You say U've been in Saudi for several years. Having just returned from 5+ years of employment in KSA, I can guess that the Saudi experience probably wasn't' the best "people skills ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
10 years ago
expat.com

Do and don't in Saudi Arabia by expat.com

Are you living in Saudi Arabia? We need you to share your experience of the local customs :) Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Saudi Arabia? Could you please share with us a list of the do's and don't's in Saudi Arabia? Thanks!

Rob

Greetings: It is not unknown for women to be scolded for being in the airport without an abaya, even at the arrivals ques. A friend of mine, just this year, upon return from a prolonged leave, forgot to don her black gown when lining up for her ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
10 years ago
expat.com

Do and don't in Saudi Arabia by expat.com

Are you living in Saudi Arabia? We need you to share your experience of the local customs :) Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Saudi Arabia? Could you please share with us a list of the do's and don't's in Saudi Arabia? Thanks!

Rob

Welcome Lenny: Let me know if there will be any meet & greets in Riyadh. I'll be renewing my visa when I get back to the kingdom & I won't be able to travel outside KSA for at least a couple of weeks. It will give me time to visit parts of ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
10 years ago
3dnan

Expat-Blog Gathering on 8th Feb 2014 by 3dnan

Fellow expat-bloggers in Eastern Province :) Let us organize a gathering where we can meet, chill and get to know each other, especially since the last gathering was done about 2 years back and many new faces are around already!! Tentative ...

Rob

Hi: Thanks for providing the directions 3dnan. I was able to locate it using the iPhone default app, but 'm downloading google maps app now. Seems the map program on the iPhone is not giving me the route to get there, even though i have both start ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
10 years ago
jdayanan

New to Khobar by jdayanan

As for an intro: My name is Jan, and I just moved in to Khobar, 4 days ago. I work as a software/web applications developer in a local company. I was hoping to meet some new people and have a sensible, physical conversation, (since talking to ...

Rob

Hello Jan: You mentioned in an earlier post about meet-ups. Have you been following the thread at https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=336383#1733984 . It's labeled 'Expat-Blog Gathering on 8th Feb 2014' but actually the gathering will be ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
10 years ago
3dnan

Expat-Blog Gathering on 8th Feb 2014 by 3dnan

Fellow expat-bloggers in Eastern Province :) Let us organize a gathering where we can meet, chill and get to know each other, especially since the last gathering was done about 2 years back and many new faces are around already!! Tentative ...

Rob

Greetings: Sounds like a good plan. Is there an RSVP page on the blog somewhere or or a list to join? Cheers, -rob Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
10 years ago
expat.com

Do and don't in Saudi Arabia by expat.com

Are you living in Saudi Arabia? We need you to share your experience of the local customs :) Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Saudi Arabia? Could you please share with us a list of the do's and don't's in Saudi Arabia? Thanks!

Rob

Hello folks: As often happens with expats here in Saudi, the talk becomes focused on what you can't do in the kingdom and who you can't do it with. Yes, there are MANY restrictions. We got that. But there's much to do, if you're willing to just do ... Read More

Rob
alamographics replied to a thread
11 years ago
melanie399

Dana / Nada Compound by melanie399

HI! I am moving soon to Al Khobar. Is anybody in the Dana or Nada Compound and can tell me about it? Or any other Compound wich is nice?

Rob

wrote: I'm sure other westerners feel the same way I do. Oh yes. They do. And many Arabs agree. For example, many of the Saudis wax nostalgic when they recount the era when Aramco was an American owned company and the American compounds were a ... Read More