Guidance on Riyadh

Salary looks low.

Do you get housing allowance? education allowance?

Medical should be covered by insurance from employer.

There are many Indians in Riyadh (unfortunately I am not from India) Im sure someone from India will reply to answer your questions.

1)Accomodation Cost- this depends on the area. if you will be given an initial accomodation for a month by your company, that will be great and enough time to find an area that suits your budget. If your package is 6k, and the housing allowance is included, check how much the housing allowance is, and then the area you want to live (that must be near or favorable to your workplace/where your children will study, etc.);

2)Cost of Fooding - there's a lot of discussions here on food- check Cost of Living in Riyadh from Everyday Life room- generally though, since I eat Indian food once in a while, it's actually cheap! A whole roasted chicken would only cost 20riyals from Indian restos and curry meat is within the same range as well. Vegetables/fruits are generally cheap specially in Indian markets near Indian communities (ranging from 5sar to 15sar per kilo).

3)Cost of schooling for std.6 and Std.2 student at Indian School- this I cannot answer, but for Filipino international schools (just to give you an idea), range of schooling is between 500sar to 1500sar per month for each child. It will be lowered down significantly if your wife decides to be a staff in the school, etc.

4)Transport and Medical Cost- normally shouldered by employer, but to give you an idea, 10SAR of limosine/taxi/cab can bring you up to 15 kilometers already, specially if you are friendly to mostly Indian and Pakistan drivers. Bangladesh drivers though are the best, since they rarely complain on whatever taxi/cab pay you say... Btw, in contrast to where I came from, taxis here rarely use the meter... it's always a pre-agreed amount...

5)If I go initially then when can I get my IQMA- depends on your company if they are quick.... but it should not last to more than 2 weeks.

6)When can I sponsor my family ( at the above salary can I
  sponsor)- the trick is it doesn't depend on your salary... even if you are paid 200k SAR a month, but your iqama says you are a laborer (depending on the available visa), then you can't sponsor your family... visit visa and family status visa depends on the iqama profession, NOT ON SALARY.

7)Can my wife along with 2 sons join me later or is she not
  allowed to fly alone- so your wife can fly.. just kidding... she can fly alone, your son alone, or all of them in one time... depends on your budget and if ofcourse, if they are granted visa your sons though, for sure, cannot travel alone, they are minors

8)Other rules and regulations for Indian family at Riyadh- please check the site.. .you'll be amazed that these questions were already discusssed

9)Living and dos and donts at Riyadh- the site also has these...

Riyadh 11 Thanks is a very small word to express my feeling seeing your much informed message.BTW are you a resident of Riyadh. Would like to have your contact no. obviously if you permit so that on my arrival i can get in touch with you for some initial tips.Thanks again for your informations.11th Jan 2011 Insha allah shall be landing Riyadh at 19.35 hrs.

I agree with pupunbiswas that "Thanks" indeed is very small to express my gratitude at the wealth of information that you've so generously shared.

Although I was not the author of this thread, I was immensely benefitted by all the information. It was especially heartening to note that there are Indian stores over there as well, like in the US.

I plan to fly down to Riyadh in end-January, and would definitely like to stay in touch with you two, for survival strategies.

Wish you both a very belated Happy New Year !!

KSA definitely accommodates people from all over the world.  I laugh when I go food shopping because there is everything for everyone there. 

Foods/spices for Phillipines/Indonesia, India, Saudi and Western tastes, and not just in specialty store--in every store!

Something I love to do everytime I go shopping, I buy something new to try.   One time I bought 'pickled mango.'  I don't know.. I thought it was strips of mango that were pickled, like American pickles.  Well, it turns out that pickled mango is chopped and very hot and meant to be added to foods (or as a kind of 'dip')! 

Another experience was buying Indian tapioca, which of course I thought would be a sweet dessert.  Instead, burned my mouth and I gave to an Indian colleague!  She laughed that I thought it would be sweet lol

@ rehabdoc Happy new Year. Good to know you are travelling to Riyadh.BTW are you fro Kolkata then kindly let me know your local Contacts.I am presently in Kolkata and shall be travelling on 11th january 2012. Self is an Accountant and am joining a Construction Company in Riyadh.Looking forward to have a good time with you all, in that new country.Keep in touch and happy posting

@Alliecat nice to find your habit of tasting Indian pickles.Good!! but all Indian pickles like the Indians are either sour or Hot but more you taste you will find the inside is sweet like all your Indian frnds.Shall catch up once I am there keep in touch my frnd.Initially I shall be alone so need all your support and frndhship to settle and to get out of home sickness..

@Riyad11 Thanks keep in touch.

rehabdoc wrote:

Although I was not the author of this thread, I was immensely benefitted by all the information

you're welcome

guys, specially pupunbiswas, i am sure you will not go through homesickness here, since I believe, that the most number of expatriates here in Riyadh are Indians that explains why Indian food is all over the area

Evenstar wrote:

Hello everyone, hope someone will answer ASAP.
My husband has been offered a job in Riyadh office from his company, and I would like to know if the salary and allowances will be enough for the three member family (hubby, me, and 1yr old kid). The salary is 5000 USD per month, house allowance is 2500 USD/month, rent-a-car about 500usd/month, and health insurance is also paid by the company. So is this a good chance to take, can we save something, or we'll spend almost everything? Bear in mind that we would like to live in a western compound (Arabian Homes, Eid Compound, Kingdom City) in a one bedroom apartment. Anyone? Any advice?

First off, read this:  https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=160554

There are literally hundreds of replies to the SAME question you just asked.  Why not read the threads (CLICK HERE)and find out what's been said on this topic already?

Thanks!