Only 3 days for Temporary Accommodation!!!!!

That's pretty cheesy!  The amount of time I've always heard is at least a month to find something, sometimes even two or three.  Three days would be impossible unless you settled on a furnished apartment for a while (but I'm not sure if you have to take those for a certain period of time or can leave when you want ...).

Mick-take and a half.

I agree with Alliecat.

Depending on what you want, you could be expected to pay 6-months rent up-front e.g. for a Villa.
But don't worry, you can just go to a Shaqqa Mafrusha (furnished apartment) for a month and commute till you find your bearings and find a place your comfortable with.  A lot of Ex-Pats live in these apartment style places.  Depending on your gender, there are family only buildings, and some for males only. 
And I'd hope that once you're there, you'd be able to persuade HR in your company for some gentleness towards you wrt the accommodation situation.

Dear Sir

I do not see how any company can expect you to find accomodation in 3 days!!
You will not even know where you are in that time!!
Also it will be impossible for you to rent until you get your Iqama --could be 3-4 months depending on the company.
Rent has normally to be paid 6 months up front and you will not be bale to open a bank account until u have your Iqama so u will not be able to give a cheque.
Furnished apartments are ok --but will be an expensive way to live, and that also depends on what area you want to live and  also what nationality you are. Will you be on single status?
Also something to bear in mind --if u do not like the position or you are fired then you are liable for the rental agreement --has to be settled before you will get relase form your visa --same applies to telephone, electric, water , car loan etc etc

Food for thought !!

Regards

Trevor

Well as most of the expirenced guys have already pointed out 3 days isn't enough.

1. Agreements here are for 1 year with 6 months to be paid in advance. So u really need to be sure abt the place , commute , facilites nearby, before u get into tht sought of a lock in period.

2. Also u need time since ur single / married status has a impact as well.

3. On immediate basis u can get into a service apartment. My firm has put me in pretty decent one ( though not luxurious ) , the charges r abt 250 SAR per day... The cost again depends on ur area.

4. Advisable to put up near ur office as U mayn't be able to buy a car till ur Iqama comes. The min. asking charge of a Taxi is SAR 10 here.

Alliecat wrote:

That's pretty cheesy!  The amount of time I've always heard is at least a month to find something, sometimes even two or three.  Three days would be impossible unless you settled on a furnished apartment for a while (but I'm not sure if you have to take those for a certain period of time or can leave when you want ...).

My friend recently had similar situation and he ended up renting a furnished apartment on monthly contract somewhere near exit 5. It is around SAR 6,000 a month I think.