Info please

You can go out by yourself.  Some women feel more comfortable going out in groups, but I go out by myself all the time and have never had a problem.

Just be sure to have a trustworthy driver (you can connect with one through the limo services).

Thank you. That makes me feel more at ease. I am totally fine with not driving...from the things I have heard I'm glad I won't be! lol
I just wanted to make sure that I don't have to wait on my husband to do things.
Do you like it in Riyadh as a women? Is it really all in just what you make it? In your opinion should I be moving my family half way around the world? I know all of these things are opinions but in the midst of my excitement I can't help the feeling that I could get over there and think it's the biggest mistake of my life....
Sorry that was so DEEP ....hehe

ThinkingAboutIt wrote:

Thank you. That makes me feel more at ease. I am totally fine with not driving...from the things I have heard I'm glad I won't be! lol
I just wanted to make sure that I don't have to wait on my husband to do things.
Do you like it in Riyadh as a women? Is it really all in just what you make it? In your opinion should I be moving my family half way around the world? I know all of these things are opinions but in the midst of my excitement I can't help the feeling that I could get over there and think it's the biggest mistake of my life....
Sorry that was so DEEP ....hehe

Well, look at it this way:  it's an adventure, a learning experience.  If you don't like it, stick it out through your hubby's contact and then leave, that's all  

BTW, how old are your children?  That will make a big difference in how they are able to acclimate themselves.

Thank you, you are right. It will be what I'll make it and it is an adventure that I'll never get to experience again.
My girls are 2 and 4 . I am not really worried about how they will acclimate since they are so young. Plus they are very sociable kids so I don't worry about them making friends and stuff. Also, I have heard that one of the good things about the KSA is that it is very children friendly. At least that's what I've read.

Reality is differnt than said above....

Hi Parin,

Do you have any useful information to share with us pls ?

Thank you

Maximilien

Could you be a little less vague? I'm not sure what you mean.

ThinkingAboutIt wrote:

Could you be a little less vague? I'm not sure what you mean.

ignore vague looking comments. They are pointless

After reading that comment I looked at this persons posts and they all seem to be vague and negative, so I will take that advice. Thanks

@Thinking Yes, I noticed that, as well.  Sometimes people are like that here, trying to increase their number of postings by saying, basically, *nothing*.

Hi

I have read your post.Sorry to say butt the REALITIES of living in Riyadh is FAR from nice ) it is a HARD hostile city. The traffic accidents are legendary! Yes even if I WANT to drive I do not want ot drive in Riyadh!! It is a filthy city. Everywhere is construction going on with everything that was used just dumped on a open piece of land. You will see chairs/sofas just standing near soccer fields, abandoned. Cats everywhere. foul smelling sewerage problems everywhere. I am living in Quertoba: supposed to be a good area ???   

Yes here are MANY kids BUT according to custom and the husbands law: i am not so sure they will be allowed to play with just anyone.

The boys and girls are not really allowed to mingle.

You will mostly have to rely on the other expats for company. Most of the expats are the older girls and guys LOL.

I can write and write and write all day long lol. I just want to tell you: do NOT ROMANTISICE this place. it is a VERY HARD place to be making a living in!!! you WILL have to be able to COMPROMISE EVERYTHING every day.

Sad to say marriages is under terrible strain in this place with many a wife leaving her husband to continue with his contract! YES and the salaries!! IF they pay. Here are SO many stories of NO payment and LATE payment.People have lost so much money here!! IF you can live with bribery/greed/lies/cheating you will maybe not find it so hard. I cannot.

You are most welcome to send me your phone number by this blog and I cab whatsapp more info.

I know I am sticking my neck out to be so frank but lady: THIS is how it is.

Good luck!!

Nassie

mmm......... sorry about that spelling of romanticise )

@ Nassie ! well said

Hi Nassie,

Thank you for sharing your point and information, just that it would be much appreciated if you give us some positive feedback as well please

Thank you

Maximilien

Maximilien wrote:

Hi Nassie,

Thank you for sharing your point and information, just that it would be much appreciated if you give us some positive feedback as well please

Thank you

Maximilien

Not everything in life is positive...I think she did well to point out the cons for someone inquiring on a move here.

@OP - generally this country is a headache, things move very slowly, plans get messed up, things breakdown quite often. It's going to be tough to get your children into school and you are most likely going to be a full-time housewife. Life here is difficult, and people get paid to deal with it. Many streets are very hard to find, and there is a language barrier with a lot of drivers. They will be late or get confused on where to go, which is just a pain in the butt.

In terms of business, everyday is a new issue and a new headache. Things don't work properly here.

The only reason to come here is the money, I don't see any other. The adventure is nice, the experience is nice but it wears off...you start getting into a routine where you feel you're not as much of a guest anymore and more of a resident and it's when things get very difficult. If the money is worth it to you and your family and you are willing to be VERY patient and have a high tolerence for annoying things coming at you all the time, then I highly recommend that you come here and make a living. You also need to consider your tax situation back home and see if it financially makes sense. In Canada, we don't get taxed on worldwide income if certain procedures are followed, however, in the U.S I think it is a different story.

Good luck to you, there are many positives here in Riyadh and the life experience is something that is priceless...however you need to be aware of what you're getting into.

Personally, I would never come here if I had a family, people manage but I wouldnt WANT to manage. I am here on single status and am doing just fine (for the most part).

Cheers,

Alex

@ Alex , you are right.....we need to find our way to live... as it is said... when we cannot change the rules, lets follow them .. heheheh

time.chime wrote:

@ Alex , you are right.....we need to find our way to live... as it is said... when we cannot change the rules, lets follow them .. heheheh

It's not about changing the rules. We are here in pursuit of fulfilment of our dreams and future plans somewhere else. When we visit someone being guests, do we ever think of changing the rules in the host's home? We don't; we get along them.

I don't agree with @nassie on most part. That's quite a pessimistic picture drawn of KSA (at least on EB).

I do agree with things like cultural shock and some anomalies here and there. KSA is ranked 4th in the world recently on the number of expats.

Yes, there are number of cases where salaries were not paid to employees but excuse me! in 9.1M population of expats, those cases don't even make 5%. Government has recently instilled a system to deliver monthy payroll through bank accounts. This is going to do a lot for regulating.

During my long stay of more than a decade here , I NEVER had to indulge into bribery/greed/lies/cheating. In fact, I see the overall system much better than most of the countries I have been to. Of course, there are thumbrules and tips to move smooth and that's what we do on Expat-Blog --- 'sharing that knowledge'.

Bottomline: let me quote Alliecat from above post.

Alliecat wrote:

Well, look at it this way:  it's an adventure, a learning experience.  If you don't like it, stick it out through your hubby's contact and then leave, that's all

Well said TLL - The Legend Leads

nassie van rooyen wrote:

it is a HARD hostile city

Just to add my 2 cents again (or would that make it 4 cents now? lol):  I've never found Riyadh to be hostile.  Quite the contrary, in fact.  Other expats working in stores are extremely nice, friendly--often really going out of their way to be helpful. 

And as for Saudis themselves?  You have to remember they've got all these cultural restrictions that they have to adhere to BUT I've almost always found Saudis (particularly the many I work with) to be friendly and kind with excellent senses of humor. 

Brief story:  I was waiting for my food at Burger King when two teenaged girls approached and got in line behind me.  They were in abayas and hijabs and struck up a conversation with me and we were having a good chat when they looked over and said their mother was coming.  Well, here comes this woman covered head to toe in black, even wearing gloves.  I am thinking, 'Oh no, now I've had it!  She's not going to like her daughters talking to me.'  However, she walked up, joined us, her daughters introduced me as being from America and the woman stuck out her gloved hand to shake mine and said, in broken English, that it was nice to meet me!

Seriously, I've never had anybody be nasty or rude to me.  Just remember that a smile goes a long way and as for the system?  KSA has only been a country since 1932; to put that into context, KSA wasn't a country when Al Capone was bootlegging in Chicago or the Great Depression hit the USA.

So it's a young country and a totally different culture trying to find its way.  We're all here mostly for financial reasons but able to experience a unique way of life that very few outsiders get to be a part of.  Whether or not you enjoy your time here depends entirely on your ability to adjust.

Good luck.

And BTW, I agree with almost everything Alpha said but you'll see how it ties in with what I said above about your ability to adjust. 

Things move slowly, plans get messed up?  Absolutely!  All the time.  But if you just EXPECT that they will, you'll be pleasantly surprised on the rare occasions they don't   And you know what?  Ironically, everything always seems to work out in the end.

I thank you all for your candid and honest replies. We have already decided on coming, but I will take what you all say and try to stay the positive person I pride myself in being. I will also try to go with the flow and learn to understand and respect the culture that I will be immersing myself in.
Cheers to an adventure