Moving to Riyadh

Rcortez wrote:

Hello all, I will be moving to Riyadh the first few days of January from San Antonio Texas. I am taking plenty of clothes, a few electronics and my sax.
What cell phone company is best? I have an iPhone from Sprint network but not sure if this phone will work in KSA. I also want to open a local bank account, where do most Americans bank in Riyadh? I'll be living in Riyadh and traveling to work in Al-Kharj (PSAB). How far of a drive is this?
I'm excited to move to Saudi Arabia, hopefully I will be able to meet some folks from the forum.
If there's anything that can be shared on what else I should take with me please let me know.

Rick

Welcome to Exaplt-Blog and to Riyadh soon.
Your iPhone is locked to Sprint; it won't work here in KSA.
Once you get your residential permit (aka Iqama), you'll be able to open a bank account. I've noticed that many Americans send money back home thru Al-Rajhi Bank.
Al-Kharj is 77km south of Riyadh

Rcortez wrote:

Hello all, I will be moving to Riyadh the first few days of January from San Antonio Texas. I am taking plenty of clothes, a few electronics and my sax.
What cell phone company is best? I have an iPhone from Sprint network but not sure if this phone will work in KSA. I also want to open a local bank account, where do most Americans bank in Riyadh? I'll be living in Riyadh and traveling to work in Al-Kharj (PSAB). How far of a drive is this?
I'm excited to move to Saudi Arabia, hopefully I will be able to meet some folks from the forum.
If there's anything that can be shared on what else I should take with me please let me know.

Rick

Hey Rick, welcome in advance to The Magic Kingdom. You might be able to get your phone unlocked, or spend $10-20 on a cheap one here. You're not allowed to buy a sim card until you have an Iqama, but that doesn't stop people borrowing a card from someone more established.

The banks are all pretty good (AFAIK) and often people bank with the same company as their employer - less chance of delayed/lost salaries.

What else to bring? How long is a ball of string, lol? Food shopping here is okay(ish) but any condiments you cannot do without could go in your suitcase (obviously no meat/veg/booze). The weather here ranges from cool in the winter (unless you're a local, then it's COLD) to blistering hot in summer. A saxaphone is an excellent idea, as is anything else to occupy your time (movies, books/kindle, gamestationboxthingy, tablet, gym gloves). I find the men's clothes shopping here is useless, although I didn't really need to bring 20+ tshirts. Large size shoes are conspicuous by their absence.

A solid travel adapter will be useful as the sockets seem to differ, depending on what the builder had for breakfast, lol. The availability of some medication is sketchy - bring supplies, doctor's note and prescriptions as needed.

One essential that you cannot buy here is enthusiasm and an open mind; bring a bucket load of both.

Thank you for your replies, this information will be very helpful.

You're not allowed to buy a sim card until you have an Iqama

Not true.  You can get a prepaid SIM card with your passport.  Postpaid requires iqama.

I find the men's clothes shopping here is useless

Can you explain this?  All the popular mid-level American and European brands are found here.  Gap, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, Zara, Next, Massimo Dutti, Marks & Spencer, Lacoste, etc.  If you prefer $150 t-shirts, $250 polo shirts, $400 jeans, and formal clothes that cost $texas, those are also found here (Italian/French haute couture brands).  If that's all useless, I would like to know what you wear that it can't be found here!

Trapezius wrote:

You're not allowed to buy a sim card until you have an Iqama

Not true.  You can get a prepaid SIM card with your passport.  Postpaid requires iqama.

Ignorance fought; many thanks, Trapezius 

Trapezius wrote:

I find the men's clothes shopping here is useless

Can you explain this?  All the popular mid-level American and European brands are found here.  Gap, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, Zara, Next, Massimo Dutti, Marks & Spencer, Lacoste, etc.  If you prefer $150 t-shirts, $250 polo shirts, $400 jeans, and formal clothes that cost $texas, those are also found here (Italian/French haute couture brands).  If that's all useless, I would like to know what you wear that it can't be found here!

Only from personal experience. I find the clothing for men sub-par, compared to what can be found (in the same retail outlets) in clothing stores outside of Saudi. Sure, the brands are here but the choice inside those shops leaves next to nothing to be desired. The only place where I find a range suitable to my tastes and build (tall, large shoulders) is in Debenhams and even that is limited, compared to the UK or Europe.

I've looked in most of the shops you've listed and have found their selections not to my taste. I'm not the pickiest of shoppers nor the most savvy, fashion wise, but anything I like does not fit (usually stretching across my upper chest) and anything that fits I find not to my taste.