Saudi - what do you think?
Discussion
Hi All
My current employer is in administration and, as it stands, I'm likely to be out of work in 3 week's time. I've been looking for a few weeks and one of the opportunities that has come up is in Jeddah.
The package on offer is pretty attractive - it looks like I could reasonably save £80-£100k if I stayed for 2.5 years.
What's it like to live in one of these 'luxury compounds?' What sort of life is there for a young (29) single bloke? Is there any opportunity to fulfil my PH needs - I don't suppose there are track days?
I've seen a few similar threads on Qatar, Dubai etc but nothing on Saudi.
Any help appreciated.
Cheers
TC
My current employer is in administration and, as it stands, I'm likely to be out of work in 3 week's time. I've been looking for a few weeks and one of the opportunities that has come up is in Jeddah.
The package on offer is pretty attractive - it looks like I could reasonably save £80-£100k if I stayed for 2.5 years.
What's it like to live in one of these 'luxury compounds?' What sort of life is there for a young (29) single bloke? Is there any opportunity to fulfil my PH needs - I don't suppose there are track days?
I've seen a few similar threads on Qatar, Dubai etc but nothing on Saudi.
Any help appreciated.
Cheers
TC
Jeddah... ouch... I lived in Yanbu for 4-5 years of my life, and on a weekend we would go to Jeddah for a bit of a brake... TGI fridays or a chinky!
The driving there is really bad! no tracks! some nice cars though, but you gotta have eyes in the back of your head driving around there!
The only track days you'll see is the local Jeddah boys racing down the central motorways in their Camrys.
Money is usually good, Arabian Homes is a good compound to live in there, bowling ally, and booze (if you know the right ppl), and alright TV
If i was you, i would try and get a job over on the east coast (Jubail / Kobar) My father currently works in Jubail, and travels to Bahrain for a weekend, where there is everything you could possibly want! Track, drink, pork, bars, clubs........
But then again, the money is good if you can save that much, and living is pretty cheap (if you get your accommodation paid for)
If you need any more info, just give me a PM, and ill answer ur questions
The driving there is really bad! no tracks! some nice cars though, but you gotta have eyes in the back of your head driving around there!
The only track days you'll see is the local Jeddah boys racing down the central motorways in their Camrys.
Money is usually good, Arabian Homes is a good compound to live in there, bowling ally, and booze (if you know the right ppl), and alright TV
If i was you, i would try and get a job over on the east coast (Jubail / Kobar) My father currently works in Jubail, and travels to Bahrain for a weekend, where there is everything you could possibly want! Track, drink, pork, bars, clubs........
But then again, the money is good if you can save that much, and living is pretty cheap (if you get your accommodation paid for)
If you need any more info, just give me a PM, and ill answer ur questions
Edited by Jamz on Monday 2nd March 21:28
Edited by Jamz on Monday 2nd March 21:29
oilydan said:
Watch 'The Kingdom', just the first 20 minutes will do 
There is good money to be had in Saudi, but it is definately a hardship payment.
Although, living on the Red Sea......just go diving!!!!
It isnt anything like that, although i would know as i was in the middle of a terrorist attack in Yanbu a few years ago...There is good money to be had in Saudi, but it is definately a hardship payment.
Although, living on the Red Sea......just go diving!!!!
Each compound has their own emergancy plan of what to do... Anyway, there hasnt been an attack in quite a few years now.
Don't be deterred...100K in the bank after two years is not to be sniffed at...especially as you have just been made redundant!...just get out as often as you can ;-) There are great tracks in KSA - bahrain - Qatar - Dubai - soon to be Abu Dhabi!!
The geography is amazing and there are some awesome places in KSA!!! I lived there for 13 years from birth and as a kid thought it was great!
Are you the vdub TimC????
The geography is amazing and there are some awesome places in KSA!!! I lived there for 13 years from birth and as a kid thought it was great!
Are you the vdub TimC????
Edited by RSPhilip on Wednesday 4th March 18:45
Saudi is what you make of it, like any overseas assignment. Part of getting through a couple of years out here is mindset. Forget any idea of it just being like home only in the sun. It's not & never will be. Come with a mindset that says it's not going to be great, but I'll get the most from it I can (mainly that will be money). Saudi can be grim, but it isn't that bad. I spent 5 months last year in Habshan, Abu Dhabi, I'm now in Yanbu, Saudi. I'd rather be here. Ok, no booze, no bars, but you can live without them. In my time I've done Qatar, India, Abu Dhabi, Oman, US, Equatorial Guinea & Saudi. They all carry the fundamental hardship, it's not home. They all carry the fundamental advantage, money. In between it's up to you. The only one of those I'd rush to get back to would be EG. Least developed of the lot, last place anybody wanted to go to, but had the most fun of any overseas job.
RSPhilip said:
Are you the vdub TimC????
Nope - 'fraid not. I drive an Alpina B10 and I've just sold my bike-engined track-toy in anticipation of joblessness.GT03ROB said:
Saudi is what you make of it, like any overseas assignment. Part of getting through a couple of years out here is mindset.
Yes, I think my head is in the right space. You certainly seem well travelled enough to know the score.Interview Wednesday; watch this space.
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