Brightside

Help! I'm now living in Riyadh and (as expected) need to find information on expat clubs and meet ups suitable to join (female teacher in my twenties).

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I'm guessing due to the amount of expats over here it's probably going to be quite difficult to join some (due to numbers) but i'm ready to give it a shot.

Unfortunately I don't live on a compound so finding out information from notice boards and asking around isn't possible. I've looked through posts and used good old google however most information seems pretty dated. I'm pretty happy to try anything, I just need social interaction with fellow westerners (preferably abaya free!).

Also are there high membership fees to join most clubs?

coffindodger

Hi welcome, Riyadh can be a bit of a hit and miss i enjoyed my 2 years there only earlier this year moving to khobar.
Get your self on the embassy lists they have regualr social evenings and lots of expats turn out in force.
Real falling down water is available as well.
The RGGB is an outfit you may look at joining.
This can be found within the british embassy.
The hash club , this is a running walking or what ever you want to do club this is free to join and a superb way to meet up with fellow expats they meet up on a thursday / friday mornings,
I used to have the contact details for both of them, but sorry i have lost them .
Do a search on here i know these have both been talked about recently.

certain compounds do have social evenings again its just getting your name on the lists.

Desert Shaikh

The million dollar question. How do I get onto the embassy list. I have asked various people on this forum, but it seems like a bit of a dark art.

kypster

If it's British Embassy then it's not what you know or the fact that you are British it is absolutely down to WHO you know. Most functions are sold out prior to advertising because of this, so it's the same people. Google the English Society and the New Caledonia clubs of Riyadh - best bet here.
If you were NZ or Aust then, the fact that you are that nationality counts and you have a better chance at their Embassies - just register.
For American do's google ACR (American Community Riyadh) they do some fun things!
My recommendation for getting out there is to join the HASH group as mentioned. Good luck

Brightside

Thanks for all the advice coffindodger and kypster
I have emailed the Hashing group so hopefully i'll be able to join and start meeting people through that. Unfortunately I don't know any WHOs yet but I guess it's still early days.
Is it worth getting myself down to the Embassy to register or is it just possible to do it online?

kypster

Don't think you can do it in person, we've only registered online - security is very tight at the Embassies & they don't really like people just turning up unannounced. You may meet a WHO at the Hash??

Semi Nomad

Welcome to Riyadh

Are you new to the country or are you just new to the city? I hope you get on the embassy lists soon! I'm new in Riyadh but Im soldiering it old school. No expat community as of yet, I've only met a couple of Americans whom I have befriended but so far it's what I've expected it to be!

Wishing you the best

Brightside

I better get Hashing then!
Thanks for the welcome Semi Nomad. I'm new to the country and only work with a few other western teachers which I why I want (need!) to get out and socialise!

Geo79

What sort of things are you into?


Embassy functions are sometimes hard to get tickets for. Everything else that I know of is pretty easy to get your name on the list for.

Not really.