right, made it (it's been 7 bl--dy months in the making!).

was quite pleasantly surprised by the airport process (best arrivals hall i've seen so far with waterfalls, etc.).

for those that want to know;
- fingerprints and photos are taken on your first entry
- customs and immigration was pretty much walkthrough w/ exception that they x-ray your bags for customs (w/ some thoroughly bored chap staring at a monitor)
- and then you're done!

something amusing;
- got on the plane at Bahrain and there was a woman sitting in my seat. as she was wearing an abaya, thought better of talking to her directly, so just approached the hostie instead who politely pointed out that she swapped seats because her seat was between two men!

question; (for the veterans who are bored already)
- what is the etiquette for getting into cabs/chauffered cars? do you get in the front passenger seat or not? (as a male, that is...)

more to come!

I always ride in the back.

You're the second person I've met who likes the waterfalls. The brown/beige gets me down though...

well, welcome, the question is who did pick you up from the airport, don't tell me you got a rent cat then you drove in the wrong way :P

P.S. don't look at my posts No.

I also ride in the back - the seat belts are often 'missing' anyway so at least in the back you have a half-chance of surviving a head-on.........

Deanfact: Riyadh airport, last time I checked the Guinness Book of Records, was the biggest in the world (in terms of sq km), if you include all parking areas, terminal buildings, runways and taxiing areas etc.

Why did it take so long?

Is that 7 months from the point you got an interview for the role to starting?

I am considering a Saudi move as a possibility despite its downsides. Can I ask what line of work you are in?

Thanks.

It's bigger than Bahrain apparently.

N

What is bigger than Bahrain??

Riyadh aiport . . .

When you off ?

N

Wed night/Thurs morn - leaving at about 1am to hit the causeway between Saudi rush hours....... trying to miss the back of the Wed night slog but get in ahead of the Thurs a.m. squeeze.

So is it mahsalama Riyadh for the last time then ? Lucky man!!

N

and I now have somewhere to stay in Bahrain

7 months was from the interview, 6.5 from the offer... i was already an expat in the UK so had to do things twice. (and for some unknown reason, the saudi embassy in each country does things differently... :curse: )

anyway, yes, made it, and am a IT architect here with an investment bank. what about yourself?

I know about IT and about architects but what on earth is an IT architect?

damn, that was quick. well, sorry that i didn't have the chance to buy you a cup of coffee... appreciate the pointers on here.

are you planning a return to the magic kingdom anytime soon?

Of course you do - or will do. Give me a week or two...........