first impressions - riyadh
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 872
first impressions - riyadh
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!
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!
#2
Re: first impressions - riyadh
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...
You're the second person I've met who likes the waterfalls. The brown/beige gets me down though...
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 12
Re: first impressions - riyadh
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!
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!
P.S. don't look at my posts No.
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: first impressions - riyadh
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.
#5
Re: first impressions - riyadh
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.
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.
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: first impressions - riyadh
What is bigger than Bahrain??
#12
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 872
Re: first impressions - riyadh
anyway, yes, made it, and am a IT architect here with an investment bank. what about yourself?
#13
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 820
Re: first impressions - riyadh
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?
anyway, yes, made it, and am a IT architect here with an investment bank. what about yourself?
#14
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 872
Re: first impressions - riyadh
are you planning a return to the magic kingdom anytime soon?