Interested in moving to KSA, seeking guidance before commiting
May 7th 2023, 1:08 pm
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Joined: May 2023
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Interested in moving to KSA, seeking guidance before commiting
Hi all,
I have a few Saudi friends that keep telling me I should move to KSA for better earning opportunities/living standards. While I do understand that you can get a good salary, and including the low taxes you can get significantly more income, I still think that the stories I am told are exaggerated. So, I thought I would reach out to this community to find out what the reality looks like and whether I should be pursuing jobs in KSA.
A bit of background about me, I work as a management consultant in the financial services space, particularly focusing on change management/process improvement/delivery leadership (i.e. programme management). I currently have just over 8 years of experience and would be keen to either continue in consulting or move into a permanent role in a bank. Also, I am married with a 2 year old kid and our household income is in the ranges of £110k to £130k, with the bigger portion being mine. So, if we make the move, at least for the initial term, I will be the only one working in KSA, until my partner manages to find something.
Would anyone with similar background/in that space be kind enough to share some insights and their experiences? I am particularly interested in finding out about the following:
- Are there good opportunities for someone with my background? I understand that KSA is very interested in hiring specialists, but I wouldn't say my skillset can be categorised as such, even though I have been involved in some really interesting programmes.
- What is the working environment like? I assume it might be slower paced than the UK, but how do the hours usually look like? What are the general expectations employers have from expats?
- What salary range can I realistically be looking for in that industry and with my level of experience?
- What percentage do 'fixed' costs (i.e. rent, nursery, utilities and other recurring bills) usually make up of your salaries in cities like Riyadh? I want to compare to my current situation in UK, which is between 60 to 75%.
- What is the best application approach (i.e. direct vs recruiter)?
Reading back all of the above, I am realising I am asking a lot here, but I would greatly appreciate if you could help. As you understand this is a big decision, and I want to make sure I am making a sensible choice before I drag my family though it. Unfortunately, speaking to my Saudi friends doesn't give me a real representation, so I there is no better place to ask than this forum.
If you rather prefer, I am happy to jump onto a Zoom call (or equivalent), please let me know in DMs.
I have a few Saudi friends that keep telling me I should move to KSA for better earning opportunities/living standards. While I do understand that you can get a good salary, and including the low taxes you can get significantly more income, I still think that the stories I am told are exaggerated. So, I thought I would reach out to this community to find out what the reality looks like and whether I should be pursuing jobs in KSA.
A bit of background about me, I work as a management consultant in the financial services space, particularly focusing on change management/process improvement/delivery leadership (i.e. programme management). I currently have just over 8 years of experience and would be keen to either continue in consulting or move into a permanent role in a bank. Also, I am married with a 2 year old kid and our household income is in the ranges of £110k to £130k, with the bigger portion being mine. So, if we make the move, at least for the initial term, I will be the only one working in KSA, until my partner manages to find something.
Would anyone with similar background/in that space be kind enough to share some insights and their experiences? I am particularly interested in finding out about the following:
- Are there good opportunities for someone with my background? I understand that KSA is very interested in hiring specialists, but I wouldn't say my skillset can be categorised as such, even though I have been involved in some really interesting programmes.
- What is the working environment like? I assume it might be slower paced than the UK, but how do the hours usually look like? What are the general expectations employers have from expats?
- What salary range can I realistically be looking for in that industry and with my level of experience?
- What percentage do 'fixed' costs (i.e. rent, nursery, utilities and other recurring bills) usually make up of your salaries in cities like Riyadh? I want to compare to my current situation in UK, which is between 60 to 75%.
- What is the best application approach (i.e. direct vs recruiter)?
Reading back all of the above, I am realising I am asking a lot here, but I would greatly appreciate if you could help. As you understand this is a big decision, and I want to make sure I am making a sensible choice before I drag my family though it. Unfortunately, speaking to my Saudi friends doesn't give me a real representation, so I there is no better place to ask than this forum.
If you rather prefer, I am happy to jump onto a Zoom call (or equivalent), please let me know in DMs.
