hiteshapatel

Hi All,

I have been offered a role as Technical Consultant to be based in Riyadh. I have spent all my life living and working in the UK and this offer would be a big step for me.
What I would like to ask you, is it normal practice for companies not to offer any sort of relocation or allowances? This company is offering me a base salary and have said they will sort out all Visa costs. All other costs would come out of my base salary. They have advised they will get me a residents visa for the UAE and visitors Visa for Saudi. However if I am not mistaken if I do not have a residents Visa for Saudi, I will not be able to rent anything in Saudi let alone work.
or am I mistaken.
regards

Desert Dubliner

I had a rentacar for 8 months on visit visa. You can work but no bank account, no loans, no buying a car. It is not usual that allowances are excluded but at the end if you like your package it doesn't mater how it's structured. Also on visit visa you will have to do jolly-runs every month to Dubai, which should't be too difficult. Also, you can't bring your wife or kids without having Saudi residence.

Bob

Depends how massive the base salary is I'd guess....but it does seem somewhat unusual...

hiteshapatel

thanks for the info, does it mean I would be able to rent an apartment on the visitors visa?

Desert Dubliner

The company should be able to sort it out for you. My company took on a lease for me.

hiteshapatel

how much would people class as massive for a company not to provide the allowances?

Kix

80-100k/month...

hiteshapatel

WOW I assume this would be local currency SAR?
So 30K SAR pcm is not very good considering i would need to take all my costs out of that.
Insurance, rental, living in a western compound?

Kix

Of course its SAR, you asked what would be a massive salary? Personally I wouldn't move there for anything less than 70k, but that's just me.

In fact i probably wouldn't work there full stop.

What I don;t understand is how you could work in Saudi on a visit visa? That I don't understand.

hiteshapatel

:-)
The offer came in for a role based in Saudi. i wanted a role in UAE, but they do not have any roles at present. But they are a growing company with room for movement. the salary if converted to GBP would be eqv to £100K for me to get that much salary in the UK would be very hard if not impossible.
Re the Visa issue I am still unclear myself and was hopping to find some help here. I am planning to fly out to the UAE over the weekend to trash out these details with the company. If I am still not 100% comfortable I will pass it up.

Desert Dubliner

Just take care, I was making similar statements 5 years ago.

It's common enough. You are paid in cash and have to get in and out all the time.

Desert Dubliner

With 30k you will not live on a compound unless you want to give 40% of your income for a flat.

Southlondoner

Hi Hitesh

SAR 30k per month all in is not a good offer in Saudi for a professional to relocate from the west. Especially if housing and the car comes out of this.

A one bedroom apartment on a western compound will cost SAR 80k per year minimum. Car allowance - figure SAR 60k per year. On a monthly salary of SAR 30k - that is 1/3 of your income gone just on housing and car.

Also - SAR 30k per month is not equivalent to £100k p/a. It is close to USD 100k per year.

On top of this - there is the visa situation. Even on an iqama (work permit) foreigners have little employment rights in Saudi. On a six month business visa - the company can terminate you on a whim with no notice at all.

Desert Dubliner

You buying an Escalade?? A top spec Tahoe costs me 40kSAR per year.

hiteshapatel

Wow that was not what I was told. I have been advised I could get a 1 bed appartment for 1500usd PCM in a compound. I assume this is wrong.

So what is the average cost of a 1 bed apartment in a good compound for the year?