SeanAdams

Hi All,

I am looking for some info regarding the following:

1) Where would be the best place for myself and my wife to stay in Al Khobar if we are potentially gong to be working at the Saad Specialist Hospital? Any Recommendations on good areas/ compounds?

2) Is it at all a good idea / Possibility we could bring our 2 small dogs with us? Is it safe for them? Feasible? Possible (ie:ground floor/garden apartments)

3) What is the average cost of a decent place to stay?

4) How strict are the law enforcements with regards to women and mens clothing for westerners?

5) What is the cost of living like?

6) What would be regarded as a good salary for anyone in Al Khobar?

7) What activities are there to do in Al Khobar?

8) What problems if any are there in Al Khobar

Any info/ insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!!!

chris2dot0

Hi Sean,

I used to stay in Khobar, so can perhaps help with a few questions!

1) I knew SAfricans living on & off-compound in Khobar. Off-compound you're missing out on a swimming pool and a bit of privacy amongst other things, but compound living is pretty expensive...

2) Dogs are allowed, but I've heard it's pretty expensive to bring them over... Something like 5000 Saudi Riyal? Have not done this myself, so only going by hearsay... Cats here are like lions in South Africa, they roam the streets... ;-)

3) Compounds - around 100 000 Riyal per year? off-compound apartments pricing depends on the size/location of course, but a 2 bedroom one was around 36 000 Riyal about 5km from SAAD?

4) For woman it's compulsory to wear an abaya. Headscarve not so much. My wife was stopped twice in the 3 years we were here by the longbearded gents & asked to cover her head. Both times in Dhahran mall, strangely enough... Although inside SAAD the female nurses and docs wear western style clothing with a hospital jacket/outfit over it?

5) Price of food, water en petrol is pretty low if you buy local. (Imported stuff is available, but of course pricey.) Think the same for water & lights (low cost), although this has always been paid by my company for me, so going on hearsay again...

6) A bit subjective, depending on how much you need? Remember you'll have to pay for the compound per year, otherwise the rental goes up for 6/3/1 month rental agreements... I asked for and got double my ZA salary, but that is after working copious amounts of overtime and paying 0% tax... Luckily (for me) when I arrived the Rand also depreciated from R1.85 to a Riayl to around R3 now... Thank you ZA government...

7) Shopping...? There's always Bahrain just over the causeway...

8) Excluding the 2004 Khobar Massacre, the most dangerous thing here are the taxi drivers...