Moving to Riyadh
 

I'm moving to Riyadh on Monday to work for a university there.

Just thought I'd pop up and say 'hello'.

I'll no doubt have a few Q's come next week.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

welcome to Saudi Arabia ) if you have any question . i can help you ^_^

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

I recently moved to Riyadh as well.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Enjoy your stay , Saudi is a surprisingly normal place once you get used to a few things . Ignore the haters and you'll probably be fine.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Thanks!

I've been here a week now. I am more surprised each day. Its not as bad as I imagined.
It's all about the networking in this place it seems. Need to try and meet as many people from as many different compounds to make it more enjoyable.

I'm living on a female only compound, which is not fun!!! It's like a hen house.

Hopefully my iqama will be sorted out before the October 10th holiday so I can travel outside the KSA.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Let me know what you find! :)

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

I'll PM you after I've been for a swim. Super humid today :(

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Indeed! I was thinking about a swim myself.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Welcome to Riyadh. It can be the most boring place in the world. However, it then forces you to build and create your own social life. If you manage to do this, suddenly you can start to enjoy quite a pleasant lifestyle.

As there is little in terms of entertainment, you will have to find and create your own. There are quote a few blogs around which are good reading but also informative eg blue abaya. Start to make friends and get your self out and about - is about the crux of it. Good luck.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Suza

Apologies if I have the wrong person, but did you apply for your visa in Frankfurt on 12th Sept? We may have met briefly :-)

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

They tried to make me go to Riyadh, I said, "No, no, no"

:thumbdown::thumbdown::thumbdown:

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

No, I did mine in London.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

OP take this with a bucket of salt. This is the chap that lived on Koh Phangan for 5 years when the full moon parties were still, kind off, ok. :lol::lol::lol:

Channel me muckers positive energy, by all means, but do realise he's quite likely baaaaaaah!

:thumbup:

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

I did my time on Koh Phangan too. I frequented there from 1999-2001, and I'm handling Saudi just fine :)

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Whereas you're sane and truthful.....

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

You may run into her - she's American, moved from Germany also working at the Uni and living on the women's compound.

If you do - say hi for me :-)

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

This is the same guy who had a business in Thailand when in the early 80s when he was about 10 years old.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

He is an adolescent who hasn't had any experience in the real world, merely in his imagination. On the other hand such prime bullshit does mean that his roses will be browm!

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

The Baaah part was only a joke!!! Sorry. I thought you'd have got that when I also said how positive you clearly are. :confused:

And I was born in 1963.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Bloody'el. The TEFLers want me dead.

I wish I was an adolescent. I wish I wish I wish!!!

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

What's her name? There's around 60+ women on the SBC compound now, more arriving too. It's like a hen house ;)

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Some say Saudi is boring. My angle is that boredom is within you. If you have any spark of creativity you will FIND things to do ! You have all that TIME ! Do something with it !

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

A lack of imagination creates boredom. As you say, a spark of creativity will find something to do!


How are you doing? Hope you're on the mend.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Trying to avoid another myocardial infarction (which is doscpeak for "heart attack")

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Hello there,

Sorry to leach off someone else's post, but I've also just arrived in Riyadh. It will take a day or so for the company to confirm my location but it will be either Riyadh or Dammam.

If Riyadh, where would be the best place to crash? Any other advice would also be great!

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

enjoy the adventure. lots of places to crash in Riyadh - have you seen how they drive?

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

10 litres 100% grape juice + 10% by volume sugar + 2 teaspoons of yeast ! :thumbsup:

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Haha. Yes, I learnt pretty early on that driving was a little less structured than in the UK.

Would you guys recommend getting your own car or using taxi's?

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Depends how long youre staying and how much money you have got.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

The company ended up placing me in Dammam. I'm planning on staying here for the next 2-3 years.

How much would a decent car cost in the middle-east?

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Teacher?

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Yup.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

In that case, I'd lease a small one. Make sure it has a diplomatic clause. Some teachers are EFL types which means you can be out on a whim. Military or ARAMCO?

Don't need the ball ache of an unreliable second hand motor, they don't last well in the sand.

Good luck

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Used cars are. I think, generally more expensive than they would be in the Uk, they don't tend to depreciate as much / as quickly, so can set you back a bit for a decent one. Japanese motors are perhaps the most sought after / popular, but plenty of American motors available.

Leasing is a pretty good option too, if you do get potted at short notice, most times you will just be able to return the motor.

Re: Moving to Riyadh
 

Thanks guy, appreciate your advice.