moving to riyadh
 

Hello everybody, I'm due to be moving too riyadh in February/March & I was wondering what "necessities" do I need to bring with me. I.e. do I pack my xbox or dvd etc. Any help would be great thanks

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Avoid DVDs. This can prove problematic at the airport. Anything and everything that is legal in KSA is available in KSA so you will not be missing out. However, although Riyadh is known for being particularly hot, it can get extremely cold in the winter months (it can drop below freezing) so make sure you also pack some warm clothes. If you are male, then make sure you have done some shopping, or packed as many of your clothes as you can. There are limited options for menswear in Riyadh and it can be expensive.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

I've only seen nutmeg and star anise in very expensive packaging in the select part of Danube.

Also I would prefer to buy any electronics back home. It might be bias on my part but I just prefer buying them from reputable shops.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

patience

Re: moving to riyadh
 

You will only know what you really miss when you have been here for a while.
You can watch every Premier match live with English commentary, download any movie, watch BBC Iplayer as the internet is really fast. The supermarkets are well stocked and decent restaurants everywhere. Petrol is thrupence a bucket and the pharmacy's dish out pills like Bill Cosby on a first date...

Re: moving to riyadh
 

I used to miss draught Guinness and pork pies.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Set up a reliable VPN if you want Netflix, iPlayer, Skygo...etc, I did that before I left the UK. Personally, I wouldn't want to be without OSN. Pretty much everything else you can buy here....with the sorry exception of Guinness and Pork pies.
Only regular items I bring back from the UK are Marmite (available here, but expensive), decent tea bags and Heinz toast toppers.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Do they show all premier league footy matches out there?
Soo I think I'll just pack clothes really then.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Hell, yeah. Plus steak and kidney pies, chicken pies, steak and kidney pudding, sausage rolls, Greg's cheese pasties.

I don't understand why you can't get steak or chicken pies (with good pastry), chicken/lamb/turkey sausage rolls, or corned beef here? Nowt haram about them, surely?

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Feb is still winter in Riyadh, so bring warm clothes as the winter here is harsh as due to the lack of humidity the cold is dry and penetrates your bones.

You should be fine with X box games which are on DVDs'. However I would not recommend to bring movies on DVDs'. Customs may decide to confiscate them if they deem it unsuitable for local rules on censorship.

Internet is here is cheap and superfast for downloading or watching or downloading movies.

Are you planning to stay in a compound or going to rent an apartment? Life inside the compound can be good and combats boredom which is a common thing in Riyadh, especially if you are alone.

Food wise unless you are a fan of Weetabix, in which case I would recommend you bring a few cartons with you. A pack of 24 can cost 25 Riyadh which is equivalent to £4.

I am a resident in Riyadh and if you need any help or guidance, please feel free to get in touch. I do help out newbie Brits in Riyadh in my free time in the weekends.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

I'll be staying in a compound & I will be alone, atm just sorting out all the forms and medical forms to send to the agency dealing with me. I'd never have thought it would be cold there.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Riyadh sits on a plateau and about 700m above sea level so summers are scorching and dry and winters are cold and dry.

Wish you the best in getting things sorted, if you are on a good compound you can meet many people and you should be fine.

Re: moving to riyadh
 

Its not British cold though...it was 21.5c yesterday...still t-shirt weather and a welcome relief from the furnace of summer. No humidity here so a lot more comfortable than Dubai in summer. The first time I arrived was March and I think it was around 30c here in Riyadh.