UKexpat2021

Efficio are a procurement consultancy. I’ve been approached by them in the past. Decent company in the UK but can’t speak to how they operate in the ME.

nonthaburi

That is not the case. The single exit re-entry is 200, but a multi starts at 500 for three months going up 200 for every extra month after that up to six months. So 6 months would be 1100 SAR. It used to be 500 for a six month multi but that changed some years ago now.

Wollongong

Hiya,
Need to get degree attested in UK. Appreciate if anyone can recommend an good , reliable agent to help me with the attestation.
What will be the reasonable agency fees and the duration for the normal degree whole attestation process ? Is there an express service ?
I am not in UK presently. and wonder if a scan copy of the degree suffice.

Thank you in advance.

eagle9293

Hi Wollongong,

Saudi Embassy will not accept scan copy of the degree. You need to send the original Degree.

Gulf_European

Being new to Saudi, I'm trying to understand if the salary offer is reasonable or not. Are there any ranges for different industries, like engineering, PM, accounting etc. When I Google on this, I get everything from 20-30k SAR to 80-100k SAR for the same industry/role.

For NEOM, I'd expect the salaries being a bit higher than national standard, right?

For example: Is 100k SAR/month possible to earn for a PM, or is that too high?

Alex23

It mostly depends what is reasonable for you.
As per the previous posts, for NEOM they realized that people want exposure to this project, therefore a 25% increase from the previous salary is made and you have to prove this with pay slips etc.. Personally I find it quite low, and it is a bad strategy for them in attracting brains in the project. For example, rhetorically, South and Eastern European salaries for PMs are around 2000Euros/monthly (in average 3000Euros Gross), who would come in the middle of the desert for 3750Euros + free accommodation and food ?

Gulf_European

Completely agree with you on that, there's no way I'd go live in the middle of the desert for that small increase. Yes, the project is awesome and intriguing, but there needs to be a premium paid to make that shift.

In the end it's definitely about what's "reasonable and worth it for you", but in the long term staff retention will be extremely difficult as people coming in on low European salaries starts to realize what their peers are earning who came from ME salaries.

And if the % increase of previous salary is a norm in Saudi (which I understand it is?), you're locking yourself in to a low salary even if you want to move on to another job in the region.

Pkingston

Development manager roles at NEOM (grade 7) are around the 60k SAR per month. Development Director (grade 9) about 100k SAR per month from what I've seen.

Note these are tax free, so the 25% - 30% increase from your home salary will be more than this mearly for the fact you aren't paying any tax on it.

There are additional payments and allowances on top of this basic salary. Bonus, relocation allowance (much more than you're going to actually spend), schooling and flights home. All add up to a pretty good package.

Makiavelli

Pkingston thank you for information.
Somebody knows what all the grades mean (1-11) in salaries?
7 & 9 we have already learned from Pkingston
What are the averages for: Managers, Senior Managers, Directors, Executive Directors ?
Can somebody give a suggestion is better to negotiate salary in NEOM prior they send you the offer or after you get the offer?
At what time is better? On what stage the chances are better & moral kept?

Somebody knew the cases when person increased salary above 40% from his previous job?

Do you know if the NC1/NC2 are linked to the ranking of position or let's say if even senior person joins now he won't get a NC1?

Do you know if there is certain difference in package in comparison of Manager/Senior/Director (for example car/accommodation level/etc.) or just salary ranges different?

Have somebody experience in counter offer? I mean asking and succeeding in increase of initial offer?

Gulf_European

All good questions, I would also like to know if anyone managed to negotiate a higher salary.
I think though that the best chances of getting the offer you want is to try and submit all your compensation before they send the offer. So not only salary, but also any pension contributions, bonuses etc.

I'm also curious if it's possible to move grades in the future.
Pretty sure "career development" is not the top priority for a project like NEOM, where everyone is hired to do their job until the completion of the project. But things happen right? Just like with any other job, people leave and that creates opportunities for current employees to get promoted, I'd assume?

MihaelaNV

Dear all,

Both me and my husband we have been offered jobs at NEOM. We are currently in process for background clearance. We plan to move from Qatar with our 15months old son.
We understand that there are no 2 bedroom units and we will be placed in one bedroom unit.
Is anybody available to give an insight for some queries :
- does anybody know if NC1 still has available 1 bedroom units?
- I understand that nursery is in NC1 only. Is that true?.
-does the nursery has terms or are available during summer time too?
- for kids living in NC2 and going to school/ nursery in NC 1 is there any transportation provided?
- how long is the community travel between NC2 and NC1?
- are the offices within compounds, or just in one of the compounds?
- does anybody has photos or videos of one bedroom unit?
- does anybody know how long it will take a visa for our baby ?( dependants visa)
Thank you so much.
appreciate your answers

Expat_Traveller

Morning Expats,

Hope you are all well. Looking for advise on the below points please...

1. Have uploaded all my documents to the portal and awaiting my offer to be written up, does anyone know how long this usually takes and is there any room for negotiation? I see from reading the thread the offer between 20-30% increases, obviously this ranges and would like to hit the 30% increase as I am sure everyone else would.

2. Does the offer letter include all benefits discussed in the forum (schooling, relocation allowance, flight allowance etc.)

3. How long does the joining process usually take from signing the offer? I have a 2 month notice period with my current employer based in the UAE? Trying to gauge when its best to formally resign.

Cheers

Alex23

Good morning all,

I will be arriving in NEOM in a few days, however the Onboarding specialist keeps telling me that I need to take a flight with 3 layovers - instead flying directly to Aqaba + 200km car.
Is there any trans-border taxi service from Aqaba to NEOM ? I would prefer buying the ticket by myself since I do not find any proactivity and flexibility from their side and not to waste my time on long flights and layovers.

ZeroCool_HTP

By law they have to book your entry and exit tickets for you. I dont know if its possible to just not use the tickets and book your own.

Where are you coming from with 3 layovers?

It takes about 3 hours to cross the Aqaba border, then you will have a 2 hour drive ahead to NEOM. You will have to organise a vehicle to take you across the border and to drive you to NEOM.

I would personally just take the flights they have booked for you, if possible.

ZeroCool_HTP

See answers above