Laguna_1

Very interesting insights around Amin as I know my delay (now a month) sits with Hr and whether that’s with the Hr recruiter putting together offer and/or sitting in Amin’s vacated but no longer vacated desk (potentially) outs a whole new dynamic too it.

i feel for you, the first two weeks I was also very anxious and nervous as all I was thinking about was the offer and the paperwork ; I’ve now decided to take a step back and let it be. I know my hiring manager is on the case I just feel they are also constrained themselves both work wise but also dealing internally with Hr whom have a lot of work on and clearly struggling to keep up.

I hope it’s smoother once I’m onboarded when it comes to actually getting down to work but I’m still as keen on the opportunity but the positive is ; I’ve found a new sense of patience which will only help me out there once I move.

The Latest for me was to make some amendments to the job specification as previous role was titled too broadly; so now that has been tightened up I’ve been “told@ you should hear back asap and if not within 14 hours : to escalate to recruiter whom will then escalate to hiring manager and then to Hr.

it’s now been 48 hours and nothing although I’m not as stressed as I was ; I am confident the offer will transpire and will keep that faith. If for whatever reason it doesn’t, it’s not meant to be. Would have been nice to know earlier but ultimately I don’t think this will happens and so stay positive, make sure your hiring manager is still invested in you as you are in them and things will play out.

im not sure on the entire banking situation myself, I’m with HsBc and was thinking of opening up one of those world accounts so I can link them together. Good to know you get paid in Uk account first as hadn’t realised that and tbh it’ll be a chunky amount with the first pay cheque and also relocation part.

are you all doing split tax years with HmRc for the date you move out, do any of you manage to get your tax code changed in advance (so you pay less tax for may / June / Jul 22 as an example if I was to moce
in aug or September or just get a rebate at the year end).

I’ve currently busied myself with a weight loss quest to try and get rid of a little excess.


for those already out there, does anyone actually regret making the move and if so why?
what was as you expected but also what wasn’t as you expected (that could be good and bad)?
Anyone faced any major internal politics with working styles, timekeeping and general fitting in out there?

Adymaster85

SAUDI WORK VISA - complication
Hi All

Has anyone experienced any issue with getting Saudi work visa. I just got to know from my agent in London that Saudi Embassy have not approved my visa because my Job title is higher than my qualification (out of all those things this is what I get to know). Embassy is now asking to get a Letter from NEOM that they are happy to hire me based on my experience, skills and Accountancy qualification. This has created so much stressed when you already have gone pass through all other stages. Would really appreciate if anyone here can share any insight if you have heard anything like this before or know of someone who has to deal with this kind of an issue?

any insight would really help.
Many Thanks
Ady

OrangePeeler

Hello all, I've read both of these threads and they are full of useful information. I have just done the final interview, and received the application email through the recruiter from Neom HR. Documents uploaded and sent back. I can see from other posts things could take a while now. I'm fortunate as I don't need to resign from my position, and it can take as long as it takes. My questions are just about the practical side of things out there, as I've never lived in the Middle East. I have worked all over the rest of the world, and I'm used to living out of a backpack for months on end.

1. I expect to be in NC2, probably for a long time as I'll be coming out without family. Is there a pool/gym there?
2. Is there any socialising in evenings?
3. What's the mix of singles/familes?
4. For anyone out there unaccompanied how are you managing it? My recruiter is saying people do eight weeks out and two back?
5. Where do people fly from/to in the UK? Do people go to Dubai/UEA for weekends? How easy is that?
6. How easy is it to get to Aquaba?

Basically, I've had the hard sell about "Neom Bay airport hopes to do flights to London". I'm just trying to get my heard around the reality to manage expectations.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer.

amshauka

This is a very rare case to happen. What I know is that this can happen where for instance you have a diploma and the position you are being hired for usually requires a higher education such as a masters. Or in case your degree is completely different to the position that you are being hired for (for instance you may have a degree in IS but being hired for an accounting role - I believe that's not the case with you) As I read from your comment that you have an accountancy qualification. Unfortunately, qualifications like the ACCA or ACA etc are treated as a diploma whereas they are in fact a masters equivalent. Interestingly a bachelors degree in accountancy would be regarded as a higher level than the ACCA or ACA. I have been through these degree related issues in the past. You can PM me if you want to get more info on this and perhaps share more info on the profession they are giving you for visa processing and what is your educational background.

Adymaster85

this is really bizarre, As you said ACCA is equivalent to 3 years UK masters and these people do not recognise it. I am currently doing masters but unfortunately there are still 5 months togo for my degree to finish. So i now have one choice only to get the letter from NEOm in which they can mention that my experience and current qualification is sufficient for me to do my job. Who was your agent in UK? And did you then had to attest your BSC from Oxford brookes from SACB? I hv heard they don't even recognise any distant learning degrees. How strange is this especially for the world we live in atm.

peterpipper12

Can we please refrain from having the same conversation in 2 separate threads.

longtermwarrior

Hi,

I was approached by an external recruiter last week for a Senior Analyst role and he asked me about my salary expectations and current package (I am in the UAE). I answered straight to the point saying I would not move for less than X (+50% of my current salary) and she told me the maximum they will offer is 25% over my current pay and that there are no exceptions... Now is this really as stringent as the recruiter said? I have never faced such a stupid way of determining offers, do you think there are exceptions? I am definitely not moving for +25 or +30% to the bloody Lawrence of Arabia land.

Anyone that went thru the experience and managed to escape this cap?

Trailing_Hubby

Sounds fairly simple then, just don't move?

longtermwarrior

that’s not what I asked, but yeah if I can’t manage to go over the cap it’s a no brainer

Trailing_Hubby

There’s a whole thread of people saying they aren’t offering a percentage increase that you would consider acceptable. Unlikely anyone is suddenly going to come along saying they were offered 50% more on their UAE salary, but worth asking again I guess.

Paracletus

Apply for a different remote location in Saudi, get a proper offer, move to Neom when the time is right for 30% increase. Retirement, solved.

Laguna_1

Yep pretty much what others have confirmed my friend. 25% appears to be there position and I hear up to 30% upon certain circumstances.

Not a huge increase but the overall package alongside tax free plus free housing etc makes the ability to save ridiculous vs as an example - me and our family staying in the Uk.

i am still awaiting what my package details will be but when I know more I’ll let this group know what the % increase was.

it’s harder getting over to the Middle East from the Uk - my feeling being most have clocked on to the higher salaries and benefits of expat life so excess supply means less demand and less salaries for new recruits.

i do think neom is a Great jump into other emirates if one desired but also I believe the year on year increases can be reasonable (particularly if you come into the role at lower than the minimum salary for the grade recruited for).

has anyone had any insights into the types of increases they have had recently whist being within neom. Appreciate this is challenging given most have been around long enough.

what type of hours are u all working there, do you manage any decent tome
work family though the week.

anyone regret moving over?

thanks

chookie1

Hi , my first post on here but been reading this thread for weeks , thought I would let you know about my Neom Journey so far.
I work in Qatar and was contacted by a recruiter from Dubai early December 2021 about a potential position , I then had two interviews back to back and heard nothing for five weeks , usual for middle east .
I was offered the position early January 22 and the process began. The background check , Hireright , make sure and give them more information than they need as they don't go looking for it , took them about two / three weeks to complete , I then got call from onboarder at Neom to hand in my notice as I was on 30 days .
I was put in touch with a visa company in London and started the education paperwork attestation, that took weeks , by then I had used my annual leave in my notice period and headed back to Scotland , once the paperwork was attested I had to fly from Glasgow to London for a medical , the visa company arranged the medical for me . I also had to get a police certificate online and send the original to the visa company .
So I should get my visa issued late this week or next , then off to Neom , the accommodation people have been in touch and I know where I am staying , and the Neom onboarder has been very good her name is <snip> . Hopefully I will be in Neom in next couple of weeks .
If I can help anyone with any questions about my experience with the visa process , shout out , cheers

OrangePeeler

Hi, I'm a little bit behind you with the same onboarder although we haven't spoken yet.

I want to start the degree attestation now. Still waiting for the background checks to complete but they haven't asked for any info for a few days. Any tips?

chookie1

Hi
you can’t really start the attestation until the background checks are done , keep checking the hireright portal in case they are looking for information and give them as much as you can as they will not go looking for info
have you been able n touch with A1 visa service yet