Adymaster85

Hello Fellow Expats
Some very good information being shared on this forum, which really helps answer most of the question one would have in mind. I have couple of things which is bothering me and my partner and thats about living at Neom with kids. I have a 3 & a 7 year old daughters and planning to relocate from UK and appreciate if anyone could share how is life there with Kids such as;

Whats is the Neom Community school like?
Are there many families with children staying at Neom and whats your own experience like in settling down with kids?
Is there much to do to keep the kids busy like do they have after school clubs or activities for them?
What do you as a family do during weekends?
what kind of social life you can expect outside of work whilst living in Neom?

Any help or guidance would be a deal breaker here, my wife seems to be just worried way too much .

Kind Regards

Ady

ZeroCool_HTP

First thing is, I think you will be separated for a while at the beginning, i.e. you will come and they will join you later. Unless you are very senior and get a cabin in NC2, which is at the moment, even directors arent getting.

I think you also have to get your iqama first, before your wife and daughters can get theirs, which can take some time. You will be coming on a work visit visa, and obtaining your iqama while here, so most of the leg work is done thankfully. People who came on business visas last year are still waiting on their iqama.

I havent seen the school, I have seen some families in NC1 with kids, and a few families in NC2, but mainly with infant children.

I have heard that the school is not up to standard yet, but I dont know from personal experience. There are reports of people taking their kids out of the school, but again, I dont have any personal experience.

Most people here have left their partners and kids at home, and wouldnt bring them here.

Hopefully someone comes along with first hand experience soon. It is a big decision to come here, I couldnt imagine having to make the decision with the added weight of bringing partner and children.

amshauka

Can anyone who is already working in Neom or recently received a job offer can provide details of how the remuneration package is structured. Is there any allowance besides the basic salary + housing + transport, such as foreign service premium? How many tickets are given for travel back to the home country, annually? Is there any other benefits like a savings plan or anything of that sort?

Trailing_Hubby

Really? Plenty of spouses and kids here. We wouldn't have considered coming if one of us was left behind. There are various options for people with kids, but there are certainly no shortage of families in the camp.

ZeroCool_HTP

Only basing it on my experience. In our department, nobody has brought their kids or partners here, and have said they wouldnt. Obviously there are people who have, and those are the kids that are in the school.

Leela

What do you mean when you say "Unless you are very senior and get a cabin in NC2, which is at the moment, even directors arent getting."? Where are people living if there's no availability in NC1 and NC2? I was told that Neom is relocating people at NC2 untill there are new cabins in NC1 currently in construction.

ZeroCool_HTP

Everyone is in NC2 when they come. When i say Cabin, it is like an apartment. The standard that the majority get is just the NC2 room.

Adymaster85

Hi ZeroCool_HTP appreciate your reply. Its just I am still confused and haven't got much time left to decide. Thinking from family perspective its becoming more difficult to come to the terms.

Adymaster85

do you know any families personally and how old are their kids? If I had an infant or toddler I would be less worried. My daughter is 7 and seconf one is 3 and both are now school going.

Adymaster85

there is a relocation allowance of 75k SAR on top of what you have already mentioned. As far as I am aware there is one ticket annual for you and your dependents. There is a savings plan (I dont know much about that tbh) + there is also a medical cover provided for you and the dependents
hope this helps.

BenMcD

Hi all,
Nice to read all your comments and thank you for sharing, it has been really helpful.
I have a couple of questions which I hope someone here can help me with.

Following a successful interview in February I was made a verbal offer, I went through an Agent so had to do then formally apply via the NEOM website and upload all my documents. I was told that the offer would then go for approval and this can take 5-10 days.
I have been waiting 3 weeks now and have been told that the offer is still pending approval.

Is it normal for it to take this long?
Has anyone had an offer come back NOT approved?

I feel like my life is on pause until this comes through, its quite stressful.

Any comments/help with this regard would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Gulf_European

I've PMd you

amshauka

I am in more or less a similar situation. After successful interviews i was told by the agent that Neom wants to go head with the hiring process. Thereafter I haven't heard back from anyone, neither the agent nor HR or the hiring manager.
I am also unaware of the process where they require you to create an account and upload docs etc. Can you share more insight into this. I am guessing from earlier posts that before anything someone should be calling me to get details of my current package and give me a verbal offer. Is that how it is?

BenMcD

Sounds like I am probably a little ahead of the process then you are.

Following my interview with the hiring manager, I then had another informal interview 2 days later with the HR guy.
The recruiter (agency) then confirmed to me that they will be making me an offer.
The HR guy got in touch again via email with a link to the role I was applying for. The link took me to the neom career website and more specifically to the JD of the role I was applying for. I applied accordingly then I was sent an email from Neom_People_Team requesting me to upload my passport, certificates and medical form which they sent me.
I was then told by the HR guy that the offer is going for approval and this could take 5-10 days. And its been 3 weeks and I am still waiting to hear back.

Laguna_1

Hi all,

Exact same boat here:-

i) been told a few weeks ago that I have been offered the job
ii) waited at least two weeks until the Hr person reached out to me with the portal to set an account and apply for the job officially (as I also went through an agent)
iii) now been waiting a week for the offer to be drawn up and approved internally before I know what it is myself

I share similar concerns as I worry that could the offer be rescinded or withdrawn - I hope not and I have been advised the delays are normal here and not indicative of a likelihood of an offer been withdrawn but I do worry about this.

I also feel my life is on hold and not used to waiting this long to move onto next chapter of career. This doesn’t put me off neom at all but trying to remain patient.

i had my first interview just before Xmas.

gulf - could you pm me too please - I'm interested if you’ve had a similar experience