Mummyv

Without going into too much detail.. Job offer in Riyadh with villa in compound, car, utilities, medical, and schooling for two children, two flights a year home for family, £45k per annum. Hubby starting out there in early October, I will join him once iquama sorted.... 4 months ish on.
Questions:
1. Is this enough to live on over there and still have a good holiday a year?

2. Anything else we should be asking for?

3. Apart from organising our house for rental market, what else could I do in preparation?

4. What should I start stocking up on to ship out there? Marmite?

As you may be able to tell its a bit overwhelming at the mo!
Any advice greatly accepted.

Fugative

Hi
Im in Jeddah but if ya gonna get 45k after housing and schooling + rest think you will be well ok.

Get prepared for the wait away from your hubby, the 1st 3 months are hardest, Riyahd is a little harder than rest of Saudi, but im sure if you take the adventure youll like it!

Good Luck!

gottheTshirt

I don't do marmite so cannot comment on that, but everything else is available here- i can only think of books - you can expect to have a lot of time for reading. I have colleague who has been here in Riyadh with his wife for 27 years- refuses to go anywhere else in the ME because in all other ME countries you have to spend money.

My wife arrives today - it has taken me 8 months to get her out here and she will no doubt give me a long list of things that I should have told her to bring. I will let you know

Mummyv

That's brilliant, thanks!

lionheart

GBP45K per annum is about SAR21,500 per month at current rates. Are you sure that's right?

Mummyv

Just rechecking.................

gottheTshirt

Marmite is in the supermarket at SR 21.5 a jar.

Welivehere

LH - That's not too shabby if all of this is also also paid paid by employer, which is what the OP would imply....

I think most people will do ok with 21k SAR a month for what will pretty much just amount to just food shopping and entertainment....

gottheTshirt

It is enough to live on and to have a couple of good holidays a year.

Mummyv

Ok, the above as correct 260K SAR per annum.... Now it that really enough to live life and have holidays? Oh and for moi non working?

norsk

If you don't have to pay for car, house and schooling (if you have kids) then yes it should be. Think about it for a second. That works out as about £4K a month to spend on..well, nothing in Riyadh!

Would I personally do it? No. Not just because of the money but because Riyadh is one of the few places in the world I will not consider living. Of course if you paid me £20K a month I may choose to ignore my principles for a year or two...

Mummyv

I ask with an openmind, why wouldnt you go to Riyadh? Not that you'll put me off, I'm up for an adventure!

norsk

Two reasons mainly;

1. 400km to freedom
2. Much stricter than Khobar

I work in Saudi and live in Bahrain which makes life easier in many ways. You'll see what I mean the first time you go on a weekend trip to Bahrain.

My intention wasn't to put you off by the way. By all means I know plenty of people who love Saudi (and Riyadh), but I'm just not that keen. I wish you good luck, and like you say keep an open mind...