saudi2009

hi everyone,

i am 1 month in riyaadh now and i realized how difficult to find a place in a compound!! i didnt know that before signing the contract and the employer unfortunately doesn't help.
does anyone know of any availiability at a compound?
my salary is good(around 27000 pounds / month) so i am willing to pay as much.

thank you all!!!!

Blue Cat

your getting paid 27,000 quid a month

Nic1

If you are being paid that much you pretty much live where ever you want . . . Is that pounds sterling ?

If you have loads of dosh go to all the compounds with cash in hand or a big fat cheque and offer it - they will bite your arm off and give you whatever is available. It's being in the office at the right time basically. Have got a list of compound numbers in the office which I'll post tomorrow.

N

saudi2009

thanks but i dont thimk it will work.
I called every singe compound i could found of (35-40) and they all told me there is nothing available.

its 30,0000 euros which is around 27K pounds sterling.
i am currently staying at four seasons hotel, in which i am paying around GBP 6500/month, is a nice hotel but the life outside a compound is awful.

Hello.Kitty

for that much money, hun, I'd put up with the trials of staying in luxury accommodation!

Can I do your job please?

still.unsure

it's a sensitive question but i think it counts in saudi... what citizenship are you saying you are? also, don't just rely on the phone call, actually go to the places and see them and get in their face, pull out a roll of SAR500 notes 'accidentally' ( ) and i'm sure they'll accomodate you in some short manner. (sounds bad, but, it's the magic kingdom)

also, if you're getting bored, try out www.britishcommunityservices.com as a reference site for events and clubs, et al. (or just post on here for ppl to have a coffee with)

Nic1

Have to agree with still.unsure - you have to go in person - truly it works. Friend sof ours (Egyptian) walked onto Kingdom Compound and got a villa straight away - altho there is, alledgedly, a waiting list. Right place, right time, armed with dosh.

It works, but means you have to get out there. It won't come knocking on your door.

N

saudi2009

so suggestion is to go to a compound and give umder the table money to lets say the accommodation manager and i ll get a villa?
thanks.

still.unsure

i think what both Nic1 and i are saying (please jump in here Nic1 and correct me ) is that what is said over the phone is usually the 'easy way out' and not the answer you'll get if you're there in person.

my suggestion is draw up a list of 5 compounds, call them up and make an appointment to come and see the place (within a day or so of you calling them). go out, see the compound, facilities, meet the manager, etc. and then start talking when the next is available etc. if you call them up and straight off the bat say, "have you got this available now", they're more likely to give you the brush off on the phone.

the magic kingdom business relations are more personable and done in-person than 'the west' so you need to show that you're willing to 'look them in the eye' when you want something like this.

(now i'll step back and let the more experienced enter the fray! )

Nic1

Totally agree with still unsure - not suggesting you pay baksheesh - just turn up ask what they have available, and say you can pay on the spot. It works.

N

saudi2009

ok thank you guys, i will do that.
however i already went to fal and the manager told me to no availability only thing i could was the waiting list.

still.unsure

there's no guarantee that turning up at the door means there's a vacancy, you just stand a helluva better shot than just phone calling. i'm quite confident you'll still get some people offering you waiting lists, you'll be amazed at how short even those become if you turn up and start talking money. but, you gotta be in it to win it, and here, to be in it, you've gotta show up in person

saudi2009

but you think also should i try and give money to the manager or not?
thank you.

still.unsure

no, personally i wouldn't recommend offering anything and haven't heard of anyone needing to. i'm not sure whether it would help, to be honest. if there aren't any empty places, there simply aren't

saudi2009

i just managed to book apponitments with eid, al yamama, and arabian homes but they all emphasized , without asking them, that there is no availability.

that means i shouldnt even go?
thanks.