Riyadh
 

Hi all

I have been finally offered a job in Riyadh. The company has asked me what I am looking for in terms of salary rather than telling me how much will they pay. I live in Uk, family of four, two young kids ( joint income around £100K, before tax). I wish to live in a decent compound which has a swimming pool etc. Would like to send the kids to the Brit School. Any idea to achieve all this plus holidays and considering some saving too how much should I ask per annum. Any help with be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Nathan

Re: Riyadh
 

Not sure what it is like now but I was there a number of years ago when I was roughly in the same position as you (2 kids, 100K income).

I got
- 120K tax free
- Housing limit of 180SAR
- Schooling covered for kids or 90% of it anyhow....

The British school is in Al-Hamra so you should be able to check the price of that easy enough. Not sure what accomodation costs now but we have a 4-bed in Arizona compound and the compound had a golf course, community pools, bowling alley, bar, and some shops/other stuff.

You will spend a lot on holidays or Bahrain/Dubai trips. but can save a lot too.

Re: Riyadh
 

Thank you for all that information. When you say a few years ago do you mind telling me how many years ago it was. The reason I am asking is because I have heard over the years the accommodation prices have rocketed and so has the cost of holidays in Dubai.

Re: Riyadh
 

I was there 10-12 years ago.. but I think the same holds true.


- Ask for 20% over your current income... Then you get the tax uptick + the extra cash.


- Accomodation is higher not sure how much but you can google that. When I was there Al-Hamra, Arizona, Eid were the top compounds.. I think Arizona is now in the 300K SAR range.
- Dubai weekends are expensive mainly because your drink loads -- a beer in Dubai is probably 40AED (I now live in Abu Dhabi), hotels will be 500-700 AED a night; flights are 1000-1500AED.. AED and SAR is the same.
- Having free flights home is a nice perk but not sure how common now.

You wont spend much in Riyadh as parties are at people's houses/compounds, if you go to a restaurant it will be in a compound which are cheap, and your bring your own home-brew

Re: Riyadh
 

Now that's a bit of maths for me. Can add 20% on top but I think it will be a bit more as I have a very generous pension which will be missing there. I researched a bit and you are right, housing can be between 250-300K. Just been to Dubai and realised Beer is expensive there. But been reading lots of negative comments about life for kids there. Apparently there are no good schools, even the Brit School isn't as good as some state schools in UK.

Re: Riyadh
 

Al Hamra starts at SAR 175k for 1 bed apartment. 2 bed is SAR 215k and 3/4 bed exec apartment is SAR 300k. 2 bed villa SAR 275k, 3 bed SAR 340k and then higher for VIP.

Re: Riyadh
 

not really - they really are very comparable.

Re: Riyadh
 

Thank you everyone. So basically I need to ask for:

1. At least £120K
2. Kids Education allowance
3. As much rent allowances as I can
4. Flights if possible

Anything I have missed? Medical Insurance?

Re: Riyadh
 

What line of work are you in Nathan?

Re: Riyadh
 

a lobotomy for thinking about living in KSA?

Re: Riyadh
 

On that deal you'll be fine. Compound prices have actually been dropping recently due to exodus of expats, so good deals are to be had at compounds.

Like someone else said, going out in Riyadh is actually very cheap, because the best life (alcohol surrounded) is on compounds so costs are minimal. Think more homebrew and BBQ rather than fine dining.

Depends what you're into really. I lived in Riyadh for three years. I would move there tomorrow if I could. Everyone says that Jeddah is the place to be, but at the end of the day for expats, it really doesn't make much difference. Riyadh has great nightlife, and a good social life to be found. Good weather too, with very cold winters, and zero humidity.

Re: Riyadh
 

Some people would say the same about Dubai. Each to their own.....:eek:

Re: Riyadh
 

Indeed. I had mine done years ago at the same time as the Lasik

Re: Riyadh
 

Why an exodus? They are spending a lot on infrastructural projects and have a booming banking industry. Anything I have missed then?

Re: Riyadh
 

Maybe an exodus is a bit strong, BUT there are definitely a lot of western expats leaving, and the ones who remain may not be on the same deals as before.

Yes, there are a lot of infrastructure projects going on, but there has been a tendency to get Chinese and Koreans in on the cheap and so on.

The new dependent's fee won't impact expats on high salaries so much, but for your Egyptians, Lebanese, Sudanese on lower salaries with big families as muslims tend to do, there is definite effect that will only get more noticeable.

Expect rents to be falling across the board over the next year or two, on compound and off.

A lot of changes going on in KSA right now. It's going to be a very interesting couple of years seeing how it all pans out.

Re: Riyadh
 

Worth a read:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-4255906/Good-times-expats-Saudi.html

Re: Riyadh
 

Factor in pension provision. Most jobs in the region seem to ignore that area of remuneration. And look at paying your Ni on a voluntary basis when you go (if you go)

Re: Riyadh
 

Also factor in some risks and hidden costs, that you would be exposed to:

Exchange rate
SAR de-peg from USD
Regional instability
Job insecurity
UK residency status (until you pass the Automatic Overseas Test, April 2019)
Family health issue
Mobilisation and Demobilisation
Non-earning periods between jobs
One, or both of you, or the kids not liking the expat life in KSA

If I were in your circumstances, I'd be looking for a package of at least SAR 60k per month with school fees covered by the employer. I'd also mobilise myself first to settle at work, sort out accommodation and aim to bring the kids out at the start of the next school year.

Re: Riyadh
 

Though I am still waiting for an offer, it looks like the total package should be between £175-200K ( including housing, school etc). Not sure if it's too steep, but it looks like it's not worth it if it's any less than that. Over pricing myself, may be, but then why not.

Re: Riyadh
 

If you mean not as good as a state school like King Edwards Birmingham you might have a case. But it is a very good school and certainly far better than the vast majority of state schools in UK

Re: Riyadh
 

Many thanks to all of you for so much information you have provided, frankly speaking this will be my first move abroad so I am quite a novice. I am still waiting for the final figures. Just wondering if you could give me some genuine tips on salary negotiations too :-)

Re: Riyadh
 

I live in Riyadh with my husband and a 1 year old. He has all in salary of 45k a month plus I earn around 14k a month. We do get help towards housing allowance (included in the 45k) plus medical insurance, company car, flight allowance for all 3 of us and all visas taken care of (including multiple entry exits.) we don’t pay for schooling right now. We rent a 3 bed villa in a very well known compound for 200k a year. His salary here is 3 times what he would earn after tax in the UK. We save a ton of money and we have a very good social life. We drink most weekends (not just home brew) and do a lot of things on our compound with neighbours. It can be a very cheap life here and saving money is very easy. Even if you get an all in salary it might work out better than getting an allowance. Just make sure you get help finding a decent compound. There aren’t the huge waiting lists for bigger houses that there used to be as there were a lot (at least from our compound) who left to go home. We were thinking of leaving next summer but there has been an explosion of work in my husband's industry so we will try and stay another year or so. Great life out here if you get used to all the small quirks.

Re: Riyadh
 

Thanks Ek, so basically at least 60K as previously mentioned by Johnnyboy would do me good.

Re: Riyadh
 

Johnnyboy
60k including all the allowances or without them? regards

Re: Riyadh
 

Have you not yet decided then?

Re: Riyadh
 

Dependable on how you see it. The project keeps getting delayed.