I lived in Eid Villas from 1998-2003 (I was 13 when I left) and I have to say I miss that place every day. As a kid, living on that compound was a dream....

I went to the British School so getting there only took 5 mins which was good.

As an adult, I have no idea how it is living there but my parents loved it.

The prices certainly have increased, when I first moved there we had the 4 bed villa and that was SR120k, I think its around SR250-300 now!

The only problem is, the last time I checked there was a waiting list of over 250 people!

I finally escaped from Al Bustan Village when my company cancelled all our leases and moved everyone to another facility. My first impressions of Al Bustan have not changed much. Impressive sports hall but the design of the village, the disorganized, incompetent, inexperienced management are what actually turned me against the place. It now seems that I am not alone in this as many of the friends I made on the village have also decided to leave. I think there is a woman running the village now; couldn't do any worse than the idiots who have taken charge in the past. I still visit the place to call on friends there and they have done an in-depth study of the village. What I did not know is that there are no maintenance facilities, workshops or offices, no fire station or firetruck and that all residents are being unbelievably screwed regarding charges for satellite television, water and electricity. Al Bustan Village is being advertized as a luxury village. BS, it is far from that! It is an ugly, badly designed ghetto, full of poor construction workmanship, the worst village management I have ever seen in 15 years in KSA and a very bad attitude to service level. The maintenance guys were great but appeared to be working with their hands tied by the management. I am sure the village will be filled up as there is a chronic shortage of expat housing in Riyadh but I reckon there will be a high turnover of residents. I'm happy to stay where I am now.

TAIC compound (The Arab Investment Compound) not far from the DQ is very good. Small, about 80 houses, pools, tennis, and a few diplomats living there too. Well placed for Central Riyadh and the DQ. My favourite in several years in Riyadh. Affordable too.

I know this is late (a long time from when this was posted) but how do you get into the DQ? is it OK for families? or couples (my daughter will only be here on school holidays)

any advice is welcome please!!