TGFKASE

Having spent 5 years there (Granted, from 2001 to 2006, probably not the best time to be in KSA!!), I have to say that, if it was the only place I could get a job, I'd go unemployed...

NaimTakieddin

Actually, it all depends on LUCK! simply because some people get better jobs or worplaces or opportunities than others regardless their origins or nationalities!

Meanwhile what really affected my work outcomes in general as an insurance officer in Riyadh is the quality of communication I had been able to set with people here! Unfortunately very few people speack English fluently or at least accurately and precision is key element in my work! What I noticed is that a lot of locals occupy some high rank posts whereas they can`t fulfill the requirements of these posts.

In another venue! I ve noticed prices are lower than other countries! Eventually I reached the conviction that no matter what your expectations would be ! Literally you would have a decent income which is by concencus the prime incentive for any expat to change his life track but Practically things would not be comfortable or stramlined in within the Arabian saharean culture and traditions for people who had lived in the west for long time.

gottheTshirt

Saudi is not an easy place to set up a business - If you are starting from a base of not even knowing whether KSA is tax free the hurdles are really insurmountable. The best you can do is enter into a partnership with an established Saudi company. We have been working, as a specialist European consultancy company, in KSA for 30 years but we have to associate with established Saudi companies in order to get through the red tape.

Bahtatboy

Tosh. My cheese burger at Heroes last night was AED 55 on the menu but I had to pay 64 coz of taxes. On that basis alone (although there are many others) UAE is not tax free.

Saudi has corporation tax of 20%, so isn't tax free.

Egypt has corporation tax, income tax and sales tax, so isn't tax free.

Just 3 examples.

And, for all the above, that's before you get to the hidden taxes (ie those less obvious ways the government get money from corporations and private persons). To say that the ME is tax free, even nominally, is naive.

Bahtatboy

Seconded. And select your partner well--the extent of their influence will have a very direct bearing on your success.

busybee2

[QUOTE=Bahtatboy;8833595]Tosh. My cheese burger at Heroes last night was AED 55 on the menu but I had to pay 64 coz of taxes. On that basis alone (although there are many others) UAE is not tax free.

thats what i mean

Bijilo123

I agree that very few people in Saudi' speack English fluently'.

Hisham Mohamed

I live in Saudi Arabia and it isn't cheap, it's true there's no tax here but life cost is too expensive.
Also the farms and businessmen at the end of every year they have to pay "ZAKAT" or charity which is 2.5% from net profit.
anybody wants to live here in KSA he must know that life isn't cheap anymore.

twisty100

AND ITS AN UTTER SHITHOLE

gottheTshirt

It is the World's leading third world country, followed by libya.

Hisham Mohamed

Have you seen or visited Saudi Arabia before ?

twisty100

Yes, on numerous occasions.

What is your point?

Hisham Mohamed

My point is you judged on this country that it's utter and shithole but in my opinion it's only different culture, I'm not Saudi but Egyptian works here I don't like to continue my life here because living here is so bored and unpleasant even you earn a lot of money more than you used in your own country but i feel like that because I came from different culture and community.
It's right that I never likes my life here but this doesn't meant that this country is "shithole" here you'll find all kinds of technologies and welfare here you can find one Saudi citizen have more than 6 cars they're crazy and the jealous from each other.
but most important bad thing you can feel it and find it real here is racism, If you were western like me eg and fought with one Saudi citizen and we went together to police may they support him even he was wrong

TrapMan

For a person who depends upon the quality of written communication, it might be helpful for you to go on some sort of training course as your written English is not very good to say the least!!!!!

Bijilo123

Why not write your amazingly astute observation in Arabic which is his native language.