Social life in Riyadh
May 13th 2014, 2:43 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2
Social life in Riyadh
Is that an oxymoron?
I am weighing up a move to Riyadh, which would be just me as there is no way I would take my wife and children out there. I understand that it is much cheaper to live off compound and since my sole purpose in coming is to rack up savings and put my children through university, I would incline to doing that.
Without the instant social life of being in a compound, however, how do people meet other people there? Might sound a daft thing to ask but I'll be new to all this and am not particularly good at the social whirl.
Finally a specific one: Are there any cricket clubs out there?
Any tips much appreciated.
I am weighing up a move to Riyadh, which would be just me as there is no way I would take my wife and children out there. I understand that it is much cheaper to live off compound and since my sole purpose in coming is to rack up savings and put my children through university, I would incline to doing that.
Without the instant social life of being in a compound, however, how do people meet other people there? Might sound a daft thing to ask but I'll be new to all this and am not particularly good at the social whirl.
Finally a specific one: Are there any cricket clubs out there?
Any tips much appreciated.
May 15th 2014, 6:35 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 182
Re: Social life in Riyadh
You will meet people through work and then friends of friends. Make friends with people in a compound and get invites 
I have seen lots of cricket matches going on at the weekends among the Indian / Paki communities but im sure there are clubs for the westerners too.
I have seen lots of cricket matches going on at the weekends among the Indian / Paki communities but im sure there are clubs for the westerners too.
May 16th 2014, 4:17 am
#3
Confirmed grumpy old man
Joined: May 2005
Location: Moved back to Riyadh KSA 2016
Posts: 1,298
Re: Social life in Riyadh
Is that an oxymoron?
I am weighing up a move to Riyadh, which would be just me as there is no way I would take my wife and children out there. I understand that it is much cheaper to live off compound and since my sole purpose in coming is to rack up savings and put my children through university, I would incline to doing that.
Without the instant social life of being in a compound, however, how do people meet other people there? Might sound a daft thing to ask but I'll be new to all this and am not particularly good at the social whirl.
Finally a specific one: Are there any cricket clubs out there?
Any tips much appreciated.
I am weighing up a move to Riyadh, which would be just me as there is no way I would take my wife and children out there. I understand that it is much cheaper to live off compound and since my sole purpose in coming is to rack up savings and put my children through university, I would incline to doing that.
Without the instant social life of being in a compound, however, how do people meet other people there? Might sound a daft thing to ask but I'll be new to all this and am not particularly good at the social whirl.
Finally a specific one: Are there any cricket clubs out there?
Any tips much appreciated.
I wouldn't recommend living outside a compound in Riyadh. Reasons:
1.Security
2.Difficult to mix with people, certainly locals
3.Living on a compound will provide you with a Western lifestyle. Living off compound certainly won't
It would be worth the extra money.
I lived on Al Worood, FAL and Al Hamra compounds
Hope this helps
May 18th 2014, 4:46 am
#4
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: Social life in Riyadh
I lived in Riyadh 2001 - 2004 so my comments may be out of date, however -
I wouldn't recommend living outside a compound in Riyadh. Reasons:
1.Security
2.Difficult to mix with people, certainly locals
3.Living on a compound will provide you with a Western lifestyle. Living off compound certainly won't
It would be worth the extra money.
I lived on Al Worood, FAL and Al Hamra compounds
Hope this helps
I wouldn't recommend living outside a compound in Riyadh. Reasons:
1.Security
2.Difficult to mix with people, certainly locals
3.Living on a compound will provide you with a Western lifestyle. Living off compound certainly won't
It would be worth the extra money.
I lived on Al Worood, FAL and Al Hamra compounds
Hope this helps
1) Riyadh is a pretty safe place on the whole. The worse thing that is likely to happen to you is getting run over or in a car accident.
2) Bit of a misnomer this, Westerners tend to mix with other Westerners as they have similar things in common. Locals aren't unfriendly.
3) Depends what you mean by a Western lifestyle. If you're a woman then being on a compound has obvious benefits. If you're a man then I don't think it makes that much difference.
