General_Piffle

Hi, I'm a 41 year old Londoner going for an interview in Jeddah next week. If I like them and they like me and the job comes through then I'd love to find out from some experienced people like yourselves what life is like over there. So please bear with me and if you can offer me any advice on the following questions it would be greatly appreciated!

I'm single and realise that in a strict Muslim country dating is tricky but is it possible? I mean if I met a woman I liked and she liked me would it be possible for us to go out together in public at all? If I were to meet someone is it a given that she'd be an expat, an Arabic woman would never go out with a westerner, right?

I love cycling in London and wonder if it would be possible to cycle to work or do you simply not see cyclists on the roads in Jeddah?

What's life like living in a compound?

Is internet access restricted at all, for example youtube, skype, yahoo IM, or simply downloading movies or music?

Is there anything I should look out for in terms of absolute 'DO NOT DO THIS' as I don't want to offend anyone but am still uncertain of the culture despite having read about it?

Any other advice anyone from Jeddah or who has spent time living there can offer would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for all the questions but I'm keen to learn as much as I can and this seemed like the perfect place to ask. Thanks in advance.

Bob

Welcome to BE!

You'll find a few of your questions answered if you read past threads...internet is restricted some what, but there are ways around it.....cycling generally isn't done for safety, those drivers

General_Piffle

Hi Bob, thanks for the welcome and advice re. cycling but even though it's not advised is it possible? Cycling in London is pretty hairy at times

I have done a search here and also online but haven't been able to find that many answers to the questions I've posted above. Hope someone can help. Cheers.

nottmbantam

Hi and welcome to the Board.

We're in Riyadh now, but spent two years living in Jeddah. Compared to Riyadh, I much prefer Jeddah, but if it's your first taste of Saudi, you will find it somewhat restrictive, so be prepared for that.

Jeddah is an old historic City,it has some really nice expensive residential areas and some really poor run down areas, much like any other large port across the world. As you know, it's located on the west coast on the Red Sea and is generally the main gate for visitors to Mecca, as the Holy City is just down the road. It has a large number of foreign workers, from mainly Indian sb continent and lots of ex-pilgrims who have dcided to stay rather than to go back home! I like it, as it has nice feel about it, and felt at home from day one. THe humidity in the summer is tough going, but the winter months are fantastic.

Dating? If you are on a compound, it's ok. There are enough single women around, you just have to find them! pLenty from all over the world , generally working in either education or in health care. Out in public, it's a different matter, you do need to exercise precaution, but the religious police are not as visible as they are in Riyadh, so the chances of being caught are less, but there is still a chance, so be careful.

Compound life is pretty much very western. In fact, once you are behind the walls of the compound, it's pretty safe, and it's a decent enough way to meet other expats. A lot of them will have various functions and events, so socialising can be quite good - depends on how outgoing you are really. As you point out, it will be difficult to get to meet single Arab women, if not impossible, but I do know of Brit expats who have dated and amrried Arab women, so it's not unheard of.

Internet access? I didn't really find any restrictions, used Skype, MSN, Facebook, You Tube without a problem. Of course, if you try to access porn or gambling sites ot anything even closely related, it will be blocked. There are ways around this, for example, a VPN which then also allows you access to BBC iPlayer.

Cycling out in public as a sport / activity is not really done, so I suggest you confine yourself to the compound for this. If you do want to go out onto the roads, then do it very early on the weekend mornings ( Thurs or Fri ) . People do cycle, but only to get from A to B. There are cycling clubs who meet now and again here in Riyadh, I woudl imagine there is something similar in Jeddah.

THe other thing you will want to consider is the standards of driving. It is totally insane. I'd never even dream of taking a bicycle onto the streets of Saudi, as the driving scares the hell out of me, even when I've been in a big SUV.

Dress is also somewhat a little more relaxed in Jeddah,most folk won't be offended if you're out in public dressed in t shirt and shorts - but make sure they are 'long' shorts at least knee length and no tank tops / vests - t shirts with short sleeves are ok - but if you're heavily tattooed, then perhaps cover these up, as it will give you unwanted attention. As you know, all women when out and about have to cover up by wearing the black abbaya.

Jeddah is well known for it's water based acivity - mainly fishing and scuba diving. People do travel expecially to go diving in the Red Sea, it's apparently one of the best dive spots in the world, so if you ever have an inclination to try it, then you will be ideally placed for this. THere are a range of private beaches just in the north of Jeddah - these are for exapts only, with paid entry, and tend to be walled off, so they are pretty 'western' in that respect. Beaches are generally quite nice, good for snorkelling and of course lying in the sun.

I hope that has answered your queries, feel free to ask if you want anything more specific. GOod Luck.

hoofie2002

Hopefully there will be plenty of single expat women around; there sure as hell was 20 years ago, I met my wife there. As for dating, I seem to recall it was rather...err.."accelerated" shall we say, since it was dodgy to have multiple dates at restaurants etc. I don't know what it's like now but then you could go out together but always ran the risk of getting busted by the Muttawa; to be fair though the police would see a western couple in a big car and ignore you - in the end it's a judgement call as to what kind of risk you are willing to take.

Personally I would stay away from Arab Women especially Saudis - they might be up for it but their family almost certainly wouldn't be which means you run the risk of finding yourself in a hole in the desert [seriously].

Cycling - don't unless you want to find yourself as a organ donor inside a week; the traffic is insanely dangerous [you end up driving defensively all the time] and at least in a big car you've got a chance of surviving.

irich

Ignore all these neersayers.

I ride a mountain bike around the DQ in Riyadh, a Ducati 1000 on the road and used to poodle a CR250 out in the desert.

Edit: on reflection, I wouldn't commute on a bike. You'd have to be mental to do that.





I'm married now, but women were never a problem prior to that in KSA. It's akin to being in a field full of horses. You need a pocket full of sugar lumps. And a carrot. I'll go now.

Blue Cat

horses not camels? what's the sheepskin rug for?

weasel central

thats a yz my friend..sorry i am feeling pedantic today

kittycat1

a normal day on the roads of KSA!



nottmbantam- you almost sold it to me there- apart from the ninja outfit!

irich

I know. I didn't say it was a picture of my bike. It's just a good picture of a ride we used to do out into the Al Dahna dunes..

tryfly

welcome in Jeddah,
If need any help , advices , guide
contact me am here in Jeddah

enjoy ur time

Thanks
Nadi

lionheart

On the issue of women, at Jeddah you are only a few hours from Addis Ababa and not too far from Nairobi so it's easy to have fun for a long weekend. If you can get into the Filipina nursing crowd, you may also be lucky. Otherwise I would steer clear of Saudi women and married women from other Arab countries as their husbands and family can make life difficult for you. The easy option may be to hire a nice housekeeper.