Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Jan 11th 2012, 9:10 pm
#1
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Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
I will be flying to Riyadh from the UK in a fortnight to take up a position with Saudi Aramco.
Could somebody explain to me about what happens upon arrival at airport & taken to my company accommodation,induction, etc as I am a new Expat!
Could somebody explain to me about what happens upon arrival at airport & taken to my company accommodation,induction, etc as I am a new Expat!
Last edited by Doka Dan; Jan 11th 2012 at 9:16 pm.
Jan 12th 2012, 1:54 am
#2
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
IMHO, although I have never had the pleasure of entering into KSA, I would suppose that your employer will have a respresentative, with your name on a large card, whom you need to locate, he then will take you to your accommodation. I think it is better to talk to your employer about this.
Jan 12th 2012, 4:24 am
#3
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Make sure you pack loads of Bacon, Beer and have a few Jazz Mags in your case
Jan 12th 2012, 4:57 am
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Saudi Aramco are probably well organised and will get you through smoothly.
You need to fill in an arrival form - get it and fill it in on the plane or find one in arrivals.
On arrival you will fist go to immigration, where you may be faced with a disorganised queue of many thousands, (some of which will have been there for hours). It depends whether yo are lucky enough to arrive just after a PIA or air india 747 has disgorged several hundred labourers. Regardless of the signs or instructions select the shortest queue that has mainly westerners in it. (they will be on the right hand side) Racialism is a why of life in Saudi, the queues with mainly asians will take hours to move. When you get to the desk you will have your photograph and finger prints taken. That takes time and will infuriate those waiting behind you. Collect your bags, put your bags through the x-ray machine. If you have the items suggested by Spartan you will be taken to chop chop square where they will cut off your head and that is end of the procedure.
Depart the airport where there will be a disorganised rabble and touts trying to offer you a taxi. Find the guy with your name on a card.
If no one is there walk through the touts/rabble confidently. There are ATM machines outside the terminal. Get some money and take a taxi to a hotel. Ask the taxi driver the charge: he will say 200 SR offer 80 and if he doesn't accept get another one.
Jan 12th 2012, 6:48 am
#6
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Fair Play but anyone going to the Magic Kingdom without the slightest info is playing with fire. Just the Bacon and Jazz Mags beer doesn't travel well.
Get to the front of the plane when you check in and when the doors open knock everyone out of the way and run like mad to Immigration. It sounds excesive but could save you an hour in a Q.
As mentioned ignore the touts and make sure you get an Indian or a Pakistani Taxi if you have to get one.
Get to the front of the plane when you check in and when the doors open knock everyone out of the way and run like mad to Immigration. It sounds excesive but could save you an hour in a Q.
As mentioned ignore the touts and make sure you get an Indian or a Pakistani Taxi if you have to get one.
Jan 12th 2012, 6:56 am
#7
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
You will probably be expected to attend at least one public be-heading in your first week. It's a sort of initiation ceremony that many new western expats have to endure. Good luck.
Jan 12th 2012, 6:56 am
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
There is a funny story here in Thailand about a Thai worker, who in the eighties kicked a Saudi National (whom he did not know) down the air-stairs of the saudia 747....He was arrested of course by the Thai Police who asked him the reason for this untoward behaviour, to which he replied: 'I don't know this man, but I have always wanted to kick a Saudi...'And so they fined him 500 baht and let him go.
Jan 12th 2012, 7:45 am
#9
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Cheers gottheTshirt.....Can anybody describe how the compounds are set up with facilities,etc?
Spartan this guy is as green as grass. Do not pack any of these or any religious material.
Saudi Aramco are probably well organised and will get you through smoothly.
You need to fill in an arrival form - get it and fill it in on the plane or find one in arrivals.
On arrival you will fist go to immigration, where you may be faced with a disorganised queue of many thousands, (some of which will have been there for hours). It depends whether yo are lucky enough to arrive just after a PIA or air india 747 has disgorged several hundred labourers. Regardless of the signs or instructions select the shortest queue that has mainly westerners in it. (they will be on the right hand side) Racialism is a why of life in Saudi, the queues with mainly asians will take hours to move. When you get to the desk you will have your photograph and finger prints taken. That takes time and will infuriate those waiting behind you. Collect your bags, put your bags through the x-ray machine. If you have the items suggested by Spartan you will be taken to chop chop square where they will cut off your head and that is end of the procedure.
Depart the airport where there will be a disorganised rabble and touts trying to offer you a taxi. Find the guy with your name on a card.
If no one is there walk through the touts/rabble confidently. There are ATM machines outside the terminal. Get some money and take a taxi to a hotel. Ask the taxi driver the charge: he will say 200 SR offer 80 and if he doesn't accept get another one.
Saudi Aramco are probably well organised and will get you through smoothly.
You need to fill in an arrival form - get it and fill it in on the plane or find one in arrivals.
On arrival you will fist go to immigration, where you may be faced with a disorganised queue of many thousands, (some of which will have been there for hours). It depends whether yo are lucky enough to arrive just after a PIA or air india 747 has disgorged several hundred labourers. Regardless of the signs or instructions select the shortest queue that has mainly westerners in it. (they will be on the right hand side) Racialism is a why of life in Saudi, the queues with mainly asians will take hours to move. When you get to the desk you will have your photograph and finger prints taken. That takes time and will infuriate those waiting behind you. Collect your bags, put your bags through the x-ray machine. If you have the items suggested by Spartan you will be taken to chop chop square where they will cut off your head and that is end of the procedure.
Depart the airport where there will be a disorganised rabble and touts trying to offer you a taxi. Find the guy with your name on a card.
If no one is there walk through the touts/rabble confidently. There are ATM machines outside the terminal. Get some money and take a taxi to a hotel. Ask the taxi driver the charge: he will say 200 SR offer 80 and if he doesn't accept get another one.
Jan 12th 2012, 9:33 am
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Jan 12th 2012, 10:00 am
#13
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Think the kicking down the stairs is an urbanm myth, heard it many times about Locals from the Gulf and arrival at heathrow.
Jan 12th 2012, 10:23 am
#14
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
Cheers for tour advice spartans53....I was quite a well traveled man during the early 90's across Asia including Sri lanka during the Tamil Tiger wars ,working in Hong Kong & travels in South America.
Jan 12th 2012, 11:42 am
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Re: Working In Saudi Arabia For First Time
