A long term posting to Riyadh looks likely. I hate the sanitized, could-be-anywhere hotels. Any ideas for small, historic lodging in the old city, close to the tourist souq, Masmak Fortress?

Corp Executive Deira?
Short term apartments?

Is it easy to engage a good taxi driver to call on for the duration?

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

sorry.

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old historic lodging == shit in this part of the world.

What Millhouse said.
Get a flat on a decent compound. Otherwise forget fun and games.
Ah wait...your company is not offering that?
Then forget it.
You'll be stuck in a serviced flat somewhere. Work, eat sleep..repeat.

Seriously, don't you people do research on the places you go to???
KSA can be good if you are on a Western compound. Otherwise, not so much.

Historic in Saudi also means 'Built in the late seventies' too.

Your budget will define where you end up.
2 bedroom flat off-compound 20-30k
3 bedroom villa off-compound 60k ish
1 bedroom flat on-compound 70-90+
Keep going up and up for more rooms and space.

Off-compound is okay if you have the option to go on compounds at weekends for parties etc. Compounds are a good way to meet people initially. Get a place near to where your work is. Where you suggest near by Musmak there is a lot of traffic which could be a pain.

Riyadh has no historic buildings as other posters have remarked. the place was a village until the 1970s. Jeddah has a few older buildings but "old" there means 150 years old.

Saudis like "modern" - preferably flashy, vulgar and in the style of Walt Disney.

OK, all points taken. The team on the short term project stays at the Four Points Sheraton, so I guess that's where I will end up.

Well that's a good location and close to where you wanted to be anyway.

Yup you will be watched there. How about Arabian Homes Compund.

Are there hotels in this compound?

I see that the compounds are basically apartments, homes etc so not appropriate for a short-term (2-3 mo) engagement.

Can you please elaborate on you will be watched there, please? What am I getting into?

Almost all the better compounds have apartments/serviced studios for short term stay.
I know for sure Eid compound does and Kingdom does. Availability is, of course, another matter.

Sorry .. Do not panic. All is OK. The Sheraton is a popular Ex pat location and so all phones are monitored and you are watched as a security issue. Standard practice. The apartments in the componds are also for short term let. Get some of your friends to check them out.

You will be fine.