Way O/T: Saudi Arabia - anyone lived and worked there?

[Trufflehound]

A long shot I know, but if so, then please help me out with a piece I'm writing for an expat's magazine.

I'm interested in hearing your experiences with any of the following:

- interactions with the locals - how they treated you.
- dealing with restrictions (on travel, alcohol, whatever else).
- cost of living (compared to the UK).
- things you consider essentials but couldn't get there (apart from alcohol)
- housing (was it easy to find, cheap, etc.?)
- any special tips about the working culture there?
- any other tips for someone thnking about going there?

Either post your thoughts here, or PM me.

Cheers.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

It is very hot.

 

[daveinprague]

I lived there for a couple of years, but that was 1979-80...

First thing I bought when I got there was decent sunglasses...

Every thursday night was a party somewhere in the city (Riyadh/Al Khobar)
The home made hooch is called Siddiqui (my friend)... after a while, you actually like it.
Accommodation is usually supported by the company you work for.

During Ramadan (in the city) had to get up at 2am for breakfast and to pick up packed lunch to eat in your room...
During Ramadan the Saudi arseholes in the villa next door partied all night (Ramadam fast is a daytime thing) and you get little sleep.

After 2 years, paranoia took a hold of me, mainly due to some dodgy business with my company which required me along with many others
to be questioned by the US FBI, and the US Army CID.

Most locals are ok... and most understand that we like drink and woman and do turn a blind eye...but theres always one twat, so you have to be wary.

If Saudis push in front of you or get mouthy with you in airport queue in Damman, or Riyadh, let it slide...do what everybody else does...give the twat a slap when you get to Heathrow.

Most of the time, I enjoyed it there....
As previous poster alluded. Its hot.

 

[Everest]

- any other tips for someone thnking about going there?

Make sure you know how to spell Saudi Arabia

you have not been charged for this tip

 

[Trufflehound]

Make sure you know how to spell Saudi Arabia

you have not been charged for this tip

That is a good point, well made. Unfortunately i was in a hurry and not wearing my reading specs...!

If nothing else, I now know how to edit a thread title - a new skill for my CV.

 

[Lethargic]

Only been twice each for 2 weeks both in Dharan (Aramco) so maybe not what you're after but.
Relationship with the locals was ok at work but out of work didn't really exist.
Alcohol was not available to me but Bahrain was only a short trip across the causeway where most seemed to go for a beer including the Arabs.
I found it really boring especially during Ramadan which is a pain for nonmuslims.
Not my favourite location it struck me as a bit like Europe in the middle ages in terms of a developed civilisation and yes I do appreciate the different way of live and culture but some things just dont sit well in a global context.
And it's hot.

 

[daveinprague]

Met a couple of brewmasters in Armaco as it goes...one bloke was actually making Port, and also cointreau out of the aforementioned local hooch siddiqui.. was unbelievably good. ..My employment came under MODA so had military officer status so was allowed in and out of Aramco..was always a pleasure to have people salute me at the gate haha

 

[smudge]

I lived there for a couple of years, but that was 1979-80...

If Saudis push in front of you or get mouthy with you in airport queue in Damman, or Riyadh, let it slide...do what everybody else does...give the twat a slap when you get to Heathrow.

Made me laugh!

 

[grummitts gloves]

Been to Riyadh 3 times for 3 weeks at a time, training the Public Security Department. Actually quite enjoyed it. Stayed in a Hotel, pick one that has good security such as the Marriott or Intercontinental. There hasn't been any major security issues for Westerners for a few years, but it pays to be careful. Used to visit the Diplomatic Quarter most days, so you got a bit of 'normal' life.

The lads we trained were great and on one occasion we were invited to one of their homes. It was bloody massive out in the sticks with giant ovens outside where they cooked whole sheep. It was all very traditional and something you wouldn't get to experience every day.

Their work ethic is very different to ours due to weather, prayer times etc. thankfully their English is better than my Arabic which amounts to very few phrases. Plenty of good interpreters available.

Riyadh is a bizarre place, very American looking, but still very strict. The religious police still walk around tapping women on the ankles with big sticks if they are not covered or berating people who are in Starbucks and not the mosque at prayer times.

Having said that, the kids are the same as kids anywhere, boy racing, trashing the refreshment kiosks after a footy match I went to, hanging out at Maccy D's etc.

If you had the chance to work there, I would say go for it. Just respect them and they will respect you. Just don't go to chop chop square on execution day!

 

[daveinprague]

They push you to the front for executions...I was in process of buying a watch in one of the shops on the square...waiting for change a mullah came in and started wacking me with a bamboo cane to leave the shop... I was standing my ground as it was about 30 quid change I was waiting for... he brough his mates in, so I lost 30 quid... they tried to push me and my mate to the front, but I wasnt keen to watch. Saw the bloke who was being executed escorted to the square...im guessing they give them some sort of drug as he looked completely out of it...whether it was drugs or fear, ive no idea. ...I was in country when the grand mosque in Mecca was attacked by Qatani and his followers.. when that was over, the executions went on for days... stayed well clear..apparently, the executioner in Qatif lost it, possibly due to the amount of people he had executed and attacked the crowd...

The previous week, whilst on my expensive watch hunt, I saw an advert in a mag for a beautiful watch, and headed to the shop.. As I walked in, a Saudi pushed me in the chest out the door...
..So I pushed him back... next thing I know, Im under arrest, as the bloke I pushed was a police detective, and the shop owner was dead behind the counter following a robbery..marvelous times...they accepted in the end, that I had no idea the bloke was a cop.

One thing we were told when we first arrived was quite important... if youre in a taxi, and the taxi has an accident, and god forbid, kills somebody....guess who is responsible...yep, the passenger, not the driver as its under your employment at the time of the accident...so if youre in an accident, get out and leg it...

Also, it doesnt pay to hang around gawping at accident scenes if you come across them....the Saudi police method of interrogation is round up everybody in the area for questioning.

and finally, car pools...yeah, again...everybody in the car goes to jail if the driver fecks up.

 

[yoda559]

They push you to the front for executions...I was in process of buying a watch in one of the shops on the square...waiting for change a mullah came in and started wacking me with a bamboo cane to leave the shop... I was standing my ground as it was about 30 quid change I was waiting for... he brough his mates in, so I lost 30 quid... they tried to push me and my mate to the front, but I wasnt keen to watch. Saw the bloke who was being executed escorted to the square...im guessing they give them some sort of drug as he looked completely out of it...whether it was drugs or fear, ive no idea. ...I was in country when the grand mosque in Mecca was attacked by Qatani and his followers.. when that was over, the executions went on for days... stayed well clear..apparently, the executioner in Qatif lost it, possibly due to the amount of people he had executed and attacked the crowd...

The previous week, whilst on my expensive watch hunt, I saw an advert in a mag for a beautiful watch, and headed to the shop.. As I walked in, a Saudi pushed me in the chest out the door...
..So I pushed him back... next thing I know, Im under arrest, as the bloke I pushed was a police detective, and the shop owner was dead behind the counter following a robbery..marvelous times...they accepted in the end, that I had no idea the bloke was a cop.

One thing we were told when we first arrived was quite important... if youre in a taxi, and the taxi has an accident, and god forbid, kills somebody....guess who is responsible...yep, the passenger, not the driver as its under your employment at the time of the accident...so if youre in an accident, get out and leg it...

Also, it doesnt pay to hang around gawping at accident scenes if you come across them....the Saudi police method of interrogation is round up everybody in the area for questioning.

and finally, car pools...yeah, again...everybody in the car goes to jail if the driver fecks up.

Another thing to remember with regards to accidenets, is that if anyone in injured, do NOT attempt to give them any medical assistance/first aid for the first 15 minutes, as if it is Allahs will to take them, he will take them in 15 minutes.

If you are driving, any accident you are remotely involed in is your fault, no matter what. And the standard of driving is HORRIFIC at best!

One other thing that really sticks in my mind was the look of sadness in most the womens eyes.....but that could have just been cos they had seen my ugly mug!

 

[daveinprague]

Yep, apparently, the accident wouldnt have happened if you were not in the country...

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

My company has been in correspondence with the Saudi Bin Laden Group, in a consultancy capacity, for advice on demolition techniques for the Mataf expansion at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. I'm waiting for confirmation of a visit to Jeddah in the next few weeks, but looking at the above comments it doesn't look like being a particularly pleasant stay. What puzzles me is that non muslims are not allowed to visit Mecca, but the SBG want us to be involved as a subcontractor. On a video call one of their engineers joked that we'd need to convert to Islam. I've got one volunteer so far.

 

[daveinprague]

Our building used to be next to the Bin Laden corp in Al Khobar...we used their canteen when ours was being renovated...was first, and probably still the biggest construction firm in the country isnt it?

Sadly, never visited Jeddha... just Riyadh, Al Khobar, and Qusumah desert.....an hofuf on a day trip to see the ancient caves...first thing that greeted us there was graffiti..Liverpool rules ok..

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Our building used to be next to the Bin Laden corp in Al Khobar...we used their canteen when ours was being renovated...was first, and probably still the biggest construction firm in the country isnt it?

Sadly, never visited Jeddha... just Riyadh, Al Khobar, and Qusumah desert..

Yes, SBG is the biggest construction company in the world. The guy I'm dealing with is called Abdul Lathief, which could prove ironic when it comes to getting paid.

 

[sydney]

it sounds like a f***ing nightmare......have travelled through Dubai and Abu Dhabi with my daughters , whilst i found it an interesting trip the overall impression i got of the place is that i would rather live in Bermondsey.

 

[daveinprague]

It has its moments... My mate chased me through the desert in one of our sites security cars, which were identical to Saudi police cars...to ask me if the grass had turned up with another friend from Bangkok... I could have killed him...i thought I was going to jail forever, as I had no license, a bag of grass and a bottle of whiskey in back of my motor... I tried to outrun him thinking he was a Saudi Cop.

and another endearing moment from the same bloke..we were coming back from an American army base we used to visit as they were allowed booze...as im slumped in the front passenger seat on the way back..drunk as feck, I suddenly hear my mate say ...ive always wanted to do this...I look up just as we hit the police barricade across the road...wood showering all around us...iI hit the floor expecting gunfire.....He did it another two times over the next couple of months, the arse...

Also managed to lose my boss's pickup in the desert when drunk...never found the fecking thing.

 

[grummitts gloves]

Quad biking over the sand dunes is good fun and cheap.

 

[daveinprague]

I never saw sand dunes in Saudi..that must be further south I guess in the empty quarter... just flat gravel as far as the eye could see in every direction where I was... only saw one camel, and that was tied up in a courtyard opp our flats in Khobar.

 

[grummitts gloves]

About 20 mins drive out of Riyadh near the huge escarpment that's a bit like the grand canyon. All the rocks are a deep red colour.