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Working in Saudi Arabia - is it a good idea?
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Posted 5 months ago #
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My best mate is there now for nearly 2 years. He sees is as a slightly better option than working on a north sea oil rig. At least his wife is there and they can have a bevvy sometimes, made some friends and they've got skype for old friends and family.
He's doing it so he can get a deposit on a house in Sydney. He is really well paid.
Otherwise - no.
I've only been twice - a short visit and again passing through. I wouldnt choose to visit or holiday or work there. But needs must and all that.
Posted 5 months ago # -
On one of the few occasions he ventured off his compound he was assaulted with an iron bar.
I find that hard to believe. The one thing that Saudi Arabia isn't is dangerous (for white foreigners).
has a phat Merc with chauffeur, huge gated home
= he has a nice car with a driver (something that is massively overrated imnshe) and a house with a wall around it (like all the other houses there, so that people can't see in).
Posted 5 months ago # -
Chicken vs. egg? Are all ex-pat types shallow greedy soul-less feckers before they suck the money-mans-c*ck? JOKE! I've met some nice ex-pats but I've also met many scary shallow keeping-up-with-the-jones's types - as with everything it's all about the people, and all the people out there are in it for one thing only so that is what they talk about... MONEY.
Seriously though. Living in a country like that with only ex-pats to talk to would be my idea of hell. As a very short term option, with huge rewards, and if your life is shit, then consider it... but if you have a good standard of living and enjoy your life now why would you gamble on giving it up for the possibility of a better future? Things can change greatly in a few years, currency fluctuations and house price rises can wipe out your savings, and loss of career options or promotional chances can also destroy the benefits - be aware of what you could lose and be vary clear about what you expect to gain.
If you stayed here and made the same lifestyle choices as will be forced on you living out there you would save cash quickly. Stop drinking, eat cheap crap food, stop going out (i.e. have no friends), stop buying stuff, rent/share a house. If you go out there and try to keep a "lifestyle" by going out, rewarding yourself with holidays and stuff then you will not save enough to make a difference (unless your on HUGE money), hence you will either stay out there to earn more or return bitter and twisted (see ex-pats).
P.S. I worked there about 10 years ago, but would not consider staying. I met a few nice Saudi's but your mostly limited to ex-pats or TCN's. Third Country Nationals - If I talked about this it would become a rant but basically it's slave labour and some of the conditions these people work in and what they have to put up with is a disgrace. But we all turn a blind eye and carry on because the money is good
Posted 5 months ago # -
I've been thinking, yes make great money there is a risk and what have you got to lose?
You can't spend that money when your 6ft under in a box rotting.
How much more is it? 50%? 100% Its nowhere near enough.
A life is worth more than even a lottery win IMO.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I've been thinking, yes make great money there is a risk and what have you got to lose?
You can't spend that money when your 6ft under in a box rotting.
How much more is it? 50%? 100% Its nowhere near enough.
A life is worth more than even a lottery win IMO.
Is there a high mortality rate for ex-pats working in Saudi then?
Posted 5 months ago # -
Third Country Nationals - If I talked about this it would become a rant but basically it's slave labour and some of the conditions these people work in and what they have to put up with is a disgrace. But we all turn a blind eye and carry on because the money is good
They're there for a reason as well..
Posted 5 months ago # -
The one thing that Saudi Arabia isn't is dangerous (for white foreigners).
Frank Gardner might not agree.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Frank Gardner might not agree.
I think you're more likely to be stabbed in London then shot in Saudi
Posted 5 months ago # -
Is there a high mortality rate for ex-pats working in Saudi then?
Do they freely wander around the Kingdom? Thats an open question.
Stabbed in London? I lived in London for 7yrs. I don't recall having security around me or living in a compound.
Posted 5 months ago # -
The standard of driving in Saudi is shocking, as is the HSE of many workplaces... your less likely to be "attacked" but more likely to be "injured". Life is cheap... unless it's a Saudi or western-ex-pat life!!! Racism, class'ism, slavery etc roled into a medieval society with heaps of cash in the pockets of the few... very unpleasant.
Fourbanger - yes they are there for the money, but the system as it is takes advantage of them and they have no way to complain. If they complain then the work permit is cancelled and they have to pay to get home... without recieving the payment bonus which made it worth turning up... they have few rights... much like Mexican's in the USA then
Posted 5 months ago # -
Do they freely wander around the Kingdom? Thats an open question.
Stabbed in London? I lived in London for 7yrs. I don't recall having security around me or living in a compound.
That's the point isn't it? you get a premium for working under those conditions, but it's pretty safe if you follow the rules, so to say you get paid because there is a risk of death is incorrect.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Heres the official Foreign Office politically sensitive version:
There is a continuing high threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia. We continue to believe that terrorists are planning further attacks in Saudi Arabia, including against Westerners and places associated with Westerners. On 28 September 2011, the US Government warned that terrorists may be planning to abduct Westerners in Riyadh. The US Government warned on 4 August 2010 that terrorists might be planning to attack Westerners working and living in Al-Qasim. We believe aviation interests and oil infrastructure also remain possible terrorist targets.We are aware that the Saudi authorities are concerned about an increased threat of terrorism in the Kingdom. The Saudi authorities announced, in January 2011, the conviction of 765 people involved in terrorist activity in the previous Hijri year (18 December 2009 – 6 December 2010). We remain in close contact with the Saudi authorities. The Saudi security forces continue to take action against terrorist groups. A number of terrorists have either been killed or imprisoned, and terrorist activities have been disrupted. This success should not give rise to complacency. Although terrorist networks are disrupted, we continue to believe that opportunistic attacks on western targets may still occur.
All British nationals should continue to exercise vigilance, and check this advice on a regular basis. You should take all necessary steps to protect your safety and should make sure that you have confidence in your individual security arrangements. You should maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places, and take sensible precautions for your safety and that of your vehicle. You should avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations. You should follow news reports and be alert to regional developments. Any increase in regional tension might affect travel advice.
Terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia have taken various forms. At their height in 2003 and 2004 they included: kidnapping, large-scale truck bombings of residential compounds and Saudi government offices, an attack on the US Consulate in Jeddah, targeted shootings of individuals, small-scale car bombings, parcel bombings, and bombing of shopping areas. In February 2006, terrorists attacked an oil-processing centre in Abqaiq, Eastern Province, detonating two car bombs, but were prevented from doing damage that was more serious; in February 2007, four French nationals were shot dead in an incident near Medina. On 27 August 2009, there was an unsuccessful suicide bomb attack against a Saudi Government Minister in Jeddah. In an incident at a checkpoint in Jazan, about 110km north of the Saudi-Yemen border, on 13 October 2009 two terrorists were killed, one arrested, and one policeman killed.
...and here is the Australian version without any ulteria motive..http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Saudi_Arabia
Here is the top two line:
We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Saudi Arabia at this time due to the ongoing very high threat of terrorist attack.Posted 5 months ago # -
Do they freely wander around the Kingdom? Thats an open question.
Does "that's an open question" actually mean "you don't know"? Saudi Arabia is not (southern) Iraq or Mexico. It's a completely different security landscape. Apart from in the very remote mountains and around Mecca etc (which is closed to non-Muslims), there's nothing to stop you going anywhere you like (if you're a white man).
The premium for working in Saudi is not so much for the heightened personal safety risk as for the fact it's a complete hole.
here is the Australian version without any ulteria motive..
How is DFAT suddenly without ulterior motives and likely to be less biased than the FCO?How does C&Ping data which is sourced from the Saudi Interior Ministry show anything useful?
Posted 5 months ago #
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