What is life like in saudi arabia?

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nando_2007

Respect for Islamic customs and beliefs is extremely important. The practice of other religions is not allowed. The cultural issues must be understood and accepted by anyone living and working in the country, one founded on Islamic principles and Sharia law. Some observers believe these laws account for an extremely low crime rate compared with the western world.

Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, but taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. For international staff, the college provides transportation between the housing compound and the college. Women must wear an â€˜abayaâ€™ or at least be covered when in public. This does not mean they must wear a headscarf at all times; it means women must be sensibly and modestly dressed. However, women must wear both an â€˜abayaâ€™ and headscarf when entering and leaving the college. As a general rule, women wear skirts with the hemline below the calf of the leg. Sleeves should be at least elbow length and the neckline modest. Loose fitting and concealing rather than revealing is a good fashion guideline. Loose trousers are acceptable. Westerners have more leeway in dress within the housing compounds, but conservative dress is expected at the college and in public places.

There are many opportunities for shopping in Jeddah. International shopping centers include such well-known shops as Liz Claiborne, DKNY, The Body Shop, Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Dior, Boss and IKEA. In addition to the modern shopping centers, Jeddah also has many traditional â€˜souksâ€™ or local markets where all types of products can be purchased ranging from fruit and vegetables to gold to textiles to antiques. Jeddah also has many supermarkets where U.S. and European products can be found, as well as a variety of local and Middle Eastern products not normally available elsewhere. These shops vary from local mini-markets (or bakalas) to hypermarkets and are open seven days a week, although they are closed during prayer times, which are published in the local English language newspapers. No alcoholic or pork products are sold and none may be brought into the Kingdom.

Socially, life in Jeddah can be very satisfying. Many different sporting activities are found in the expatriate community including adult netball, baseball, softball, basketball, golf (including a green course), soccer (league), tennis and squash, sailing, rugby (male and female), aerobic classes, running clubs, fitness organizations and the opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive in one of the most exceptional reefs and seas in the world. These are also private (expatriate) beaches where people can relax and/or sail.

There are music and drama groups, operatic societies, cinema clubs, a Natural History Society, square and line dancing clubs, Scottish Dancing Societies, bridge clubs and many other activities for the less active. Additionally, many of the consulates arrange special cultural social events for the expatriate community, and there are thriving menâ€™s and womenâ€™s business/meeting groups. These organizations arrange many events including seasonal fairs and bazaars.

Restaurants are excellent, including international chains such as McDonalds, Wimpyâ€™s, KFC, Fuddruckers, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Chilis. There are excellent Middle Eastern restaurants and restaurants offering international menus (e.g., Olives, La Cuisine) as well as more specialized ones ( e.g., Japanese, Chinese). There are many good five star hotels (e.g., Marriott, Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Sheraton) that have a wide range of restaurants. Jeddah also has a large number of expatriate restaurants where good quality, inexpensive food from India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines can be obtained.

The climate of Jeddah is much more pleasant and less extreme than most of Saudi Arabia due to the sea breezes from the Red Sea. Between the months of November to March it has been described as idyllic with the winter climate being very balmy. However, during the summer months it is hot and humid. All buildings, cars, and shops are fully air-conditioned. The college has air- conditioning in all lecture rooms, theatres, offices, halls and all other areas used by faculty and students.

The accommodation provided to international faculty is in good expatriate compounds which have a wide range of services such as swimming pools, various sporting facilities ( e.g., tennis, gymnasium, squash courts), limousine (taxi) service, shopping buses, transport to the beaches, and satellite TV. Some of the residential compounds are multicultural; others are more western oriented, and many organize social events for their residents. There is a full range of medical and dental facilities available in Jeddah. There are many well-equipped private hospitals and clinics, with English speaking staff.

There are excellent opportunities for travel around the region, especially to those places that may be difficult or expensive to reach from the U.S. Countries such as Jordan (Petra), the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi), India, Cyprus, Bahrain, and Oman are not far away.

To enter or leave Saudi Arabia, a visa is required, even if you are a resident. Applications for visas are handled by the collegeâ€™s administrative staff. On joining the college, a full medical physical is required in your home country. Additional medical tests are completed after arrival in Jeddah. This, together with the other required paperwork, is processed by the college to get the residentâ€™s visa.

The cost of living is similar to, or slightly more expensive than, the U.S. in some areas but this is compensated by low prices for items such as gasoline, which is currently about 17 cents per liter. All makes of cars are available; many expatriates prefer four wheel drive vehicles such as GMC Suburban, Ford Explorer, Land Rover Discovery, Mitsubishi Shoguns or equivalent vehicles, all of which are much cheaper than their equivalent in the U.S.

Saudi Arabia is a country of modesty and tradition, mixed with more western influence in some areas. For many it is a fascinating culture, one that cannot be experienced anywhere else. One of the most obvious and yet perhaps one of the most important things to remember while in Saudi Arabia is that Saudi culture and tradition are undoubtedly much different from your own. One has to always remember that almost all Saudis are deeply religious, and that the spirit of Islam is not an incidental, but is an integral part of life. As in any intercultural exchange, patience and understanding are virtues that will serve people well. Living in Saudi Arabia may represent a challenge to some but a fascinating experience to many others.

evanlah

its very wealthy. the women sit around and eat a lot, and spend time with friends and family. they usually have maids from korea,sri lanka, or the Philippines. believe it or not, the women have it made! they dont even have to do the shopping or washing the clothes. the men go to work, drink coffee and smoke all day. lots of shopping going on there, with some places that are beyond imagination. the malls are out of this world. meetings of friends are separated by the sexes. men and women dont mix. men are usually really spoiled by their wives, and well taken care of by them. the boys grow up to be pretty spoiled!
there isnt a big middle class there. its rich or poor.
its hot hot hot there. but everyplace has major air conditioning.hope this helps!

paleochora

Salaam
Saudi Arabia is a big country and so it is also very varied.
It really depends - Saudi Arabia varies according to how you live here.
As a rich Saudi - male or female - its great, just like rich people anywhere in the world - shopping, restaurants, tv, all available.
As a poor Saudi - male or female - its hard, jobs are badly paid, its very difficult to buy a home, the cost of living is high. For women there are even fewer opportunites. Very little public transport so its hard for them to get around.
Skilled Expats - great, compound life is luxurious, open, all facilites are available to you.
Unskilled workers expats - awful, very little legal protection, you are basically at the mercy of your employer.
Religious pilgrim - wonderful to see Mecca & Medina but you might be disappointed to see that Saudi Arabia is not a religious Utopia and the 'Wahabbi' brand of Islam usually practised here can be very stifling & restrictive.
I'm talking about the major cities here Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman.
The driving is awful!
Weather is hot in the summer pleasant in winter.
Once you get to know Saudis they are very friendly and warm, but getting to meet any Saudis can be hard.
Its still a pretty safe country, they like children here and you can take your kids anywhere.
You are more likely to be killed by a bad driver than a terrorist.
The Red Sea reef is one of the most beautiful in the world.

junaid375

it depends..
i found it boring...coz i compare it with hustle bustle of a city like karachi...
jeddah is good..very good infact
but riyadh is boring...dead..

Depends where you live - I used to live in Al-Khobar which is beside a place called Dhahran on the east coast. This area is very westernised by Saudi standards, although you just need to travel 20 minutes to a place called Dammam to see a more stricter side to life. In Dhahran non muslim women do not need to wear an abaya (black cloak dress cover) nor the veil or head scarf, although when we visited friends in Riyadh, I did have to cover my hair when going to the shops etc. You do have to be modest though - sleeves down to at least elbows and legs covered.

I used to wear an abaya just to stop myself from standing out too much, and it saved me having to buy all these long skirts and shirts. oh yeah, and I dyed my naturally blonde hair to brown within 3 weeks of being there - you just get too much attention. You have got to remember that men and women do not mix socially, or even at home - a typical saudi house is split into male and female sides with areas that are for both. Also, from puberty the majority of saudi women cover up.

Women are not allowed to drive there, although some of the bedouin women (desert dwellers) have to as a matter of life.

Once you got to grips with the way things are done over there, you work round it. Its what you make it - I had a great time over there, but then I was on a good contract - nice housing, lots of friends etc etc.

The best contracts are Aramco and British Aerospace in Dhahran, and they have the best compounds to live also.

You could buy anything that you could buy back home, as the saudis wanted to have the best of everything - not just luxuries, but the latest technology also.

Again, it depends on the contract you are on and where you live if you have a good time out there, and also the way you view life - I loved the way that there were so many like minded people out there - it takes a certain temperment to survive. I found the workers in saudi worked very hard - I used to do a 56 hour week with Friday off (Like a Sunday) But then you are usually getting a good salary and you really make the most of your time off!!!!!

The one thing that does put us all to shame though is that if you ever broke down in your car, there would be at least 20 cars stopping behind you all fighting with each other to see who could help you. Also, great weather - could plan a bbq for 3 weeks in advance and know it would be a great day!!!

blazingbulldog

I lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I am an American, but I loved it there.
If you enjoy living there has alot to do with you, and what your outlook is, if you go to there country I believe you respect it and their laws and traditions like we expect others to do when they are in the states...
I was fearful of making a mistake near the mutawa, but i found the Saudis to be very friendly people who are very interested in Americans and our way of life and thinking..
I think if you are respectful of them in their land you should have no problems, but of course every place has their bad element and you can get away from that no matter where you are..........
Rule of thumb, if your not driving, dont look, they drive like crazy people over there, and their round abouts near the palace, oh my gosh....It's like a race car event..

sofia

men: living their life; every single day they wake up at around 5 PM have "breakfast (aka dinner)", leave the house at 8 chill with their friends go drifting, coffee shops, etc. come back home at 2 AM.. very happy life

women: what most foreigners don't know- ALSO living their life!! they have drivers, they can go wherever they wanna go!! go to beauty salons the mall a friend's house parties restaurants etc, come home earlier than guys though... still a good life =)

as for ms oogabooga and ms midnight butterfly, just because we must be covered doesn't mean it's the end of the world. and we don't need to drive, we get drivers to take us wherever we want

zxcpoi

I as a Saudi LOVE life in SA
my mother loves it
my sis do
my friends do

if you tell any one of us to move out of SA he will refuse.

life is not perfect, there are some challenges but I like it and I will work to improve it.

Devastated

Life can be interesting even though in Saudi.
Please read the link below.

sami kilmer

I become rich in saudi arabia

I love it

Asa Rica

Here's an American's first-hand account of working and living in Saudi Arabia from 1996-1998 - it's worth a read:

http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/56/Working_in_Saudi_Arabia.html

Tay

For men, it's a nice, pampered life. Men are greatly respected, especially locals and prosperous westerners.

For women it's not as easy. There are many strict rules as KSA is modest and conservative. Even western women are advised to wear abayas to avoid the looks from local men. It's a much harsher life.

wolf

Saudi Arabia is good if your a Muslim. It's also nice to foreigners. Women have to be covered from head to toe when going outside. Saudi is a VERY strict Muslim country and Islam is a part of life there. Women aren't allowed to drive and can't go outside without their male guardian. It is very modest and some places like Jeddah and Riyadh are very Western. The Muttawa(religious police) patrol the streets of Saudi Arabia and make sure your not doing anything that isn't un Islamic like showing off your body parts or interacting with the opposite sex. Restaurants are sex segregated and it's hard for single men to enter them because restaurants are family orientated. All activity virtually stops 5 times a day for prayer meaning shops, restaurants, and other businesses are shut down so everyone can get to a mosque. Saudis are very friendly people though they drive like maniacs. Even American women are ordered by the Muttawa to wear the hijab and Abaya when going outside in public. There are all women malls and there's a lot of 13 year old women there who are married. Also women don't have to work. Jobs suck but there's free eduation, free health care, no bills to pay. If the husband dies the Government pays half of what the husband made to his family. Saudi women can only marry Saudi men and Saudi men can only marry Saudi women, American women or British women. If they marry any women who isn't UK or USA then their marriage isn't recongized by the Government and is illegal. There are a lot of servants in KSA and the houses are really big. The desert people mostly stay in the desert. They do move to the citites when school starts. Schools are sex segregated and are far away from each other. Girls are required to wear a uniform when they go to school. During Ramadan the work week is shortened down to 6 hours a day. There is a mosque on every street coner in Saudi Arabia. There are special days for men to go to a mall and special days for women to go to a mall. The Muttawa stand outside the mall and don't let the opposite sex get into the mall. Other religions aren't allowed in Saudi and you can be put to death for being gay, selling drugs, drinking alcohol, or doing other bad things. You need to be tested for HIV and AIDS before you enter because if you have those you will be denied entry into KSA. Women are treated very good in Saudi Arabia. They are treated like queens there. If they need or want something then the husband or father or eldest brother or son has to go and get it.

SPI.ACT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_arabia
here's the place to search

Midnight Butterfly

it depends! its religious and a headache, men rule, women don't care and cant do much not even drive. all women have to be covered head to toe. there's a lot of public torture. although Aramco is quite safe and a lot better.

Karl H

short

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