Dana / Nada Compound

Hi melanie399!

Welcome to Expat.com

Armand

hi i never looked at the 2 you mentioned but i have looked at ferdous village (75k sar)which is very near the saad specialist hospital it's a nice place. they have a 1 bed villa coming up the end of nov, euro village is good but expensive and they are building new villas 1 bed (120k sar)and 2 beds and they will be ready around the end of nov as well.

hope it's of some help

BTW if you can pay the 5% charge then rightcompound.com are good but they only send you the villas that have availability you still need to do the leg work yourself and go see it and make all the arrangements with your sponsor

Hey Melanie,
I live in nada compound. Just moved in about two months ago. There are a lot of nice people here and it's one of the best compounds. Tell me where you'll be staying. Nada or Dana ?

Nada and Dana are both great... i used to live in Nada from 2000-2003, they have a nice little cafe in the compound which you wont find in other compounds...

I'd go with Nada!

Here is my video of Danah http://youtu.be/MB9vbn1hBYU and here is where it is http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=26 … 0,44.997,0

hello melanie399
please contact me by msn:[email protected]
thanks

how much is the rent in both nada and dana compound?

(moderated: no free ads please)

could some one let me know how much the houses are

thank you

The company pays for us. But I think its like SR 185,000 per year.

185,000 a year? That works out to over 4000 dollars a month. I realize the compounds aren't cheap, but this isn't Abu Dhabi, or even a posh residence in the Embassy area Riyadh. Can that me right? I'm looking for a compound myself, having lived amongst the locals in Rastanoura for the past 4 years.

Not worth living here any more unless you are a muslim...too high a percentage of them here. It is getting filthy here and not well maintained at all. This used to be a British compound...then it was great. They only allowed westerners on and very well maintained. Now it is going down hill fast. Look elsewhere.

<@¿@> has raised a point of intrigue, one which makes many westerners uncomfortable to discuss. Many do go to these "Western" compounds to be around westerners and here it almost certainly means to be away from Muslim or even Arab culture. Many won't admit that because those who are able to afford these pockets of western refuge are usually the highest paid expats in the kingdom. And those high paid professionals, craftsmen and technical experts have high notions of racial and religious tolerance. They preach tolerance while at the same time being guardedly intolerant of the local cultures. And when these local cultures breach the walls of the safe zone, the Westerners are aghast at these displays of foreign behavior. But then again, if you're pay THOUSANDS of dollars, is as is the norm with most in not all of these compounds, don't you have the right live the lifestyle you're paying for?

alamographics wrote:

<@¿@> has raised a point of intrigue, one which makes many westerners uncomfortable to discuss. Many do go to these "Western" compounds to be around westerners and here it almost certainly means to be away from Muslim or even Arab culture. Many won't admit that because those who are able to afford these pockets of western refuge are usually the highest paid expats in the kingdom. And those high paid professionals, craftsmen and technical experts have high notions of racial and religious tolerance. They preach tolerance while at the same time being guardedly intolerant of the local cultures. And when these local cultures breach the walls of the safe zone, the Westerners are aghast at these displays of foreign behavior. But then again, if you're pay THOUSANDS of dollars, is as is the norm with most in not all of these compounds, don't you have the right live the lifestyle you're paying for?

Good points.  What I've heard from friends who started out in Western compounds that then began to allow Arabs/Muslims in is that the newcomers objected to the lifestyle of the westerners whose compound they were so eager to live in (I almost used 'invade' but thought better of it lol)!!!  So there were complaints to management about swimming pool attire, general dress, parties, western music, etc.

If the Arabs/Muslims had come in and acclimated to the existing compound life, there wouldn't have been a problem.

Not only their objections to the western lifestyle, but also you don't get a break from theirs either. It is nice not to see women in their abayas (covered head to toe in black) the western women call them garbage bags or their arrogant way of life. When I get home, I don't want to see abayas. I don't want to be assaulted with their cars by their driving habits. I don't want to hear children screaming temper tantrums...they do not understand discipline. They don't know how to share anything either...if you're swimming laps in the pool, they get in your way. That's unheard of in the western world. Sure, their not Saudis, but they are still Arabs/Muslims.

<@¿@> wrote:

Not only their objections to the western lifestyle, but also you don't get a break from theirs either.

I believe alamgraphics made that point. 

As for the rest of what you had to say... I found it quite hostile.  I hope for your own sake you plan to leave KSA at the end of your contract (I mean this sincerely--the culture/stress is taking a toll on you).

Good luck.

What I've written is neither hostile nor combative...these are my observations and my feelings as a westerner. I'm sure other westerners feel the same way I do. I'm not that picky. I don't get to relax like I'm used to... it is not a relaxing atmosphere here any more. I don't say anything to others, I just keep to myself... It is something that blindsided me and this is just a heads up to other westerners thinking about choosing this compound. This would not be my choice. Does that make me a bad person? Either management changed or policies have changed...I can't do anything about that and I'm stuck here for now. I will survive until the end of my contract. I'm not asking anybody to change, I'm not complaining to others...just a heads up to other westerners.

<@¿@> wrote:

What I've written is neither hostile nor combative...these are my observations and my feelings as a westerner. I'm sure other westerners feel the same way I do. I'm not that picky. I don't get to relax like I'm used to... it is not a relaxing atmosphere here any more. I don't say anything to others, I just keep to myself... It is something that blindsided me and this is just a heads up to other westerners thinking about choosing this compound. This would not be my choice. Does that make me a bad person? Either management changed or policies have changed...I can't do anything about that and I'm stuck here for now. I will survive until the end of my contract. I'm not asking anybody to change, I'm not complaining to others...just a heads up to other westerners.

Nothing that you say makes you a 'bad' person and I don't believe I said that in my earlier post.  I expressed concern because you are so stressed out.  You say you will survive until the end of your contract--I hope for your sake it's not that much longer.

Best of luck.

<@¿@> wrote:
I'm sure other westerners feel the same way I do.

Oh yes. They do. And many Arabs agree. For example, many of the Saudis wax nostalgic when they recount the era when Aramco was an American owned company and the American compounds were a veritable slice of apple pie Americana. "When the Americans were here this was a different place...fun...celebration...standards...fun..."

I'm really bored here!! It's been 2 weeks!! I feel depressed! No one is cool lol!

Weezzy wrote:

I'm really bored here!! It's been 2 weeks!! I feel depressed! No one is cool lol!

Yeah, well... WELCOME to KSA!

Plz don't tell me that's the climax, that's not what Martin Luther king said when his people were deprived, come on now Alliekittie. We can do something in the mean time, that will improve the social life in hell over here

Lets promote something special, with this jail time we have in the hard times! Lol

Any suggestions people.... LOL!

The term "Compound" explains by itself!

It IS a place to get out of the Saudi Life culture and specially lifestyle... I really understand people that chooses to live in the compounds.. it's natural, it's easier, it makes you feel a little bit back home, or at least out of KSA.

Saudi is a great place, but let's be honest, the life style, the way people interact, is very different from any other place in the world!!! Each one has its own time... some may stay for a few years, some may stay for a few months only...

I agree that compounds should be very clear, in regards to which nationalities are allowed to live there. Lets face it, a vila in a nice compound is not cheap at all.. if you or your company are paying for that, you wanna know exactly who you will live with.. who is gonna share the same pool with you, the same restaurant, the same gym, etc..

Alliecat wrote:

You say you will survive until the end of your contract--I hope for your sake it's not that much longer.

Best of luck.

Well, I'm back in the US of A... Thanks though!

<@¿@> wrote:

Alliecat wrote:

You say you will survive until the end of your contract--I hope for your sake it's not that much longer.

Best of luck.

Well, I'm back in the US of A... Thanks though!

Hey, glad to hear you made it and thanks for the update

Best of luck.

Are you referring to the Nada Compound? I am new to all of this and trying to get it all figured out before we find out for sure if we are moving to KSA.  Is there more than one compound near Nada or Hofuf?

Yes...Nada, Danah and one other are all in one...in Khobar.

Is there a compound in hofuf?  I thought that's where nada compound was located. I'm so confused! Lol 

@Abdullah as this unfortunate for Saudis to get a place in compound .. but ..... i thing as u describe ur both r educated .... cultured ...and liberal .... n also working in armco ..... ... at least  you can create  this sort of environment in your private place ( as Saudis got big villas) by creating a social circle with western and other .... just a suggestion.... hope u can get a place in compound....thanks

Hello Abdulah:

Did you get your housing situation sorted out? I was wondering if you'd considered the Dana/Nada since you're here on this thread. I thought D/N was accepting arabs but I'm not sure of the particulars as I've only visited a couple of times. Be that as it may, I myself had considered this compound as commuting to Bahrain had become too onerous an ordeal from all the way up in Ras Tanura. If I worked in Dammam I'd almost certainly commute to Bahrain. If you're looking or a friendly, Western environment, it's hard to beat Bahrain. Definitely worth it especially if you truly want to learn to adapt to Western, particularly American ways, given the presence of many US personnel on the island but also the incredibably friendly attitude of most Bahraini nationals. And of course, you have the strong presence of Saudis with whom to commiserate. Regards-