Moving to Jeddah SOON!

agent47 · 2012-05-02 08:44:19

I've spent time in both cities. Jeddah is a bit laid back relaxed place with the beach and its infamous resorts, diving, snorkelling, shisha cafes, nice restaurants, variety of food, malls etc. I forgot Al Baik (a famous local fried chicken eatery). Along with close proximity to Mecca. Moderate weather.

Riyadh on the other hand has similar malls, restaurants, variety of food etc. Weather is cooler in Riyadh during winter. It is however limited in terms of a nightlife unless you are a shopaholic. Not much to do and life outside an expat compound can be a bit dull. However once you are in a compound you can experience a decent socialable post work night hours. I forgot to mention that there are weekly gatherings and hash races which are very interesting and a good opportunity to socialize.

I currently live in Jeddah:) It is fun. And the above are my opinions and views. no offence to no one.

Hope this helps.

Last edited by agent47 (2012-05-02 08:44:41)

tatty moula · 2012-05-02 11:25:01

agent47 wrote:
I've spent time in both cities. Jeddah is a bit laid back relaxed place with the beach and its infamous resorts, diving, snorkelling, shisha cafes, nice restaurants, variety of food, malls etc. I forgot Al Baik (a famous local fried chicken eatery). Along with close proximity to Mecca. Moderate weather.

Riyadh on the other hand has similar malls, restaurants, variety of food etc. Weather is cooler in Riyadh during winter. It is however limited in terms of a nightlife unless you are a shopaholic. Not much to do and life outside an expat compound can be a bit dull. However once you are in a compound you can experience a decent socialable post work night hours. I forgot to mention that there are weekly gatherings and hash races which are very interesting and a good opportunity to socialize.

I currently live in Jeddah:) It is fun. And the above are my opinions and views. no offence to no one.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for your review.

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-02 15:49:55

tatty moula wrote:
agent47 wrote:
I've spent time in both cities. Jeddah is a bit laid back relaxed place with the beach and its infamous resorts, diving, snorkelling, shisha cafes, nice restaurants, variety of food, malls etc. I forgot Al Baik (a famous local fried chicken eatery). Along with close proximity to Mecca. Moderate weather.

Riyadh on the other hand has similar malls, restaurants, variety of food etc. Weather is cooler in Riyadh during winter. It is however limited in terms of a nightlife unless you are a shopaholic. Not much to do and life outside an expat compound can be a bit dull. However once you are in a compound you can experience a decent socialable post work night hours. I forgot to mention that there are weekly gatherings and hash races which are very interesting and a good opportunity to socialize.

I currently live in Jeddah:) It is fun. And the above are my opinions and views. no offence to no one.

Hope this helps.
Thanks a lot for your review.

Dammam is much better than jed & Riyadh

tatty moula · 2012-05-02 19:59:59

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
Dammam is much better than jed & Riyadh

what is so special about Dammam??

Alon Injed · 2012-05-02 20:12:54

I used to spend 2 days in Riyadh and three in Jeddah. I did this for about 1.5 years. It is different. Jeddah is a bit less hot in summer but very humid. Summer is a lot of indoor anyways but Jeddah has the beach which can be nice early in the morning even in summer. Water is cool. 3/4 of the year the teperature in jeddah is fine and for at least 1/2 that time actually quire excellent with nice cool breezes. Jeddah I think is a lot more tolerant also.

tatty moula wrote:
What is the difference between Jeddah and Riyadh weather?? Which is cooler?
I have a new offer in Riyadh but people say life is better in Jeddah. What do you think?

Rebas1 · 2012-05-02 20:34:14

Yes you could survive in Riyadh, where is the better offer Jeddah or Riyadh, go for it stay in Saudi Arabia for two years and then decide for your self where to stay it is a matter of taste !

tatty moula · 2012-05-02 20:36:38

Thanks Rebas & Alon

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-03 07:22:23

tatty moula wrote:
Naveed Nawaz wrote:
Dammam is much better than jed & Riyadh
what is so special about Dammam??

Dammam is better because its not congested like rud & jed, we dun have much buildings, there's Beautiful beach known as half moon beach with plenty of resorts. Khobar is near to dammam which is best place to live for all man kind.

tatty moula · 2012-05-03 11:02:41

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
tatty moula wrote:
Naveed Nawaz wrote:
Dammam is much better than jed & Riyadh
what is so special about Dammam??
Dammam is better because its not congested like rud & jed, we dun have much buildings, there's Beautiful beach known as half moon beach with plenty of resorts. Khobar is near to dammam which is best place to live for all man kind.

That's really cool... Iam all eager to visit Dammam &Khobar smile

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-03 11:12:00

tatty moula wrote:
Naveed Nawaz wrote:
tatty moula wrote:

what is so special about Dammam??
Dammam is better because its not congested like rud & jed, we dun have much buildings, there's Beautiful beach known as half moon beach with plenty of resorts. Khobar is near to dammam which is best place to live for all man kind.
That's really cool... Iam all eager to visit Dammam &Khobar

you should come in winters Since its summer its gonna be humid and very hot.

TheLegendLeads · 2012-05-03 11:17:32

The very first time I stayed in Al-Khobar was August. Horrible humidity. The things started changing and the winter was awesome.

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-03 11:20:23

TheLegendLeads wrote:
The very first time I stayed in Al-Khobar was August. Horrible humidity. The things started changing and the winter was awesome.

its scorching hot now a days u can imagine in June July what will be happening... I hate summer in dammam, riyadh is good in winter isn't it?

TheLegendLeads · 2012-05-03 11:26:58

Not better than Dammam Naveed. The winters here get too dry & chilling. Weekend bbqs and basking keep us alive. At least more happening than summer.

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-03 11:28:50

TheLegendLeads wrote:
Not better than Dammam Naveed. The winters here get too dry & chilling. Weekend bbqs and basking keep us alive. At least more happening than summer.

I lived there in winters i liked it more than dammam, i winters dammam is cold... I only miss Embassy's gathering in dammam rest is ok

tatty moula · 2012-05-03 11:57:47

If I arrive to KSA on late August will I face the very hot & humid weather?

Alliecat · 2012-05-04 06:49:39

tatty moula wrote:
If I arrive to KSA on late August will I face the very hot & humid weather?

I came in late August,too. Sure, it's going to be hot but the worst is over and fortunately for you, you've missed Ramadan!

tatty moula · 2012-05-04 07:51:56

Alliecat wrote:
I came in late August,too. Sure, it's going to be hot but the worst is over and fortunately for you, you've missed Ramadan!

Yeahhhhh!!! You are so right about Ramadan... It would be a real suffering. I do not know how Muslims survive there during the very hot period; I guess they never leave home lol!!
I heard they reduce working hours, this for sure would help a lot.

expatsoon2b · 2012-05-04 08:56:56

Should this be specified in the contract?? Who pays for medical tests? I feel like employers try to screw people over in Saudi!

Alliecat wrote:
WOW. This is pretty bad, in my opinion. For Western teachers, we have the medical testing done at home but our sponsor pays back all of our expenses once we arrive. After we arrive, they also do a chest x-ray, blood tests but the sponsor pays.

expatsoon2b · 2012-05-04 08:59:29

Sounds nice! I thought everything was in Bahrain! How far is Jeddah from Khobar :0

agent47 wrote:
I've spent time in both cities. Jeddah is a bit laid back relaxed place with the beach and its infamous resorts, diving, snorkelling, shisha cafes, nice restaurants, variety of food, malls etc. I forgot Al Baik (a famous local fried chicken eatery). Along with close proximity to Mecca. Moderate weather.

Alliecat · 2012-05-04 09:04:31

expatsoon2b wrote:
Sounds nice! I thought everything was in Bahrain! How far is Jeddah from Khobar :0

agent47 wrote:
I've spent time in both cities. Jeddah is a bit laid back relaxed place with the beach and its infamous resorts, diving, snorkelling, shisha cafes, nice restaurants, variety of food, malls etc. I forgot Al Baik (a famous local fried chicken eatery). Along with close proximity to Mecca. Moderate weather.

The other side of the country--you'd need to take a plane.

expatsoon2b · 2012-05-04 09:15:23

Damn!!

Alliecat wrote:
expatsoon2b wrote:
Sounds nice! I thought everything was in Bahrain! How far is Jeddah from Khobar :0

agent47 wrote:
I've spent time in both cities. Jeddah is a bit laid back relaxed place with the beach and its infamous resorts, diving, snorkelling, shisha cafes, nice restaurants, variety of food, malls etc. I forgot Al Baik (a famous local fried chicken eatery). Along with close proximity to Mecca. Moderate weather.
The other side of the country--you'd need to take a plane.

expatsoon2b · 2012-05-04 09:16:52

Wow, makes me want to accept my job offer in Khobar...still not sure though hmm

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
Khobar is near to dammam which is best place to live for all man kind.

Alliecat · 2012-05-04 09:26:16

expatsoon2b wrote:
Wow, makes me want to accept my job offer in Khobar...still not sure though

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
Khobar is near to dammam which is best place to live for all man kind.

If you're going to work in KSA, from my investigations, Khobar is the BEST place to work. If the job offer is a good one, go for it!

tatty moula · 2012-05-04 21:32:50

Not only paying for medical tests but also paying one month salary for the recruiting agency + the school will take one third of salary of the first three month and give them back when I finish the 2 years contract + paying 40% of the insurance fees + sharing apartment with two teachers
I had officially declined this offer... It sucks!!!
Looking forward to find a better one... I will share it with you guys as soon as I get one so you could advise me... I hope it is in Jeddah and not Riyadh. I have an interview on May 10 with a school which I guess its located in Riyadh.

Freshlikesushi · 2012-05-04 21:37:13

I would NOT take that job either lol

tatty moula · 2012-05-04 21:50:37

Freshlikesushi wrote:
I would NOT take that job either lol

Hahaha lol no one would ... But I thought all jobs are like this in KSA... I thought it was normal ... Lol

expatsoon2b · 2012-05-05 03:33:41

Thanks for that...I'm still trying to figure out if the offer is good enough;)

Alliecat wrote:
expatsoon2b wrote:
Wow, makes me want to accept my job offer in Khobar...still not sure though

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
Khobar is near to dammam which is best place to live for all man kind.
If you're going to work in KSA, from my investigations, Khobar is the BEST place to work. If the job offer is a good one, go for it!

Last edited by expatsoon2b (2012-05-05 03:35:30)

Alliecat · 2012-05-05 05:57:14

expatsoon2b wrote:
Thanks for that...I'm still trying to figure out if the offer is good enough;)

Alliecat wrote:
expatsoon2b wrote:
Wow, makes me want to accept my job offer in Khobar...still not sure though

If you're going to work in KSA, from my investigations, Khobar is the BEST place to work. If the job offer is a good one, go for it!

YES. It's dependent on the offer.

And Tatty, I'm glad you turned that down. I know that offers for Arabs are much lower than for Westerners BUT .. good grief, by the time they got done with all the deductions, you'd have 10 halalas spending money at the end of the month lol

tatty moula · 2012-05-05 06:05:25

Alliecat wrote:
And Tatty, I'm glad you turned that down. I know that offers for Arabs are much lower than foe Westerners BUT .. good grief, by the time they got done with all the deductions, you'd have 10 halalas spending money at the end of the month

Lol!!!! lol lol lol lol one

agent47 · 2012-05-05 09:13:50

expatsoon2b wrote:
Damn!!

Alliecat wrote:
expatsoon2b wrote:
Sounds nice! I thought everything was in Bahrain! How far is Jeddah from Khobar :0

The other side of the country--you'd need to take a plane.

Not a big issue thou because even if you get a job in Jeddah, you can always fly to dammam and khobar as the tickets are not much expensive (SAR900 ret) . you can do this once a month. but you have to be lucky to get a Thursday and a Friday off for that purpose. You can catch a late wednesday evening flight to Dammam spend your Thursday morning till friday sunset at a resort in Dammam or explore the city life of Khobar. Leave friday evening back to jedda. This keeps things happening for you.

agent47 · 2012-05-05 09:22:08

tatty moula wrote:
Freshlikesushi wrote:
I would NOT take that job either lol
Hahaha no one would ... But I thought all jobs are like this in KSA... I thought it was normal ... Lol

Not all job offers are like the one you came across. It heavily depends on teh Company and the job description. If it's a competetive job description (like the one you had), the contracts will be crappy as they can easily find a person in the market who can fulfill such a description AND accept such a job offer.

Typically specialized job descriptions are the ones where they have decent contracts and you can negotiate on the terms you want. Because they know they would not be able to find someone easily for such a position.

Good you declined it. And goodluck in your hunt.

tatty moula · 2012-05-05 10:19:33

Thanks agent47 for your wishes. Wish you the best.

The funny thing is that the school director increased my expected salary 500 riyals when she knew I will have my masters in August 1. Lol!

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-05 11:19:02

tatty moula wrote:
Thanks agent47 for your wishes. Wish you the best.

The funny thing is that the school director increased my expected salary 500 riyals when she knew I will have my masters in August 1. Lol!

if you need 1000 SR increment then tell your dean that you will have PHD degree in coming june heheh big_smile

TheLegendLeads · 2012-05-05 11:22:55

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
tatty moula wrote:
Thanks agent47 for your wishes. Wish you the best.

The funny thing is that the school director increased my expected salary 500 riyals when she knew I will have my masters in August 1. Lol!
if you need 1000 SR increment then tell your dean that you will have PHD degree in coming june heheh

mad

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-05 11:25:30

TheLegendLeads wrote:
Naveed Nawaz wrote:
tatty moula wrote:
Thanks agent47 for your wishes. Wish you the best.

The funny thing is that the school director increased my expected salary 500 riyals when she knew I will have my masters in August 1. Lol!
if you need 1000 SR increment then tell your dean that you will have PHD degree in coming june heheh

You dun need to go mad sir :p apka already screw dheela hai joking

TheLegendLeads · 2012-05-05 12:02:58

Naveed Nawaz wrote:
TheLegendLeads wrote:
Naveed Nawaz wrote:
if you need 1000 SR increment then tell your dean that you will have PHD degree in coming june heheh
You dun need to go mad sir :p apka already screw dheela hai

lol
Our traditional reply: THIS IS ANGLO FORUM. English only please.

Let me help who didn't get it. In Urdu language slangs, we call nuts as people who have a loose screw in their heads. Naveed is complimenting me for having a loose screw. lol

Naveed Nawaz · 2012-05-05 13:24:51

TheLegendLeads wrote:
Let me help who didn't get it. In Urdu language slangs, we call nuts as people who have a loose screw in their heads. Naveed is complimenting me for having a loose screw.

big_smile was just kidding no hard feelings

TheLegendLeads · 2012-05-05 15:37:46

Can't have hard feelings with a loose screw. lol

tatty moula · 2012-05-05 15:51:43

lol tongue lol tongue lol tongue

tatty moula · 2012-05-13 15:03:56

Ive got a new offer...
This time its in Riyadh.
Housing + transportation + tickets + medical insurance (fully paid by the school)
salary: 7875 Riyals.
2 years contract
working hours: 6:45 till 2:45 (5 days per week)
What do you think???
please advice.

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Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#41 2012-05-02 08:44:19

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#42 2012-05-02 11:25:01

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

agent47 wrote:

#43 2012-05-02 15:49:55

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

tatty moula wrote:

agent47 wrote:

#44 2012-05-02 19:59:59

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

#45 2012-05-02 20:12:54

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

tatty moula wrote:

#46 2012-05-02 20:34:14

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#47 2012-05-02 20:36:38

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#48 2012-05-03 07:22:23

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

tatty moula wrote:

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

#49 2012-05-03 11:02:41

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

tatty moula wrote:

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

#50 2012-05-03 11:12:00

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

tatty moula wrote:

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

tatty moula wrote:

#51 2012-05-03 11:17:32

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#52 2012-05-03 11:20:23

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

TheLegendLeads wrote:

#53 2012-05-03 11:26:58

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#54 2012-05-03 11:28:50

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

TheLegendLeads wrote:

#55 2012-05-03 11:57:47

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#56 2012-05-04 06:49:39

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

tatty moula wrote:

#57 2012-05-04 07:51:56

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

Alliecat wrote:

#58 2012-05-04 08:56:56

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

Alliecat wrote:

#59 2012-05-04 08:59:29

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

agent47 wrote:

#60 2012-05-04 09:04:31

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

expatsoon2b wrote:

agent47 wrote:

#61 2012-05-04 09:15:23

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

Alliecat wrote:

expatsoon2b wrote:

agent47 wrote:

#62 2012-05-04 09:16:52

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

#63 2012-05-04 09:26:16

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

expatsoon2b wrote:

Naveed Nawaz wrote:

#64 2012-05-04 21:32:50

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#65 2012-05-04 21:37:13

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!

#66 2012-05-04 21:50:37

Re: Moving to Jeddah SOON!