Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

Perhaps the strongest argument in favor of Saudi versus the UAE is that it's easier for many/most to save more there. Not much to spend your loot on when you're in-country Very Happy

.

Of course, then you don't want to go hog-wild (so to speak) on your holidays.
Very Happy

Regards,
John

scot47 · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:45 pm Post subject:

Johnslat

I must confess that I am as Anti-UAE as VS is Anti-Saudi. But then I have visited Do-Buy, and Sharjah, and Buraimi (oops sorry Al Ain) whereas VS has not had the pleasure of visiting the Majikk Kingdom !

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 14901 Location: USA

Some of us seem to know what will give us pleasure and what will not. Cool

And I still saved 90% of my income.

Actually I am no big fan of the UAE... hate Dubai and would have never accepted a job there... much prefer RAK, Al Ain, or Abu Dhabi... but it still avoids the vast majority of negatives of KSA.

Conforming to a dress code that I would find uncomfortable, not having freedom of movement, not being able to leave a country by merely having the taxi fare, not being able to jump into my car and drive to a neighboring country, having to spend months jumping through hoops to get the paperwork to get there...

do I need to go on?

VS

scot47 · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:03 am Post subject:

Aaah ! The American (and Saudi and Emirati) obsession with the MOTORCAR !

johnslat · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:47 pm Post subject:

Dear VS and scot47,

There's also the obvious - VS, being a lady, would, of course, prefer the UAE.

I know that I would certainly advise any lady to choose the UAE over Saudi.

Regards,
John

scot47 · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:42 pm Post subject:

You mean.......................they are DIFFERENT ?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 14901 Location: USA

johnslat · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

Jeepers, you DID spend FAR too long in Saudi. Very Happy

Regards,
John

nickelgoat · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:15 am Post subject:

It has now been five full months since I arrived in Saudi, and still no iqama. I was told that my company's Nitaqat status was changed from yellow to green about three weeks ago after the requisite number of Saudis were hired. I am beside myself. Now I can't exit for Eid, but have been told I can have time off from mid-December to early January PROVIDING I have my iqama by then.

Why wouldn't I? That's what I want to know.

This Nitaqat thing is stupid all the way around. The newspaper says it has found thousands of jobs for Saudis since it went into effect, but among the spoiled rich youth of Riyadh, those I've spoken to say they have no intention of working at anything an expat can be hired for. Just laze around all day and live off Daddy, I guess. And then cruise Tahlia Street at night.

I've been feeling depressed over this. God forbid I have a family emergency at home.

now in ksa · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 35 Location: KSA

Wow my company JECPT got me a replacement iqama in a couple of months when I lost mine, they also managed to renew my visa within a month when I overstayed my exit/reentry due to ill health. It can be done and I'm sure it will.... eventually. Sorry it must have been awful staying in Ramadan, hope you get sorted soon.

wantok · Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 168

nickelgoat, I believe the law stipulates that your application for an iqama must be submitted within days of your arrival and taht you must have that precious pice of plastic in your hand within 90 days of arrival.

Check the stickies.

This applies notwithstanding current Nit-a-wit status irregularities.

Your employer is in serious serious serious breach of his legal obligations.

rdobbs98 · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 151

@nickelgoat you are being played with by your employer. I would go check with the Ministry of Labor and explain the situation because if you don't you could end up in trouble too.

In case the Saudi sponsor's national ID is flagged in the system, he would not be able to renew the Iqama of any of his expatriate employees and there has been cases where bank accounts of expatriates have been frozen because the sponsor did not bother to renew his commercial license.

Workers' Care Department in the Ministry of Labor in Riyadh. The phone number is 01-210 4588.

Riyadh Region 01-4039857
Kharj Province 01-4548231
Dawadmi Province 01-6420920
Majmaa' Province 06-4321724
Wadi Addawasir Province 01-7840264
Zulfi Province 06-4220235
Shaqra Province 01-6221342
Makka Region 02-5420745
Jeddah Province 02-6311687
Taif Province 02-7461616
Qunfudah Province 07-7320761
Madinah Region 04-8654416
Yanbu Province 04-3222688
Al-Ula' Province 04-8840830
Qassim Region (Buraidah) 06-3250387
Onaizah Province 06-3640285
Al-Rass Province 04-3333502
Hail Province 06-5321139
Eastern Region (Dammam) 03-8261419
Ahsa' Province 03-5822801
Hafr albatin Province 03-7220220
Khobar Province 03-8641541
Abqaiq Province 03-5661324
Jubail Province 03-3620150
Khafji Province 03-7660380
Ras Tannurah Province 03-6670424
Aseer Region (Abha) 07-2242128
Bisha Province 07-6226718
Baha Region 07-7253240
Najran Region 07-5224995
Jazan Region 07-3213671
Jauf Region 04-6241766
Qurayyat Province 04-6421108
Tabuk Province 04-4221181
Alwajh Province 04-4421970
Northern Frontiers Region (Arar) 04-6627128
Turaif Province 04-6521029

nickelgoat · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:02 am Post subject:

The latest on this situation:

Was told the truth after I wrote a letter insisting on being updated. Apparently two Jordanians who left the company just before I arrived started working for another employer but did not transfer their iqamas to the new employer, so they are still showing up on my company's list at the Labor Ministry and its fouling things up for me. Was told that they have now been given two weeks to do so or they get final exit papers, which will send them right back to Jordan. Can't say I feel sorry for them.

So it is now up to individuals to get their iqamas transferred? I thought the companies themselves took care of that? Whatever. I think it is very lazy and ignorant for workers to change companies without making sure their paperwork is up to date.

I've been promised an extra week off once it comes through, with pay, on top of my 30 paid days for the year. That was a nice gesture. I hope to go home for Christmas.

rdobbs98 · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 151

Sounds like b.s. and an excuse but not the truth. Do you believe an employer is good who does this to one of its employees? I don't believe so and why continue to work for someone like this because there will always be another excuse and another problem. Wait until the end of the year or when you want the vacation/holiday used or paid out, but there will "be a problem" at that time too.

bima · Joined: 01 Nov 2012 Posts: 3 Location: Chicago, IL

Hi nickelgoat
I have been following this thread since the day you originally posted and I would like to know how you are doing. Have you gotten your Iqama yet? Are you going home for Christmas? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!