Job Discussion Forums

[Jim Bigelow]

Greetings all!

I need your advice...I've been in Saudi for a number of years now but over the last few years the company has gone from bad to worse and it's just not sensible for me to renew my contract for another year.I'm now ready to move on and have secured a much better package but my present employer refuses 100% to allow me to transfer and even a letter of no objection is not an option!

So although I know that I can go out and change my passport and come straight back in with my new sponsor, I don't see that as a sensible option (please correct me if I'm wrong) as to my knowledge if you're old employer catches wind of you being back here then they can have you booted out before you know it!

So I think I've decided to take a final exit only visa and spend the next year or so in a nearby country. So far I'm thinking Bahrain or Kuwait. Visa's are not a problem for me but in the event that I don't find a full time job then can you tell me what's the deal with part-time work? Here in Saudi it's abundant and as a qualified native speaker I can find work all over the place. So what's it like in Bahrain/Kuwait. Do you think that if I came over I'd be able to hook up some work pretty quickly or not?

Thanks a million for any advice!

[Mark100]

You can still work in Saudi just come in on a 3 month business visa and keep on renewing it. That it is what a lot of people do to circumvent the No objection deal.
I have never heard of anyone been caught with the change of passport either.
I have done it twice myself.
Forget about Bahrain there is nothing much available there if you are used to Saudi money.
Kuwait is a possibility but the salaries are also not so high.

[Jim Bigelow]

Thanks allot Mark100!
Interesting.....The people I've heard about being kicked out when they came back in quickly where mainly managers etc.....unfortunately I left the safe and secure world of teaching and got lost for two years in Management! I was managing (and what makes it worse is I did a pretty good job of it!) one of the large centres in KSA! That's why I reckon they'd be gunning for me!
Bahrain's a waste of time huh? Thanks for telling me....
I just need to pass a year really....unofficially 6 months is usually enough and 2 years is the official time you're meant to stay out so I figured a year would be good. Maybe Kuwait? How's the part time work out there?

Thanks again and please let the advice flow!

[scot47]

There are people who live in Bahrain and commute to Saudi Arabia over the causeway. I assume that they have a Saudi Arabian business visa but I do not know the details.

Bahrain is expensive. There are not many jobs for native speaker EFL teachers. There is a posting somewhere from someone who was pleased to tell us that he was earning 450 BD a month (=4,500 SR).

[Jim Bigelow]

Thanks for your input,
Bahrain is now no longer an option.....pleased to be earning Sr4500?
So what about Kuwait? Any more feedback?