Job Discussion Forums

[Sweaty Ted]

Or is it just an innocent result of poor English comprehension? For example, my contract is nearly impossible to decipher:

Rank: language instructor
Monthly salary: 4,080 Riyal
Monthly transport allowance: 500 Riyal
Housing allowance: 17,000 Riyal
Once-off furniture allowance: 8,500 Riyal
Special professional/exceptional allowance: 100% (this is impossible for an outsider to understand)
Other: no

Exact quote, "In addition, there is a monthly allowance of ___350 x 10 ____ riyal for every years relevant experience up to a maximum of 5 years. Please provide proof of experience by date, month and year."

Now, my logical mind would think that that last part would mean that every month I would receive 350 x 10 Riyal x 5 years of experience, which would equal 17,500 Riyal.

I am hearing that I will receive:
4,080 Riyal as a base salary
4,080 Riyal as my 100% special professional allowance (I have learned that I get this as a native speaker and that the teachers from Eastern Europe don't get this at all!)
3,500 Riyal total added on to the already 8,160 Riyal for a total of
8160
3500
11660 Riyal, plus 500 Riyal for monthly transport, which is 12,160 Riyal total per month as my monthly salary?

Should I go if it's that low? I have heard of people with only a B.A. earning at least US$3,500 per month! I have my M.Ed. in TESOL, plus my M.A. in Spanish, and I have been teaching since 1997. This doesn't sound right.

[nomad soul]

[al-Californian]

Yeah Ted, 17,500 Riyal plus your base salary would be a whole lotta money! So are ya thinkin bout Dubai/UAE now?

[Sweaty Ted]

If it were 17,000 + Riyal per month, I would still be considering it, but my western contact tells me that it is at 12,000 Riyal per month, which is around US$3,000 per month. That is not good enough to go to one of the most restrictive societies on Earth. I have decided that US$4,000 is my absolute minimum to live in KSA.

Details
1. Abha is a very isolated place, unlike Jeddah or Riyadh. Getting around without a car is very hard. Having to buy or lease a car would wipe out a lot of my salary.

2. Plenty of other places will pay you much more than 12,000 Riyal per month.

3. I have a B.A. in English literature, my M.Ed. in TESOL (2001), a second B.A. in Spanish and a second M.A. in Spanish. Sorry to sound arrogant, but 12,000 per month is insulting for someone with qualifications and experience dating back to 1997.

Saudi is a brutally difficult place for a western Christian to adapt to; the sole incentive is the high salary. Without that salary, you are settting yourself up for true misery.

[rdobbs98]

Sweaty Ted you are psyching yourself out before you even go. Is Saudi Arabia or any Muslim country different than the West, yes, but it comes down to you as well if you will be able to adjust or not. It isn't always the country's fault, it is also partly the person who goes.

I was in the military and before I went to basic training, everyone tried to psych me out. I knew it would be tough but I also knew I must be ready to adapt and overcome. I did and basic training was a breeze for me, others it was not because they refused to adapt.

My sister-in-law is in Riyadh right now, she is from Karachi but also is a doctor, MD. She says it is a bit different but also she is adapting and not having too much problems because she is playing by the rules and is patient.

I have seen your posts and don't take this wrong but you seem to get a bit anxious. Well if you are going through this now, think how it will be for you once there, maybe this isn't the place to go and you need somewhere more laid back. Just a suggestion.

[Sweaty Ted]

I appreciate your input, but after getting my contracted analyzed by the new dean and hearing that I will earn a maximum of 12,000 Riyal per month has rightfully inspired me to say no to the post offered to me.

I will not accept a post in KSA for less than US$4,000 per month. Add to that that I am "not supposed" to contact the new dean about any of this is a bad sign.

[rdobbs98]

I understand. Originally my wife and I considered China but everyone I came across eventually were dishonest on the contracts. So we shifted to the Middle East and hopefully, "inshallah", all will go as planned.

[al-Californian]

[tacomaboywa]

[now in ksa]

Not that the contract really means that much when you get here. Draw your line in the sand and stick to it. Good luck.