Job Discussion Forums

Al-gandol · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 11

I have just received an offer from King Faisal University in Al-Ehsa campus for assistant prof position. I would like to know the cost of living in Al-Ehssa (I think the city name is Hufuf). Example, the cost of renting a 4-bedroom Apartment or a house for a family of 5? Also, would like to know if there are foreign schools (American or British) for my kids and how much does it cost?
Any additional info will also be greatly appreciated...

Elamin Osman
Washington DC USA

Bob Gorn · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:11 pm Post subject:

The good news is that the rent will be cheap. Hofuf is well known in the Eastern Province, and you will hear it described as an "old oasis town". This sounds romantic, but the truth is far from it. The town is run down and appears much poorer than other major cities in the region. It is in a very conservative area, which may or may not be to your liking. There are not many Western expats living there, so US/UK schools will probably be hard to find.

Al-gandol · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 11

Thanks a lot for the prompt reply! Foreign schools are key to me, because my kids know little Arabic and they have been in America since they were born. How close is other cities that may have such schools? Any estimate on the cost??

trapezius · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject:

International Schools Group (ISG) operates several Western managed schools with British, American, and IB curricula in the Eastern region in the Eastern region in several cities.

Main site: http://www.isgdh.org/htm

List of divisions: http://www.isgdh.org/htm/district_info.htm (shows map with locations, and you can see Hofuf on the map as well)

Most are within about 120 km of Hofuf. The closest is in Abqaiq, about 40-50 km from Hofuf. Uses American curriculum. Here is the info for that:

http://www.isgdh.org/htm/isg_bqaiq.htm

And here is the separate website for it:

http://www.isgabqaiq.org

Al-gandol · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 11

Great! This is very much appreciated!
If I can also get some quotes on housing in AlHufuf. what is the ballpark of a big apt (3-4 bedroom or a house)??

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Locals call the town 'Hassa' although in 'Fus'ha' - Formal Arabic it is 'Al-Ahsa'. Shia area. Undeveloped. Agricultural. Also known as Hofuf. In Ottoman times the administrative centre. Now a backwater compared to Khobar/Dhahran/Dammam ('Aramcotown')

Your children will have to be bussed to school. Crucial question is how much educational allowance are they paying you ? For a Western school, fees are around 30,000 riyals per child per year.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

For Dhahran Schools fees can rise as high as 46,000 riyals per child per year.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Al-Hasa is massive.

I remember it well because my car would break down there without fail, both going to and from the Emirates.

A lot of greenery on the outskirts. The centre itself is nondescript.