Job Discussion Forums

dazzer64 · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 10

Have an interview for Saudi Electric coming up.

Might have to make a choice between Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Abha.

Does anyone have experience with them? Which city?

I'm talking management quality, professionalism, friendliness, co-workers, students, schedule, city, accommodation.

I've heard they are ok generally, am hopeful.

Am a vet teacher in the ME, so need someone that can follow me when I talk about ELT.

Also need work for wifey, new to Saudi but not to ELT.

Thanks.

johnslat · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 1:07 pm Post subject:

Dear dazzer64,

I lived in two (Jeddah: 4 years; Riyadh:15) and have been to the other two.

I'd put them in this order of preference: 1. Jeddah; 2. Riyadh; 3. Dammam; 4. Abha.

Some will prefer Dammam to Riyadh, mainly, I suspect, because of the proximity to Bahrain (and legal booze), but I think Riyadh has better weather.

Abha is a lovely part of the country, but kind of "in the sticks". It's located high up (about 7,200 ft. - same as where i now reside: Santa Fe, NM) and if I were going back, I'd probably pick it. But it depends a lot of you - what you like/need in a place.

Actually, the four you mentioned may well be the four best spots in the Kingdom.

Ah, just saw this, posted on the General Middle East forum:

"Since my wife has a dust allergy and we want to move to a Gulf country, where would it be unwise to go and where would it be survivable?"

Abha

Regards,
John

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

I lived in Abha for 3 years. It has more diverse weather with fresh mountain air. It actually rains there quite alot compared to the rest of the country. The landscapes are beautiful. The shopping is a bit of a hassle as everything is spread out more. Having a car there would be handy. Khamis Mushayt has more in terms of shopping about 20 minutes away from Abha. Flying in and out can also be tedious. Overall it has modern amenities and less traffic congestion than in the bigger cities. Although people still drive carelessly like everywhere in KSA. Lots of accidents due to foggy conditions. It can be treacherous if you are caught in the fog because many drivers are wreckless- of course believing Allah will protect them.

dazzer64 · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 10

I appreciate your responses, thanks.

I didn't know anything about Abha, but might be a little too isolated for my wife (gathering this from your responses). Am I right?

Probably it's one of those places you choose after you have visited or know friends.

But I admit it sounds ok for my wife's dust allergies.

PeterParvo · Joined: 18 Dec 2011 Posts: 103

Just due to the fact that your wife is going to be in Saudi Arabia probably means she is going to be isolated. After being here for a number of years with my wife and kids, I have come to realize how awful it can be for women and children.

I also have dust allergies, but I feel great here. Dust allergies are caused by dust mites that feed on dead flakes of skin in your house, not on the dust from the desert that's blowing around outside.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

I never lived in Abha, but I visited there a couple of times. I thought it was very pleasant, for a Saudi city. Abha has a really nice climate; because of its elevation (about 2200m?) its considerably cooler than the other cities you mentioned in your list. Its actually quite chilly at night there, which I was very grateful for, at the time. As another poster pointed out, it rains fairly regularly in Abha (If you stay in Riyadh, Jeddah, etc, you may not see rain for months at a time). Abha seemed fairly green, and it has a kind of, ever-so-slight, resort-town feel to it. A lot of Saudis go there in the summer, to escape the oppressive heat. It has an Intercontinental hotel, as well as an international airport, so I'd hardly say it was out in the sticks. The mountains around the city are stunning. All of my co-workers who visited Abha, and there were a fair few of them, seemed to like the city. In terms of things to do, its pretty limited, but then that is a problem with just about everywhere in the tragic kingdom.

Grendal · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject:

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Muslim expat · Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 24 Location: Somewhere in KSA

My wife has dust allergies and they actually are better here than in her home country, Algeria. I think it's the kind of dust and the humidity in the Mediterranean. By the way we are in Medinah and I haven't met any backpackers yet. Taibah University is changing as they depend more on recruiters. They seem to be direct hiring less and less.