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66be
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Planet Earth
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 Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:32 am Post subject: FEMALE LIVING OUTSIDE A COMPOUND IN RIYADH - ADVICE PLEASE! |
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Does any female on here have any experience of living in a flat on her own in Riyadh and if so could you let me knowm what sort of lifestyle is possible  I have heard so many scare stories but the cost of compound living is so expensive. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:38 am Post subject: Re: FEMALE LIVING OUTSIDE A COMPOUND IN RIYADH - ADVICE PLEA |
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| 66be wrote: |
| I have heard so many scare stories... |
What scary stories have you heard and from whom? Frankly, Riyadh is quite safe for women on their own. Also, depending on your employer, you're very likely to end up living near your teaching colleagues---possibly even in the same apartment building. |
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66be
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Planet Earth
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| Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:58 am Post subject: FEMALE LIVING OUTSIDE A COMPOUND IN RIYADH - ADVICE PLEASE! |
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| I will (if I take up the offer) be living in a 1 bedroom flat near the centre of Riyadh - it has a large walled balcony so I have space - but I am concerned with having my friends visiting me. I have geniune male, female friends and like holding dinner parties, this and together with being outside on my own (not in malls) I have had varying opinions. There are no other teachers in the apartment block. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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Dear 66be,
You would NOT want to have any male friend visiting - although if those friends were accompanied by their wives it'd probably not be a problem.
As for the rest, a female living alone in Riyadh is likely to be a lot safer than one living alone in, say, New York or any other large "Western" city.
Regards,
John |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Many single expat women, including myself, go out and about on our own with no issues. So, I'm still not sure what specific problems you're anticipating or were warned about.
The Kingdom has strict gender-segregation laws, which means your female friends can visit you in your home, but definitely not the men. However, if any of them are compound residents or know someone in a compound, the rules are laxed and mixed social gatherings are the norm. |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| You could of course just ignore the rules and sneak your male friends in, but if you choose to break the laws then you had better be prepared to live with the consequences when you get caught. Anyways not so easy to do with so many secretive eyes watching and security...someone is bound to tell on you! |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| cmp45 wrote: |
| the consequences when you get caught |
not if...
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66be
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Planet Earth
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: Female living outside a compound in Riyadh Advice Please |
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| Do not think I would feel comfortable with the fact that I would have to 'sneak' my friends into my apartment just so I could enjoy a normal evening of dinner and chat - think I will have to let this one go. My employers have alternative accommodation which seems like my only choice as compounds are just too expensive. Thank you all for your input. |
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Sheik Yerbuti
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 105
Location: the promised land
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 9:18 am Post subject: |
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"Normal evening"....haven't had many of those the past
four years... |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Female living outside a compound in Riyadh Advice Please |
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| 66be wrote: |
| ...think I will have to let this one go. My employers have alternative accommodation which seems like my only choice as compounds are just too expensive. |
If having a social life with mixed company is important to your quality of life, then definitely consider applying for jobs in less-conservative countries. Otherwise, you'll be faced with the same housing scenario as most Saudi employers tend to house single, expat women in female-only type accommodations (versus mixed-gender/family compounds) without the option to live in other housing. |
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66be
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Planet Earth
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:29 am Post subject: Female living outside a compound in Riyadh Advice Please |
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| Sheik Yerbuti wrote: |
"Normal evening"....haven't had many of those the past
four years... |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Sheik Yerbuti
"Normal evening"....haven't had many of those the past
four years..."
Sure you have - normal's whatever you get used to. And after four - or three or two - years, you should be used to what used to be weird. 
Regards,
John |
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Gulezar
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Posts: 483
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| Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:39 am Post subject: Re: Female living outside a compound in Riyadh Advice Please |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| If having a social life with mixed company is important to your quality of life, then definitely consider applying for jobs in less-conservative countries. Otherwise, you'll be faced with the same housing scenario as most Saudi employers tend to house single, expat women in female-only type accommodations (versus mixed-gender/family compounds) without the option to live in other housing. |
Don't put the UAE on the list of conservative enough countries either. Recently, a female teacher was busted for hanging out and drinking with a non-related male. The fellow was a married and he had kicked his wife out of the flat, so it's not surprising that the the police were notified. In any case, you are less likely to get turned in for skirting the laws in the UAE. |
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jaffa
Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Posts: 403
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| Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 5:57 am Post subject: |
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| If the UAE authorities are so ridiculously pious, how do they explain the vast swarms of prostitutes on their hallowed land? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 6:18 am Post subject: |
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swarms??? I didn't know prostitutes could fly...  paints a scary picture
yeah yeah I know... |
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