Job Discussion Forums

[only1life]

I will soon be starting work in Jeddah with Laureate Vocational. Total package is over 20,000 SAR offered with a single visa. Apparently the job will be out near the King Abdulaziz Medical University in South Jeddah. Can anyone there advise about compounds located in the south to central part of Jeddah? What are the waiting periods for compound accommodation roughly and what are the costs?

The complication is I have a family and although the package offered by Saudi is reasonable enough I also have an offer to go to Salalah in Oman, for a package of 13,400 SAR, equivalent, with a family visa (i.e. air tickets & health coverage for wife and child every year).

Oman seems like a more pleasant place to be but I find it hard thumbing my nose at 7,000 SAR/month. My inclination is just to deal with Saudi as my wife and I want to pay off our mortgage asap. We plan on just being homebodies with our child anyway. For those of you who have experienced both Saudi and Oman any insights you could give may be helpful.

[sicklyman]

I haven't done Oman but I am in Saudi and I can tell you that if you want compound accommodation in Jeddah that extra 7000 is probably not going to go very far at all. I'm on considerably more than you and I would not pay for a compound here in Khobar. I'd imagine Jeddah would be more pricey than Khobar and have longer waiting lists for decent compounds but I could be wrong.

I would take Oman if I was in your shoes. But I'm interested to hear what people say who have experience of both places.

[CANDLES]

I've worked in KSA and Oman and I find Oman to be the more friendlier of the two.
Salalah is about an hour from Muscat by air and it's a very nice place-very natural, unspoiled beaches and friendly people. The only drawback is that it's a bit too modern (not what you'd imagine Oman would be like). Not sure about the cost of the accommodation as I lived in a company flat (1 bedroom flat with big kitchen 2 bathrooms, 1/or 2 living rooms) where I only paid gas/electricity and water bills, (wasn't much- about OMR 20.00 max for me).

In Saudi lived in a medium sized compound (everything paid for). Saved a lot of money! Negative thing will be that your wife will be restricted to going to malls covered up, but in Oman will be able to go to the beach and relax (within reason- no skimpy swimwear).

[nomad soul]

I'd say most expat teachers in Jeddah live in flats not compounds---that includes several of my single, female friends. Compound living sounds appealing, but it's expensive and frankly, doesn't make sense for someone intent on saving as much money as possible to pay off debts in his home country.

That being said, I have a different take on your inquiry about Oman vs. KSA because, in a way, you've answered your own question. So here are three options:

Option 1: If your wife and child (who I assume is not school aged) expect to join you abroad...
Obviously, KSA is out of the running due to your single-status visa. That leaves Oman on the table with its family-friendly package.

Option 2: If your wife and child stay in your home country but expect to visit you abroad...
You can go either way: Jeddah or Salalah. Even though you'd be on a single visa in Saudi Arabia, family members can visit. However, that might be more of a problem than it's worth. especially if you're in a housing situation that doesn't allow for families. Of course, your wife would also need to determine if she can handle living in the Kingdom's conservative culture, even if it's just for a short time. By contrast, accommodating visiting family isn't an issue with Oman.

Option 3: If your wife has no qualms about staying in your home country for the year or so you're overseas...
Based on your priorities, it's your choice as to which offer to accept. In other words, is it more important to earn money to pay off your mortgage or is an easy lifestyle tops for you. You've already noted that the KSA opportunity offers more money, but you'd be living in a restrictive environment (Jeddah is actually not as conservative as Riyadh). On the other hand, laid-back Oman would give you an easier living experience, however, the job doesn't pay as much, which means less money to sock aside toward quickly paying down your mortgage. Plus, you may have to add the expense of a car.

What are your priorities? What's your overall objective?

[only1life]

Thank you all very kindly for the helpful replies. It sounds like Oman is a much better prospect in terms of quality of life. Saving money is a high priority and even with the expense of a furnished apartment (maybe 4-5,000SAR/month), we would be about US$15,000/year better off in Jeddah. That kind of money really matters where we live. However, the points you have outlined with regards to visa hassles and Saudi culture has a value, too. We had our child before we were married and it did cross my mind that some nut case would notice the dates of our child's birth against the later date of our marriage. We would also have to foot the bill for health and transport costs every year for my wife and child. Other points include: teaching hours (in Oman quoted as 20 hours per week while Laureate quotes 25 hours)
Salalah College of Technology in Oman is a long established institution while Laureate is working deals with existing schools, a deal which may or may not continue. It's hard to know how secure Laureate is.
On top of all this I have to consider another offer in China (familiar territory) with a similar package to Oman (minus family benefits). They are all mediocre offers. Certainly not worth the string of qualifications I wasted so much time doing. I have some very difficult choices ahead of me. It seems I may end up paying a rather high 'price' (other than financial) by taking the Saudi offer. As I think things over, to go to Saudi I'd really want a greater inducement. I appreciate your help in sorting out my choices.

[bertonneau]

I lived in Salalah and Im in Saudi now. Salalah for sure depending on kids ages. The Indian School in Salalah will let your kids attend cheaply and they will get a decent education with other expat kids and Indians of course. I gues it depends on what your wife finds acceptable. I find Saudi after 10 months to be a dump as a country and a culture. I would'nt let my wife come here and sure as hell wouldn't let my kids touch 98% of what they call schools here. Very Very few real educational choices here assuming you value your kids educations. Salalah is nice, fun, beautiful and exciting. Saudi is not. Omanis are cool Saudis are not. My thoughts.

[2buckets]

Salalah for sure. Omanis are like real people who actually do work and are not spoiled rotten like most Saudis.

Salalah is also a unique geographical location on the peninsula, banana, mango, papaya tress, great weather, an actual rainy season,(monsoon). Great beaches too.

[trapezius]

The vast majority of compounds are in west and north Jeddah. I don't know of any in south Jeddah. Anyway, waiting list are usually 1 year long, as the number of compounds hasn't changed for well over a decade, but demand has multiplied many-fold.

A studio or a 1-bd on a compound in Jeddah ranges from 40-100k per year, typically 60-80k. But again, these are in west and north Jeddah. If there are any compounds in south Jeddah, they might be slightly cheaper, but I have never heard of any compounds in the south. Do a google search. There are some pages with compound listings and descriptions.

A furnished apartment can be easily had for 2-3k.

My advice, go to Oman. I haven't been there, but from all accounts I have read and heard over the years, it is a real place. Jeddah is a dump and an eye-sore, with rubbish (everybody tosses it) and construction debris strewn everywhere. Even raw sewage from overflowing underground septic tanks in many neighborhoods.

While many people want to come here, I want to get out, but I am stuck. Wish I had your options.

[CANDLES]

" I want to get out, but I am stuck. Wish I had your options".


Everyone has the option to get out of Saudi, except women married to Saudi men. Difficult, but eventually escape can be had, if one goes to the embassy to get it sorted, but if children involved then major problem.

Sorry to hear this.

Yes Oman is a lot, lot nicer than Saudi!