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[nomad soul]

Kingdom 28th best place for expats to live, finds poll
Saudi Gazette Report | October 25, 2014
Source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20141026222376

MAKKAH — Saudi Arabia ranked 28 among 34 countries as the most suitable place for expatriates to live in, according to an opinion poll conducted by one of the world’s leading banking institutions.

The HSBC poll classified expatriates who seek to achieve a high and distinctive lifestyle according to indices like salaries, quality of life and access to education for their children in a foreign country, Makkah daily reported.

Bahrain ranked 5th at the top of Gulf countries while Qatar, Oman and the UAE came 13th, 14th and 15th respectively. Kuwait occupied the 29th spot. Switzerland occupied the top position followed by Singapore, China and Germany.

The HSBC poll is considered to be among the largest opinion polls for the viewpoints of expatriates. This year, the poll included 9,300 expatriates in over 100 countries who gave their opinions on lifestyles, financial situations and ease in providing sustenance for the family.

The US came in 30th place, followed by Italy, Brazil and Britain. Egypt came last. Switzerland topped the rankings, as it had done the year before.

Over a quarter of the expats HSBC polled earned more than $200,000 annually, but also maintained a better work-life balance than in their home countries. Switzerland’s beautiful scenery and lack of air pollution is a plus, with vast majorities of expat parents there saying their children lived safer and better lives than in their previous home, according to HSBC’s press release.

Perhaps more interesting is the growing draw of Asia for the expats surveyed, with its booming economies presenting lands of opportunity for expats from all over the world. “Asia emerges from this year’s survey as the best region for financial wellbeing, with nearly one fifth (19%) of expats earning over USD200,000 p.a. and 65% saying they have more disposable income since relocating,” says HSBC.

The rankings look rather different when you separate the findings by category. Asian countries may account for terrific remuneration, but not necessarily the greatest living experience. You’ll note China is not in the top 10 countries for raising children. Many expatriates, particularly those living in Beijing, the smog-clogged Chinese capital, fear the long-term effects of the country’s air pollution on their kids.

(End of article)

[Mushkilla]

Let me laugh then think!
The HSBC Poll should be nominated for the 2015 Ig Nobel Prize Winners!

Do you believe that the Magic Kingdom is better place for expats than the USA?

Anyway, the Magic Kingdom is in bottom of the barrel. If you look in the details of the criteria of the poll, you will see the Magic Kingdom ranked 34 in the "social life", "entertainment", "travel around locally", and ranked 35 in "better access in education", "children are more in outgoing", and 36 in "children have wider circle/friend".
More details about the poll here:
https://www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/#/country/saudi-arabia

But I think there is one criteria missing in this poll, is that of "woman right of driving" it seems they have missed it!

You as an expat in the Magic Kingdom, where do you rank it according to the criteria of the HSBC poll?

[johnslat]

Well, considering this fact:

"The U.S., ranked 30th, performed poorly in the survey, which was conducted exclusively among clients of HSBC's offshore banking service and therefore could have limited the profile of those questioned."

Love that "could have limited the profile." I suspect only the crème de la crème of the expat population in every country took part. In other words, for Saudi, not too many Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Filipinos, or, for that matter, EFL teachers took part. Not many offshore banking customers among most of those groups, I'd say.

I also doubt many Hispanic expats in the US participated.

Regards,
John

[nomad soul]

I suspect most of the expats polled for KSA are those who have established a home in the Kingdom with their families versus single-status EFL teachers who plan to work for 1-3 years and then move on.

[veiledsentiments]

Corporate sorts living on posh compounds... no teachers or lower on the rungs...

VS

[MixtecaMike]

Heck I'm happy here, with well under $200,000 a year. It's fairly safe, fairly quiet, my kids go to a fairly reasonable school, and I have a very nice work/relaxation ratio. Even the weather is nice (at the moment).

If you aren't 28th happy, maybe you are not banking with SABB?

[LPKSA]

"...according to an opinion poll conducted by one of the world’s leading banking institutions.

The HSBC poll classified expatriates who seek to achieve a high and distinctive lifestyle according to indices like salaries, quality of life and access to education for their children in a foreign country, Makkah daily reported."

I don't have kids, but the people here I do know are complaining about the quality of education for theirs.

I wonder why they chose to rate this on salaries over quality of life? I see homeless women with babies walking all over the highways where I'm at. Where are the fathers? Oh wait, expats, from the west... Right.

[Mushkilla]

[Mushkilla]

[plumpy nut]

[quote="plumpy nut"]

[scot47]

"Clients of HSBC Offshore" ? So they did not ask many Indian drivers or Egyptian labourers !

[caliph]

I enjoyed my time in KSA. Decent job/pay, (military contractor), good housing, students ok, lots of partying. The five S's:

Sun
Sand
Sid
Surf
S**

What's not to like?

[Mushkilla]

[D. Merit]

Err..he seems to have included at least a couple of those.