Job Discussion Forums

EasternSpirit · Joined: 20 Dec 2014 Posts: 10

Hi All,

Hope you're all doing great.

After lurking some time I've decided to join Smile

I've read here the nightmare that is EduEdex Sad

I've signed a contract with them having waited seven months, I finally had my medical done.

From speaking to them they said I might be placed in Dammam or Aljears /Aljeers/Aljer (not sure of the spelling and can’t find the place because of that). Is anyone currently out there and have any recommendation to offer? I know you have to sign another contract when you get there so will the pay be affected? What compounds can you recommend in those areas because I feel uneasy about their accommodation? And just in case they place me elsewhere, is Al Khobar expat friendly?

I have a graduates degree with TESOL certificate and limited experience, so I know UAE for now is off limits to me.

I'm not worried about the refund issue since I'm aware of how to get it back (small courts) and what to do even if it means flooding their emails and voicemail machine with 100 messages from me!

The most important thing for me is the accommodation/compound issue Sad

Thank you in advance!

fledex · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 342

When a colleague of mine worked for Edex in that area of KSA, they flew him into Riyadh, gave him a train ticket and enough money for a couple weeks accommodation, and then told him to go out there and find a place. He ended up back at the headquarters in Riyadh in a couple weeks on his own dime, begging for more money so he could rent another place. He had been kicked out of the apartment for not paying any more rent. He stayed in my place in Riyadh, because they weren't even paying for his hotel there. Eventually, he gave up and just got a plane out of Bahrain to a better job.

Sheik Yerbuti · Joined: 02 Dec 2012 Posts: 105 Location: the promised land

There is green, and then there is emerald green.

EasternSpirit · Joined: 20 Dec 2014 Posts: 10

EasternSpirit · Joined: 20 Dec 2014 Posts: 10

LPKSA · Joined: 02 Mar 2014 Posts: 211

You know what you're getting into. Come back here for support when things head south. A lot of people here are helpful.

Seriously, you can have the results from your medical switched to another potential employer, as long as it was YOU who paid for the medical tests.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Aljears /Aljeers/Aljer"

They plan to send you to Algeria ?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

fledex · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 342

They didn't offer to provide my colleague accommodation there. They sent him with some money to find it. It wasn't in Dammam, but another Eastern city. Ask them before you leave if they have a compound with an apartment ready for you in Dammam. If not, beware.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

So, welcome.

But you come her for advice from those of us experienced enough in Saudi to provide it and then say

MENA_chica · Joined: 28 Sep 2014 Posts: 82 Location: Middle East

OP, I believe you're referring to Al Jouf, which is located in the north of the country. I work at a university in Riyadh, and arrived 2 months ago with EdEx. I've had no complaints, thus far. I was picked up at the airport in a timely manner, signed an identical contract to the one I signed in the UK, given an advance on my salary, paid a few days before the end of the month on both occasions, and received my iqama after 5 weeks. Many of the teachers here have been with the company for 2 years or more, and though there have been and continue to be minor complaints, major issues (such as non-payment) are the exception rather than the rule. There seems to be a lot of "bandwagonist" comments labelling EdEx as a sketchy company etc., so be mindful that while there is a lot of information on this and other sites, there's also quite a lot of hearsay, as well as outdated information.

Regarding accommodation in Al Jouf, my friend's experience has been that she was housed in an apartment temporarily until she found her own, for which she used her accommodation allowance. She says that the place is really conservative, with all women expected to wear the niqab, as well as being questioned by the police when venturing out alone. In Dammam, there were some concerns about the deplorable state of the company-provided accommodation, but I was told teachers were recently moved to new accommodation.

Hope that helps.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Maybe some familiarity with the geography of Saudi Arabia would help !

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

MENA_chica · Joined: 28 Sep 2014 Posts: 82 Location: Middle East

1Sapphire1 · Joined: 17 Aug 2009 Posts: 42 Location: Saudi Arabia

I have recently worked for EdEx in both Al Jouf (Sakaka) and Al Khobar. I think overall Khobar is better. You are close to the sea and can go to Bahrain on the weekends. They put us in the Tulip Inn which was ok. There are lots of things within walking distance. This includes fast food, a good book store, 2 great grocery stores, restaurants, places to buy DVDs etc. In Sakaka the housing was really bad but it is easy to find a new place and because it is so cheap there you can pocket a lot of the housing allowance. Sakaka is in the middle of nowhere and the grocery stores were little shops with not much selection. The students in Sakaka were much better but the teaching conditions were a bit primative. The food at the school (for lunch) was very poor and there wasn't much within walking distance except a Hungrey Bunny. I'm not sure what contracts EdEx has in Dammam now but when I was there they had three different locations. The food was the best at the University of Dammam.