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algazel
Joined: 05 Jan 2013
Posts: 7
Location: UK
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 Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:54 am Post subject: Living in Jeddah |
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Hi everyone 
I'm considering a job offer at a school in Jeddah. I'm from the UK.
Would anyone out there be able to please comment on the following:
1. Basic pay of $3500 per month paid into bank account?
2. The housing allowance is 3 payments of $3500 per year. Is this sufficient for a 3-bedroom fully-furnished apartment with AC in a clean, well-lit apartment block within a safe area?
3. Can I assume that the above payments in dollars will be converted to SAR in my bank account?
4. How much rent is required up-front? Is rent paid in cash monthly or by direct-debit from bank account?
5. Are there areas that have apartment blocks with on-site repair men? Would the above housing allowance suffice for such apartments (furnished, 3 bedroom)
6. Any advice please on whether it's safe to leave passport, documents and money in apartments?
7. Do reptiles or rodents commonly enter apartments?
8. Can anyone please recommend any banks in which to open up an account; and in which there is the cheapest, fastest way to transfer part of my salary, monthly to my British account?
9. Can anyone please recommend any areas to live in that have accessible eating places, 24-hour shops and laundry places?
10. Is the water clean and safe to drink as here in the UK?
Thank you |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| algazel wrote: |
1. Basic pay of $3500 per month paid into bank account?
2. The housing allowance is 3 payments of $3500 per year. Is this sufficient for a 3-bedroom fully-furnished apartment with AC in a clean, well-lit apartment block within a safe area?
3. Can I assume that the above payments in dollars will be converted to SAR in my bank account?
4. How much rent is required up-front? Is rent paid in cash monthly or by direct-debit from bank account?
5. Are there areas that have apartment blocks with on-site repair men? Would the above housing allowance suffice for such apartments (furnished, 3 bedroom)
6. Any advice please on whether it's safe to leave passport, documents and money in apartments?
7. Do reptiles or rodents commonly enter apartments?
8. Can anyone please recommend any banks in which to open up an account; and in which there is the cheapest, fastest way to transfer part of my salary, monthly to my British account?
9. Can anyone please recommend any areas to live in that have accessible eating places, 24-hour shops and laundry places?
10. Is the water clean and safe to drink as here in the UK? |
General responses (since the employer is unknown):
Qs 1, 3, 4: Bank funds are in riyals. You'll need to ask your prospective employer about the housing installments and direct deposit of your salary.
Qs 2, 4, 5: For a sample of actual flat rental options (e.g., rates, payment requirements, amenities, etc), do an Internet search using: jeddah apartments rent expat. Regardless, you can't rent a place while outside KSA, so those sites only provide a snapshot of the type of apartments for rent.
Q 6: You'll have to determine that on your own based on your particular housing situation. I always carried my passport and iqama if away all day and when shopping.
Q 7: I never knew any of my friends and colleagues to complain about reptiles and rodents entering their homes without knocking first. Kidding aside, I personally never saw a reptile or rat in my place. If anything, you have to be concerned about mosquitos and roaches, which can be dealt with.
Q 8: Since most expats send money back home (scroll down a bit on this forum regarding this topic), you shouldn't have any problems finding a bank that works best for you. Of course, it might depend on which bank your particular employer uses, if you're not given a choice.
Q 9: There are restaurants and shopping centers throughout Jeddah; it's the second largest city after Riyadh. Once you get to KSA, you'll be able to see which areas best suit your eating, shopping, and laundry needs. In other words, wait until you get there.
Q 10: Water straight from the tap isn't drinkable unless boiled. Most people have bottled water (in 5-gallon jugs) delivered to their homes. It's quite inexpensive.
There are plenty of websites on Jeddah. I suggest you spend time looking at a few. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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3-bedroom apartment ? Will you be accompanied ? Living in an apartment can be problematic for families.
In some urban areas, rats are common. No reptiles.
School should help you in finding accommodation. You may have to pay a year's rental in advance, but school may be able to short-circuit that.
Use the same bank as your employer. banks are all much the same in KSA.
Remit regularly and do not leave large sums to accumulate in your bank account.
Burglary and housebreaking should not be a problems. It sounds as if you have suffered from break-ins before. Jeddah is fine if you take sensible precautions. |
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algazel
Joined: 05 Jan 2013
Posts: 7
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you very much for your replies 
I haven't signed the contract yet as I'm intending to ask them about the following asap.
I have a British passport.
1. The school is offering housing allowance as a monetary amount paid in two instalments, 6 months apart. I would have to find the place.
It has put in the contract that I or the school would have to give 30 days notice if wishing to terminate the contract. Otherwise it's a compensation of one month's salary.
(i) If I leave before 6 months or before the 1 year contract ends, do I owe the school any of the housing allowance back? Similarly would I owe any of the medical insurance back?
(ii) Would I owe any money to the landlord?
2. Would the school ask to keep my passport (I've read that employers may do so. If so, why?). If so, can I refuse?
3.
(i) Would it be the school that grants/facilitates me an exit visa? If so, does it matter then if the school keeps my passport because as far as I understand, even if I have it, I can't leave the country without them granting/facilitating me an exit visa?
(ii) If I leave before the expiry of my contract (1 year) e.g. I can't settle into the country or I don't like the school or they don't pay me on time, can the school refuse to grant/facilitate me an exit visa or not give me my passport back? How does one avoid this or get out of this?
Thank you
Kind Regards |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| algazel wrote: |
1. The school is offering housing allowance as a monetary amount paid in two instalments, 6 months apart. I would have to find the place.
It has put in the contract that I or the school would have to give 30 days notice if wishing to terminate the contract. Otherwise it's a compensation of one month's salary.
(i) If I leave before 6 months or before the 1 year contract ends, do I owe the school any of the housing allowance back? Similarly would I owe any of the medical insurance back?
(ii) Would I owe any money to the landlord? |
You'd have to ask the employer about what, if any, expenses you'd owe back if either you or they terminate the contract early. That condition should have been indicated in your contract. Email them for clarification.
It's unclear why you think you'd owe the landlord since you'd be paying rent in advance.
| and algazel wrote: |
2. Would the school ask to keep my passport (I've read that employers may do so. If so, why?). If so, can I refuse?
(i) Would it be the school that grants/facilitates me an exit visa? If so, does it matter then if the school keeps my passport because as far as I understand, even if I have it, I can't leave the country without them granting/facilitating me an exit visa?
(ii) If I leave before the expiry of my contract (1 year) e.g. I can't settle into the country or I don't like the school or they don't pay me on time, can the school refuse to grant/facilitate me an exit visa or not give me my passport back? How does one avoid this or get out of this? |
The Saudi government has made it clear that withholding employees' passports is illegal. Whether your specific potential employer does or does not, no one can say. Frankly, if you're distrustful of this employer, don't accept their offer --- apply elsewhere. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Well,. Algazel, tell us how it has been so far. |
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algazel
Joined: 05 Jan 2013
Posts: 7
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:28 am Post subject: |
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Hi
Thank you for your replies.
| Quote: |
| You'd have to ask the employer about what, if any, expenses you'd owe back if either you or they terminate the contract early. That condition should have been indicated in your contract. Email them for clarification. |
All the contract says is that if either party wishes to terminate the contract early then it's 30 days notice. If 30 days notice is not given by either party then a month's salary is owed to the other party.
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| Well,. Algazel, tell us how it has been so far. |
I'm still deciding whether or not to sign the contract. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| That means you are not going ? School year started a while ago. |
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In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| That means you are not going ? School year started a while ago. |
Not necessarily, maybe algazel is getting into the 'schway schway' lifestyle early?
algazel, have you researched the school? You're more likely to find answers on how it treats its employees by searching, as you find all parts of the nicely/badly spectrum in the KSA.
You could possibly kill two birds with one stone by speaking with a current or previous employee, who could fill in the details for you. Try Google, Facebook and various expat websites to search for someone. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Unable to make up your mind ? |
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