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Life in Saudi without a car? Is it feasible?
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Paris teacher



Joined: 17 Jun 2016
Posts: 38

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 7:47 pm    Post subject: Life in Saudi without a car? Is it feasible? Reply with quote

So, I am thinking about working in KSA starting in August or September of 2017. I am a male, so I am permitted to drive in Saudi, but the thought frightens me, and I really don't want the expense of a car.


Would you say that it is easy to work for a school without a car, or is public transport truly non existent in KSA? I have heard stories of cities with neither pavement nor public transport and housing for teachers located many, many kilometers from the institution.
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currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have never had a car in Saudi.. The argument could be made for having one in the big cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Elsewhere you can get by no problem. Taxis are everywhere in Riyadh and not so expensive although you do need to barter at times.
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Paris teacher



Joined: 17 Jun 2016
Posts: 38

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, I thought the opposite was true. I was under the impression in the smaller cities you needed a car and that in the big cities there would be marginal public transport.

I understand that some schools place their teachers very close to the institution for which they work. Is this mostly true? I would love to live within walking distance or, if it is possible, have a bus service that transports teachers from the housing to the school.


As you can probably guess, I detest driving!
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 8:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can get by fine without needing to purchase or lease a vehicle. As mentioned, taxis are everywhere in KSA, with most concentrated in the major cities. There are also private drivers for hire.

Employers provide either daily bus transport to/from work, or they include a transportation allowance in the benefits package. Some employers provide both.
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currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As an example, Riyadh is very big so getting anywhere is often a 30-40 minute ride each way. Going out to get a taxi can make it longer.. Universities and companies almost always provide transport to work but some don't. With my last job in Riyadh I got a transport allowance but 600 riyals a month won't cover you if you are using taxis everyday.

In the smaller towns you can walk everywhere.. It may take 30 minutes to walk to work but a lot of the guys I know do it for the exercise. There is no big hassle crossing highways in the smaller towns.

Public transport (as in local buses) is pretty non-existent in Saudi. Several smaller towns in the north and in the east have zero taxis.
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jaffa



Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Posts: 403

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes. I was in Jubail for 6 years and never drove other than on official business in the afternoons when my boss lent me his car but that was just to go a mile down the road to HQ. I hired a Bangladeshi taxi bloke (hopeless driver) to take me in and bring me home. It was only a 10 minute trip and he was always punctual. My travel allowance of 900SR covered that. The Saudis couldn't believe I didn't have a vehicle other than the bike I bought to get around town.
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1chunk



Joined: 05 Aug 2014
Posts: 123

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The typical Saudi weather does not allow one to walk for very long! Unless you are in the Southern region or Taif etc, then you should forget about walking.

There is no public transport so you can also rule that out.

I have found Careem and Uber to be great and inexpensive. Although for regular and longer trips, they can be expensive. Hailing a cab on the street everyday can be very draining. Remember the temperature! Especially since you always have to haggle with someone who doesn't understand you and vice versa!

The next option is to hire a car for a month, after you have settled. The experience may not be as bad as you think and you actually might enjoy the lack of law enforcement! You can then purchase a car.
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currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't think walking is that bad.. We are not only talking about the summer months. In the north you can get some snow in Dec/Jan. Remember, most guys start work at 8am so walking at 7am is very doable for a good part of the year. Last winter was pretty cold actually, and seemed to go on for awhile!
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cnthaiksarok



Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place

PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I vote for car regardless of the region, personally. I've lived without and felt a lot more confined and/or couldn't be asked to deal with the taxi situation more often than not.
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RedLightning



Joined: 08 Aug 2015
Posts: 137
Location: United States

PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You definitely need a car in Riyadh. Cabs are everywhere, but the meter starts at 5 SAR and climbs.
Also, while the city never 'stops', there are good distances between the major areas where you'll most likely want to go.

Try getting in touch with expats several months before you go, and see if you can find a good deal on rental cars. It's not unheard of to find a decent car for under 1000SAR/month
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D. Merit



Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 203

PostPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So, in conclusion, some people feel you definitely need a car, others feel you definitely do not.

In the entire region it is really just down to personal preference. Btw if you are 'bartering' with a taxi driver you are offering him fish or something to pay for the ride. Wink
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bigdurian



Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!

PostPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Depends on your needs, location etc. I'm here with my family so car is a must.

Plus, who wants to be walking in seriously high temperatures in summer.

After the initial purchase, a car is way cheaper to run than anything else because petrol is so cheap.

Lastly, and most importantly for me, you have the option to go anywhere at any time whenever you feel like it.

A freedom that many in Saudi do not have, not to be undervalued.
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RustyShackleford



Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 449

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Lastly, and most importantly for me, you have the option to go anywhere at any time whenever you feel like it.

A freedom that many in Saudi do not have, not to be undervalued.


This.


This.

This.

That said, my company offers us cars to share although they can only be used inside the country and need to a rent to car to drive over the border. It works out quite well usually. If I didn't have that, I probably would have broken down and bought my own vehicle.
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bigdurian



Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 5:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nomad soul wrote:
You can get by fine without needing to purchase or lease a vehicle. As mentioned, taxis are everywhere in KSA, with most concentrated in the major cities. There are also private drivers for hire.

Employers provide either daily bus transport to/from work, or they include a transportation allowance in the benefits package. Some employers provide both.


You can get by that's true. I disagree about fine.

Try getting a taxi in the street after 9pm in Riyadh.

And who wants to be sitting on a minivan waiting for the last person to leave, or waiting for the van to arrive come to that.

I'd rather drive myself than entrust my life to some crazy guy from India.

Obviously, if you're a woman you have no choice about all this.

Not having a car is like going to a restaurant and ordering a salad, when everyone else around you is eating a steak.
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bigdurian



Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

RustyShackleford wrote:
Quote:
Lastly, and most importantly for me, you have the option to go anywhere at any time whenever you feel like it.

A freedom that many in Saudi do not have, not to be undervalued.


This.


This.

This.

That said, my company offers us cars to share although they can only be used inside the country and need to a rent to car to drive over the border. It works out quite well usually. If I didn't have that, I probably would have broken down and bought my own vehicle.


You can finish work on Thursday, say to whoever, f*** It, let's go to Bahrain! And you're there in four hours.

Having the hassle of getting to the SAPTCO bus station, or arranging something else is a pain, and takes time.

Life is just so much easier with your own car. People who say otherwise are either:

Female
Don't drive
Tight with money
Weirdos

In no particular order.

Saudi is not designed for walking, cycling, and the public transport is rubbish.
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