Job Discussion Forums

[Travels]

At the moment, I'm waiting for a job offer from the University of Jeddah and on their website, it says that they provide a housing allowance - not sure how much assistance they provide in helping you find something. I'm assuming they put you up in a hotel or something for your first days/weeks.

I'm also waiting to hear back from a couple recruiters, one from Prime for a College of Excellence (not sure which) and one from Al Hassan (for King Saud, I think). Those recruiters provide housing, I believe. Will get as many details as possible as I want to avoid shared housing like the plague.

I'm more interested in the Uni of Jeddah situation.

I'll try to be more specific in future! Thanks for your help.

[nomad soul]

[Travels]

Haven't had any interviews yet - I suppose that step is coming. I'll definitely have a look at that thread, thanks NS.

[hsm]

If you need help, I'm in Riyadh. Send me a PM. I can get you a decent accommodation.

For SR 35000, you can get a 3-room apartment in a safe and quiet neighborhood.

I helped my Canadian friend find such an apartment this month.

[Al-Ikwan]

[spiral78]

[sheikh radlinrol]

[nomad soul]

[Raul739]

Found this Online

Expat Accommodation in Riyadh
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Moving to Riyadh
Visas for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Expat Accommodation in Riyadh
Will you be moving to Riyadh soon? As an expat about to settle in Saudi Arabia’s capital, you probably have many questions. The InterNations Guide to Riyadh introduces you to the wealthiest city in the Arab world, the visa requirements for your stay, and housing for expats in Riyadh.

Cost of Living and Quality of Life

Moving to Riyadh is often a cheaper option for expatriates than other destinations. According to the Mercer Cost of Living survey 2011, the Saudi capital ranked on place 135 out of 214 global cities. In 2014, it had moved ahead to rank 122. It is more expensive than Muscat, Kuwait City, or Manama, but still less costly than the neighboring UAE.

The biggest expenses among expats in Riyadh are the annual rent for compound housing, healthcare (if they aren’t fully covered by their company), and tuition fees for their children. However, domestic help is very affordable, petrol is famously cheaper than mineral water, and cars are less pricey than elsewhere. Also, you can’t spend all that much on leisure and nightlife, considering that Riyadh has virtually none.

When it comes to quality of life, expat living in Riyadh can occasionally feel somewhat claustrophobic. Compounds for expatriates have been politely described as ‘gilded cages’. Those unable to cope with life in Riyadh have even called them ‘glorified prison camps’. Nonetheless, it is entirely possible to enjoy living in Riyadh, and you will never suffer any material hardships whatsoever.

Looking for Accommodation in Riyadh

Contemporary Riyadh is a sprawling metropolis without clearly defined boundaries. It consists of 16 smaller municipalities, one of which is the Diplomatic Quarter. There, you can find most foreign embassies, as well as housing for diplomatic staff. The other 15 municipalities are subdivided into over 160 smaller districts.

If you’d like to settle outside the Diplomatic Quarter or an expat compound, as some expatriates do, Al Olayya & Sulaymaniyyah (the municipality with Riyadh’s business district) or the prestigious districts Al Mohamdiyah and Al Nakheel within Al Ma’athar may offer suitable housing.

Local accommodation is mostly advertised in the Arabic press or not at all. You can have a friend translate the classifieds for you, or just wander around an area that you like. Ask the superintendent of a building complex for the landlord’s phone number and enquire after vacancies. You should specify if you want a “bachelor’s apartment” or a “family apartment”.

Living outside a compound is recommended mainly for male expatriates without wife and kids. Their family will have fewer opportunities to socialize, and they also have to do without a shuttle bus service. Since women aren’t allowed to drive or ride a bike, this is obviously a hassle for them. Solo expat women may feel safer within a compound or at an accommodation provided by their employer in Riyadh.

Expat Compounds in Riyadh

Compounds have the advantage that you’ll meet lots of other expats there. They are gated communities, often located outside of metropolitan Riyadh. They offer numerous amenities, such as shops, pools, gyms, or shuttle services, and the mutawwa (religious police) cannot enter. Therefore the strict dress codes and rules concerning gender segregation do not apply.

However, as mentioned above, they can get claustrophobic after a while. Moreover, compound villas are particularly expensive – they can easily cost SAR 25,000 (about USD 6,700) per month. Since rent may have to be paid up to one year in advance, this will tear a big hole into your budget and may require a loan. Despite the high costs, waiting lists for compound housing are often months and months long.
No matter where you decide to live, keep the following things in mind:
Make sure that you get an English rental agreement and/or an official translation from the Arabic before you sign anything.
Check if your new place already has utility connections for water and electricity. (Gas is only bought in bottles.)
If you want to save some time and money, go for housing that has at least some basic furnishing. In compounds, fully furnished housing may be available.
Ask about voltage and frequency, and stock up on adapters and plug-in sockets since the wiring is often a bit improvised.
Here’s a list of selected compounds in Riyadh:

Al Hamra Oasis Village
Al Mostaqbal Homes
Al Ola Real Estate
Al Showaier Real Estate
Al Yamamah Resort
Cordoba Oasis Village
Dhabab Gardens
Eid Villas
FAL Residential Compound
Jadawel International
Kingdom City
Arizona Golf Resort
Arabian Homes

[I-forgot]

Based on my own research from about 2 years ago -

The cheapest compound I was willing to live in cost around 6000 per month. That was considered a 'budget' compound.
It is standard to pay rent six months or a year in advance in all compounds.
There is a waiting list for compound accommodation. Bribes will get you bumped up the waiting list. In fact, sometimes that is the only way to get on a waiting list.

The DQ is nice and there are some small and affordable apartments there. The non-refundable key fee is six months or more of the yearly rental. They are in great demand and go quickly. However, you will need a reliable driver as taxis are rare.

Apartments in central Riyadh are not as expensive. A reasonable 2 bed/2 bath can go for 30,000 per annum. Possibly/probably less to non-white, Arabic speakers.

Very few teachers live on compounds. SBC used to house teachers in a compound in central Riyadh. Lots of teachers complained about the standard of the compound and they were relocated to Bonita Compound which is almost an hour out of town. The company provided buses were too crowded and no everyone was able to go shopping when they wanted to or needed to. Taxis were expensive and you couldn't just hail one on the street. Long daily commutes. Teachers complained again and were moved to an apartment/hotel block in Riyadh. A few managed to get their housing allowance and stay at Bonita but had to supplement the allowance as it was not enough for compound accommodation.

Nomad Soul - teachers working at PNU via contracting companies are not housed on campus. The on campus housing is for direct hires only.

[nomad soul]

[scot47]

Newbies should be made aware that landlords in Saudi Arabia are just as money-grasping and untrustworthy as those in London and elsewhere.

[sheikh radlinrol]

[scot47]

We are making arrangements to deal with landlords in the same manner as the Peoples Liberation Army dealt with them after liberation.

[sheikh radlinrol]

Raul´s list of compounds in Riyadh include two, Kingdom and Arizona, that I seem to remember were out of reach for TEFLERs. There are, however, others which are much less expensive. The compound I lived on was pleasant if not luxurious. Pools, gyms, a small supermarket and a decent restaurant where you could take your own wine. Men and women mingled and the girls wore bikinis. Safe for kids with a 20 mph speed limit which was observed. I found compound life OK.