Job Discussion Forums

noonlite · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 17

If you could live in Saudi, UAE, Oman, Qatar, or Kuwait with comparable salaries, which would you choose and why?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Ignoring the minor detail that they DON'T and won't ever pay equal salaries, it would definitely be Oman.

Actually in order of choice it would be: Oman, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi. (although merely in my opinion, even if they paid double or triple I wouldn't go to Saudi or back to Kuwait...)

VS

noonlite · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 17

thanks for your reply.

It's true they don't offer the same salaries, but I was shooting for quality of life and your answered has confirmed my independent research. Why do you not want to go back to Kuwait or Saudi for even double or triple the salary?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

If I mentioned that I am a single female, would that answer? Laughing

I never went to Saudia because I didn't want to live under any restrictions. No abayas for me and I always had my own car. I spent a year in Kuwait and did not like it much. The job was particularly bad, but I didn't like the government bureaucracy either. Kuwait City has few things that held any appeal to me, basically rather ugly, and the traffic was ghastly. But I have friends that lived there for years and loved the place. So... it's all opinion. Cool

Oh, and I don't drink, but Kuwait is dry if that matters to you.

Lots of info on the individual country threads...

VS

zakiah25 · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 155 Location: Oman

VS is spot on with her preferred list - although you might enjoy the greater variety of entertainment that Dubai in the UAE has to offer. In reality, you will find a greater variety of higher paying jobs in the UAE. Kuwait is very dull and the current situation in Saudi is a bit uncertain.Oman is an interesting country and the Omanis are generally very friendly.

spicegirl · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 112

I agree 100% with the ranking order of VS and Zakiah25. Oman is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever lived in, and the students are, generally speaking, totally charming. Unfortunately, though, charm doesn't pay the mortgage, so the next best place for me is the UAE.

Not Dubai for me, however, as it's much too busy and crowded for my liking, and unlike in Muscat, people often don't seem to have time or inclination to care about other people. The smaller cities and towns like Al Ain and Fujairah seem to be more 'stranger-friendly'.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I agree with that. I never saw the appeal of Dubai... too much traffic and plastic modernity. But, then I'm a rather boring person. Laughing

I even like RAK better than Dubai!!

VS

noonlite · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 17

Wow! Thanks for the info everyone. I just accepted a position at SQU when higher paying offers were available in other places including Kuwait. The more I thought about it, the more I decided quality of life would be worth the lower salary which, when all is said and done, is actually still pretty good.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I spent many pleasant years in Oman. Lots of great places to see and things to do - for those whose fun doesn't require much of a night life. Laughing

Pack your patience and sense of humor if you haven't been in the Middle East before. Good Luck!!

VS

crocus · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 79

Noonlite

If you need any info about SQU. feel free to PM me.

All the best,
Crocus

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I just ran into someone in Japan who used to work at SQU (many years ago). He raved about great it was. Someone mentioned the salary is not great. What is the salary there with a Masters and 11 years experience? Is it a