Job Discussion Forums

[Arab Strap]

I'm due to return to KSA in August and need a wee bit of advice re. driving license.

My current KSA license runs out in 2006 and I'm reluctant to exchange my EU licence for a new KSA one.

Will I be able to prolong my current KSA licence without having to go through the test again (the first time round took weeks and was a total nightmare)?

And while we're at it what's the best car hire firm to go with (by best I mean the cheapest)? I managed to get away with 850SAR a month last time round for a late model Hyundi Accent. That was on the inshallah that I would take the car for at least 3 months.

I'm not looking to buy as I find second hand cars in KSA to be a wee bit expensive esp. Japanese makes and you're often left at the mercy of dodgy mechanics if you're Arabic/Urdu/Turkish is not up to scratch, or as in my case non-existent.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

[Stephen Jones]

I don't understand any of your problems over the license. If your KSA one is still valid all you need to do is renew it.

And you don't 'exhange' your EU one for a KSA one. They give you the KSA one on the basis of the EU one.


Post the address of the car hire firm that only charged 850SR. Most I know charge SR 1200 minimum. You pay 850SR a month over five years when you buy the car.

[scot47]

You can do a monthly payment deal on a number of different vehicles. A new Chevrolet ( admittedly a small one) is yours for 690 a month (Riyals that is)

[Arab Strap]

Thanks for putting me right there Stephen, nothing to worry about then.

Scot, that seems a hell of a deal there on a Chevy, surely that must be after a hefty deposit?

The car hire company where I got the sweet deal was:

http://www.hanco-ksa.com/

admittedly this was 4 years ago and I was one of a group of four from the same institute renting there, hence the discount...............they did however set me up with a nice big Toyota for the price of a compact as all of their "shopping trolleys" were out on hire.

[scot47]

will post more when I am not so busy

[Stephen Jones]

The Aveo is only a Chevvy in name, like its slightly less ugly elder sibling the Optra.

GM took over some Korean car company so undistinguished that it wasn't even worth keeping its name (any car company with a reputation for reliability below that of the Americans must be mediocre indeed).

Good instalment terms though; now that KIAs and Hyundais are going up in price I might be buying one next semester.

[veiledsentiments]

Hyundais are great little cars. I bought an Elantra in 2001 just as their star was starting to rise out of the ashes of their pitiful first attempts. They are now beating out Toyota and Honda in reliability and customer satisfaction ratings for the last 2 years. I have noted their prices rising over here too.

How is the resale value going on them over there? When I left in 2001, it was still Japanese or nothing...

VS

[Jim Bigelow]

Just wondering what one has to go through to renew one's driving license? Is it a simple thing...does that sound like a stupid question, lol!

[Arab Strap]

The Korean company you are refering to is Daewoo.

While their cars are fine for the run down to your local Asda they're far from suited to Saudi roads and indeed Saudi drivers.

In Jeddah I saw a Daewoo Matiz spliced in two after hitting a water truck, the driver was similarly bisected.

They may have changed their name but I'd feel safer behind the wheel of a 1978 Caprice than any of these Nouveau Chevys.

[scot47]

I would have reservations about driving in a T-34 tank on the streets of saudi.

[Bebsi]

To consider driving a small car in KSA, is indeed a brave step. I wouldn't touch a small car anyway but that's just my own personal preference.

A few years ago, I bought a Kia Optima from Alireza motors in Khobar. It was a decent sized machine with a 2.5 V6 engine, all electrics and the usual safety features (small comfort given the driving standards in KSA!), that cost me 1700 a month. I found it to be prettty sturdy and most reliable.

While driving in the Kingdom is seen by many as risky, I would consider walking along a cluttered pavement or relying on a taxi-driver of utterly unknown driving prowess to be infinitely more lethal. At least in one's own car, one has SOME measure of control and protection .

Frankly, you get used to driving there after a while, although vigilance must never be relaxed for one single moment. It's very convenient, I find, to take my laptop when driving as on boring stretches of road I can use it for

[scot47]

My technique is to minimise journeys on the roads of KSA. When I go out I use one of the taxi drivers I know.

On a related question - What medical insurance do people have in KSA ? And what do they pay ?

[Bebsi]

Driving in KSA is fine as long as you observe a few basic precautions.

Here are my ten tips for better and safer KSA driving:

1. Get a large vehicle; the more bulky and sturdy the better. A Scania 18 wheeler and a T-34 tank rate among the favourites. A Humvee is also not bad! The T-34 has a few disadvantages, lack of speed/performance being one of them.

2. My approach is simple: drive the way the Saudis do, but BETTER! Yes, you must break the red lights when there's a guy behind you, because he is assuming you WILL. As you are probably doing 140Kph, which means he is too, you will rammed up your arse if you even slow down a little. You MUST keep going. Just make sure that, unlike the other drivers, you are not fixing items of headgear at that moment, and that your mirrors are properly adjusted.

3. Faster is better! I increase my speed when going through lights...RED AND GREEN...that way I stand less chance of getting hit from the side...less exposure, you understand!! Also, the faster you drive generally, the less time you have to spend on the roads, again reducing your exposure.

4. On two-way roads, I tend to drive on the left. Everyone else does, so it follows that...oh, isn't it obvious! Some westerners are under the very false impression that driving is on the right in KSA!

5. To avoid getting hemmed in by badly-parked drivers, I always leave my car in the main thoroughfare, usually behind someone else's parked car. That way I have no problems.

6. When driving on the highway at night, I try to avoid using my lights. If some nutcase sees your lights, and he is feeling adventurous, he may try to play chicken with you. Lightless, I can stay invisible for as long as possible. This gives me the advantage.

7. When turning, I similarly avoid using indicators. Why tell anyone else what you are about to do? Better to take the ba*****s by surprise!

8. To take my mind off the road and to make me feel relaxed, I play games on my mobile when driving. That's very soothing I find. Likewise, calling a friend for a chat is therapeutic.

9. A very dangerous time when driving in KSA is when being overtaken. I therefore avoid this situation where possible. This is done by a combination of fast-driving and blocking the road, especially the fast lanes. Wobbling between lanes is a very effective technique in this regard. The faster you drive, the less need there is of course, to block the road at all.

10. Roundabouts: As in rule three, minimum exposure is the key. So, to avoid spending a nanosecond more than I have to on these carousels of carnage, I charge in...he who hesitates etc...and rather than waste time doing a semi-circle with all the wimps, I just charge across the lanes in a straight line, going at full-pelt, and out my exit. In order to avoid being distracted by uncertain or scared drivers, I tend to perform this manoevre with my eyes closed.

It is easy, once you get the hang of it. Happy and safe driving!!

[Arab Strap]

Roundabouts are easy, always remember that they work the opposite way of what you're used to i.e. traffic on the actual roundabout gives way to those trying to get on it. You'll often have little choice to do otherwise as 6 lanes of traffic come hurtling towards you at full pelt.

Remember your horn is your friend but it'll be the first thing to go on your car.

Seatbelts are for wimps and your rearview mirror is there so you can check that your ghutra is sitting nicely and to see if you're 12 o'clock shadow needs a little extra trimming.

Isn't it strange how all Saudi police cars have their lights flashing 24/7? My theory is that the haven't worked out how to switch them off yet.

[Bebsi]