Job Discussion Forums

jw72 · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 13

Hello!

I have read the party line from the State Department about safety and security in Saudi Arabia. Now I'd like personal perspectives on living in Riyadh. What is the security situation like? How bad are the religious police? What is the quality of life like in Riyadh? Terrorism threat? Harassment from police?

Thanks for your time,
John

[email protected]

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:48 am Post subject:

If you were to take the State Dept's advice, you'd never go outside your front door. Regarding Riyadh, things were a bit dodgy two to three years ago, but have calmed down considerably since then. This is not to say there is no chance of future attacks on expat or local targets, but unless things change dramatically for the worse, I would say that you are much safer in Riyadh than in a comparably sized US or European city.

You won't be harassed by the Saudi police, unless of course you are breaking the law, needless to say. As for the so-called 'religious police' their public profile has diminished quite notably in the past few years. Even in my relatively short time in the Kingdom, I've definately noticed that they are much less in evidence than they used to be. Unless you are blatantly breaching Saudi social/legal norms, it is highly unlikely that you will have anything to do with them at all. In fact, these days you rarely even see them, not even in ultra-conservative Riyadh.

"Quality of life"? That's a subjective concept. Most expats agree that Riyadh is less pleasant than Jeddah or Dahran, as it is less cosmopolitan and (even) more conservative. What I can say for sure is that if you require conventional entertainments - cinemas, clubs, bars - then Riyadh, and KSA in general, is definately not for you. But you knew that already, didn't you? If, however, you can occupy yourself by reading, sports, shopping, using the internet, watching TV etc. then you might be quite happy here. Really, everthing depends on the individual - and their situation.

jw72 · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 13

Good point regarding the State Department. I think we are on the same sheet of music regarding quality of life. I've been to the Gulf before but never to Saudi specifically. Good "Quality of Life" in the Gulf to me means easy access to the internet, decent restaurants (including the hole-in-the-wall "juice stalls" so I can get a decent cup of tea), some sort of gym or workout club, an English language bookstore (but I'm not counting on it) and the chance to learn a little Arabic. If I want to booze it up and chase women, I'll go to Dubai. At least that's from what I hear. I have no first hand knowledge of that.... Smile

Thanks for writing!
John
[email protected]

james van cleave · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 59

The greatest danger you're likely to encounter in the Gulf is the driving. Pedestrians have the equivalent right of way as say, pigeons in the crosswalk. I'm not joking about this. Be extremely careful when crossing the street. Aside from that, you're generally safe as houses. I remember once walking through the souk with something like $20,000 cash in my pockets-it didn't even occur to me to be concerned.
In terms of quality of life-Jeddah's got scuba diving and Dhaharan's got the causeway to Sodom. Riyadh...Riyadh is a great place to read Proust-twice. Try to imagine an utterly charmless version of Houston-that's Riyadh.
The thing I do miss about working in the Gulf is having the opportunity (and money) to visit South Africa, Sri Lanka, Indochina etc. That alone is worth a few boring Thursday nights in KSA.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Jareer Book Store is good. There is another one that surprised me called Obeikan (??)

Internet access is now easy. TV - as many channels as you want.

From someone who was in Saudi 1970-1972, let me say this - IT IS EASIER THAN IT WAS !

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Quality of life is poor.

Although well known to be a dry country one would have hoped that the Saudi high-flyers would have spent some of their oil-cash on beautiful parks, sports complexes, elegant coffee houses... providing an oasis in the desert ....

No.

What you will see there are dirty, dusty streets, lack of colour, shops, restaurants, offices closing four times a day for prayer time. Kicking customers out in the middle of shopping. Poor infrastructure and management.

You will find taxi drivers from Indian sub-cintinent having lived there five, ten years .....more totally fed up with the place. And you have nothing positive to come back to them on. It's grim and desperate.

You will be greeted by a sterile airport when you first arrive, staffed by lazy, surly officials. You will experience road blocks staffed by officials trying to look menacing and merely looking goofy.

If you live on campus life may be tolerable but Riyadh is pig ugly. Two huge shopping towers dominate a scruffy city still stuck in the middle ages.

You will find strict segragation of sexes in all shops, Maccers and banks, hairdressers ... bearded fellas work in the lingerie departments as chicks are not allowed to work ... you will see girls dressed in black "bin bags" (I think they call these Abayas??)

No cinemas, no woman drivers ... plenty of overweight thobed Saudis trundling along .. best to avoid and teach in a civilised place such as ...Dubai!

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 5:00 am Post subject:

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

younggeorge · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

George - I did suggest to couple of students lifting the veil of one of those abaya whotsits on a hot, dusty street, winking at the wearer and boldly announcing "I can see you !!"

They chuckled.

Ladies' swim suits in Riyadh are also interesting ... and of original design.

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Men work in the mens' section. Men can go there. Ladies cannot.

In Maccers or Baskin Robbins a curtain is provided in case ones eyes wander from the banana sorbet or raspberry ripple to member of opposite sex. Behave!

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Hello,

What Bebsi writes about KSA is sadly accurate.

You risk severe punishment for merely looking at a female with whom you are not married to or with whom you cannot marry (sister, mum).

Although in reality youngsters do date and will stick their mobile numbers on the car windsceeen, cruising up and down during the evening.

Or call mobile numbers at random in the hope of meeting up with someone. Risky and a shot in the dark but understandable as not everyone wants to marry the first member of opposite sex they chat to.

Naturally chicks would prefer to go be served by female assistants. It would be quite embarrasing to be served by a fella in a thobe. I have read they want to change this.

Poor infrastructure and lack of suitable investment bodes poorly for the country in the coming decade or more.

When one compares what Dubai are doing to diversify their economy with trade, tourism, sports and investments it is clear the Saudi royals are too complacent ...selfish even.

To go there, to teach there and to live there has to be experienced to be believed.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Alhamdulilah I am not working with the prodiigy. Life is problematic enough without having some klutz like this as a colleague !

Come to think of it my employer is careful to filter out the obviously unsuited like him !