Job Discussion Forums

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

Dear All,

I got a few job offers from Saudia and I am once again considering moving there. Now, I heard that in order to get the residency permit, you will have to do a medical in your home country, and then once more in the Kingdom. Is this true? And if it is, will they do a blood test for drugs? There may be some stuff in my blood that khm khm I would not like anyone in Saudi to discover, the doc here at the lab is a fella and would not make it a problem but some fanatic bushfaced bloke in Saudia ... I might get shot on the spot. Please gentlemen I don't need advice about healthy life and the 'go - don't go' kind of life advice, could you please just answer my question instead? Which is: will I have to do a second medical in Saudi, and if yes, will it include a test for drugs?

Thanks a bunch and have a nice day.

DT

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Yes you will.
Drugs ? Not usually. They are more interested in any disease you might have. The assumption is that you have been filling yourself with booze, LSD and pork products for years.

AIDS
Hepaptitis
TB

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject: medical test

Scot 47 is correct on both counts. You will have to take a medical test again once you get to KSA. The test will consist mostly of a) a blood test, 2) a urine test, 3) a chest X-ray, and 4) a cursory physical examination. They will be looking for serious diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, or tuberculosis. I have heard that people with serious ailments that are not communicable have come through the medical exam just fine. I have not heard of anyone who has been stopped for drugs. It may depend on which doctor examines you, or on who is sponsoring you and how much they want you to work for them.

007 · Last edited by 007 on Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

brasscat · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject: Drugs in Bandar Land

Illegal stuff does exist, however the Saudis are very tough, especially on ex-pats with it or selling it. Among the Saudis the general atitude is keep it private and no one cares.

The physical is mostly focuses on any communicable disease that could get loose. However, your individual outfit may run a check for drugs.

Yes, there is the catch-all clause in your contract for any situation involving drugs. Saw three guys go home due to alcohol.
brasscat

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:34 am Post subject:

Actually, I don't think the rules about doing a second medical exam in KSA are very stringent. In my first job, I had to go through the whole thing again in Riyadh - chest xray, aids test, eye exam, you name it. In another job, I wasn't asked to do any tests at all. In yet another job, I was asked to give on blood sample (no idea if they tested it for drugs) and that was it. So, as with so much else here, much depends on the employer.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The Royal Commission tested for Cannabis. As it takes weeks if not months to leave the blood stream the guy we had who was afraid of flying and swallowed a large chunk before he got on the plane was picked up easily.

I suspect it depends on the employer though, but I would lay off the hash for a few weeks before coming.