Job Discussion Forums

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

John,

"Weekend visits to Bahrain, Jordan, Dubai will only be possible infrequently and with plenty of notice"

Not if you have a multiple exit visa!

BAE did NOT pay for those, but having one meant that some of the people I was working with could decide at lunchtime to go to Bahrain that afternoon.

I feel that the gentleman could be giving the wrong impression.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:52 pm Post subject:

Dear Neil McBeath,
Thanks for your input. I'm well aware that, all things considered, BAE is one of the best (if not the best) places to work in the Kingdom. And I was surprised that passports were held by the company there, rather than the government. I think, though, that may be the exception, rather than the rule, in Saudi. Do you know of any other places where that's the case?
Regards,
John

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject:

Not Neil here, but possibly Booz-Allen-Hamilton?

NCTBA

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

007 · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

Well, I am also surprised that Uncle Sheikh is surprised that John was surprised that passports were held by the company in the Magic Kingdom! Laughing

Well, by laws of the Magic Kingdom, passports of foreigners working in the kingdom are held and are given Iqamas as an alternative to their passports, so that their passports are kept safe from any un-expected hijacking, fire or theft!! Laughing

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The reason for passports being held by the company is ostensibly to stop the worker absconding with his iqama and giving/selling the iqama to somebody else.

There are institutions that let you hold on to both, including the one I work for at the moment. The result is that there has been one 'runner' in five years. After all, if you've got the passport and multi-exit-reentry visa, there's no hurry to abscond. You can always do it bukra inshallah.

It is actually very quick to get a reentry visa from the passport office. On occasion the office at my old employer in Riyadh would give me the passport to go and get the visa myself. I would get to the office at half-past one and be out with the visa stamp at quarter to two.