Job Discussion Forums

zaazia · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 15

I'm a single woman from the UK and I've been offered a job in Riyadh. I'm happy with the package given but I'm concerned about what it is like as a single woman in Saudi Arabia.

The institution said that I don't need to travel with a male relative. I contacted the Saudi embassy regarding this and they said that I need authorisation from the Foreign Office to travel alone.

I'd like to hear from women who have travelled alone to Saudi Arabia for work. Did you have problems travelling alone?

I'd also like to hear from single women currently living in Saudi Arabia.

What is life like day to day? Can I travel freely, socialise etc.

I read somewhere on the internet that single women are viewed with suspicion.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:

As someone who's been living as a single woman in Riyadh for several years, I can tell you that life here is eminently 'doable'. Whether it's enjoyable really depends on you. As a single woman you have to be independent, resourceful and prepared to do your own thing. Social life is out there, but you have to go and look for it. Actually, that's true for all expats in KSA, but especially for single women.

zaazia · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 15

Thank you for your reply.

sugardaddy22 · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Al Ain

Well;

Not being a single woman living in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, I cannot advise you.
But just , jugding from these posts..life there must be wonderful!

Why, these women of tremendous British eduction do seem to "strike out"..and make the world a far better place.
Then a again, I am not a British Subject making a lot of money in the Persian Gulf, therefore, I cannot adequately comment .

I hope this has helped you.

lorimichele · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Zaazia,

As you posted this back in June, I was just wondering, did you accept the position? If so, how is everything going?

I just received an offer in Riyadh and would like to hear more from a single woman living there. Any information you have would be great. What were the most pressing issues when you first got there? What are the things you wish you had known before you left home?

Hope all is well no matter where you ended up!

lorimichele · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Zaazia,

You posted this back in June. Did you accept the position? If so, how is everything going?

I just received an offer in Riyadh and would like to hear more from a single woman living there. Any information you have would be great. Having only been there for a short time, what were the most pressing issues when you first got there? What are the things you wish you had known before you got there?

Hope all is well no matter where you ended up!

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

i am all too painfully aware how much im not qualified to contribute to this thread but ... i still am

its kinda funny to talk about 'single women' as if it was some sort of homogenous mass of identical individuals, even though there are some regulations and conventions that apply to this group of ladies

their 'singleness' is just one of their several characteristics and just because they are all single it doesnt mean that they are similar in any other ways, although it doesnt mean that they are not, either

what makes a difference in the first place is HOW these ladies will respond to the conditions in the ksa and not WHAT they are going to respond to, and, at least in my limited life experience, that HOW will depend on the individual no matter where they go. moaners will moan, happy people will be happy (even though it is quite a raw distinction, yes, i know)

it is true, though, that saudi arabia will polarize these two groups of people to the extreme

and forgive me for posting for my own amusement as much as for other readers benefit

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject:

Dear desert_traveller,

Adaption to Saudi primarily depends on two things:

Who YOU are (as you mentioned)

and

Whom you work for

Both are important. Even a person with a "Polyanna" attitude (i.e. happy, happy, optimistic) is highly unlikely to remain that way long is s/he works for an unscrupulous, dishonest employer that mistreats his employees.

Regards,
John

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

hello john

i couldnt agree with you more

my only comment would be that what you wrote is not strictly connected to the topic of 'single ladies in the kingdom'. an 'unscrupulous, dishonest employer that mistreats his employees' would probably put off single ladies AND everybody else - so it is not something that only single ladies should carefully consider

i may be arguing only for the sake of arguing, though

bye Wink

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:16 pm Post subject:

Agree with both John and Desert traveller.

Some single women love it here, others hate it. Most are somewhere in between. A bit like everyone who comes here really - male, female, married or single. Sure, there are specific circumstances that pertain to single women but the impact of these restrictions varies quite widely depending on a) your personality and b) your circumstances. So an extrovert, party-loving young woman would likely be miserable if cooped up in a women-only building with a strict curfew. However, put the same woman on a compound and she might find life in KSA quite delightful (yes really).

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

I bet VS would hate it here. (Correct me if I'm wrong VS.) Like me, she likes the ready independence of driving and, I believe, dislikes in the extreme (again like me) trying to flag a taxi in 120-degree heat and humidity.

007 · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:16 pm Post subject:

Well, I bet that Teta VS is unlike you, both physiologically and mentally! (Correct me if I'm wrong VS Laughing

).
Unlike you, she does not smoke Cuban cigars 1 km long, and she is an anti-smoking campaigner (correct me VS if I am wrong Laughing

) and, I think, unlike you, she is not married to a Chinese.

Now, shoot me if you want! Laughing

bow and arrow · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: under the weather

I am in the same situation as you, so I'd be glad if anyone had some additional imput on the subject. Also, is their an expat community in the King Saud Prep School?

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

If you try a search on this topic of women in Saudi, you will find that it has been discussed many times. Be sure to choose "search for all terms" to limit your result. You can also do a search for your employer.

VS
(sorry missed this thread before... in response to SnB, not being able to drive was really a deal killer for me. I spent a couple months in the UAE and Kuwait dealing with the taxi in the heat issue... and would never have done it again. Add to that having to conform to a stricter dress code confirmed my negative decision.)

Kipling

Mr Bond!!!!!