Job Discussion Forums

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

Hi All,

I've just accepted provisional employment with Bell to teach at King Saud University and I was wondering if anyone has any negative/positive reports of their experience so far. I know they've been recruiting heavily lately and I landed the job quite easily (which unsettles me a little) so I'm just wondering what it's been like for those of you at KSU. I searched some other topics and found some info but not much follow up (which could be a good thing).

Also, the contract stipulates about 1200/month transportation allowance (10% of monthly salary) and approx 2750/month accommodation allowance (if I choose not to stay with their shared hotel accommodation). I have no idea of costs in the KSA yet - can I manage off this? Is 1200/mo enough for taxis or should I look into buying a car? What are standard rents for middle-of the road flats? I'm more concerned with location than space or quality, actually. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

'Shared hotel accommodation" ? What is that all about ? 4 in a room ?

kanterbrau · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 38

Once again I have to agree entirely with scot47 - "shared hotel accommodation" - this does not sound promising.

I regret I cannot comment on the situation with Bell in KSA but when I worked for them in Libya some years ago, of the many problems we experienced accommodation was the by far the main source of dissension. On one memorable occasion we arrived at the training centre only to be informed we would be expected to share the hostel accommodation with the students - a single room but communal eating, washing and shaving, showering and ...

I would suggest contacting Bell for clarification on this matter but I'm not sure it would do any good as we were expected to accept such accommodation despite having contracts which clearly promised something else entirely.

Good Luck

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The rent allowance will be more than adequate, but the problem is that most places will be unfurnished so you will need to pony up something like SR25,000 initially. If you stay three or four years you will start to make a profit, as rents are I believe still in the SR15,000 - SR25,000 league, but to start with you will lose.

There is furnished accommodation, but it tends to be expensive, and could well take your whole allowance.

You might find the best compromise is to rent a car rather than buy one, at least initially.

trapezius · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject:

This is what I would do:

Accomodation: Get a place in a compound (SR. 33,000/year is enough for a studio/1-bedroom).

Transportation: Buy a car on installments. For SR. 1,000 a month, you can get a good brand new car. When you leave (whether before or after completing the 5-year payments), you sell your installments car to someone else, and get more than half your money back!!! (if a Jap car). Not to mention, depending on what car you get, you can still save SR. 200-400/month from your allowance.

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

Thank you all for your comments - very helpful. The hotel accommodation is supposed to be private bedroom and bath, shared kitchen and living room with only one other person. Apparently it's a suite-style hotel room in "The Royal Hotel". Anyone ever heard of it? I couldn't find a single listing on the Internet in Riyadh, but I was sent pics and it looks ok.

I like the idea of finding furnished accommodation and if I have to spend the entire living allowance to do that, I don't think I mind. I'm not too fussy. Same with the transport allowance - what else are they for, I suppose?

Thanks again. If anyone out there knows more about the situation with Bell or KSU, please let me know.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

That still sounds like shared accommodation to me. As far as I am concerned......................... totally unacceptable. Life is stressful enough in Saudi without sharing your living space with some other looney.

trapezius · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:26 am Post subject:

^ very true.

i turned down a job offer a few months back partially because it offered similarly shared accomodation, and accepted the job i have right now, even though the one i turned down paid double.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:51 am Post subject:

Agree with scot and trapezius.

Even if you're not normally the type who minds shared accomodation, avoid it at all costs in this country. You'll find you are 'living out of your colleagues' pockets' quite enough already, without actually living in the same accomodation.

robitusson · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 74

I've been hearing some reports about this place lately.

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

Grendal

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:19 am Post subject:

For the salary offered, I would not be willing to share even a large, furnished, four-bedroom villa in a compound, let alone a 2-bedroom hotel suite, with a colleague. That's insane. As others have stated, you already have to spend too much time in close quarters with colleagues at a workplace in KSA. You need your own space when you get home in the evening, and it needs to be a pretty big space...not a hotel suite.