Job Discussion Forums

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

For the purpose of luring teachers to go to Saudi Arabia, AHE has said this on their job website:

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

Obviously the Ooooh Boy part is not part of the quote.

007 · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: Oooh Boy

johnslat · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject:

Well, yeah - it's "virtually crime free" - except, of course, for the foreigners.

That's what I was told when my (chained) motorcycle was stolen from my (locked) courtyard in Jeddah.

"Oh, Mr. John - too bad. The foreigners steal it."

"Ah, the foreigners." I replied. "Like me, you mean?"

Regards,
John

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

THANKS 007. SORRY, I'M NOT USED TO USING THIS FORUM.

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

A FELLOW COLLEAGUE JUST EMAILED THIS TO ME:

Crime free??? In the 20 years I've been a professional expat and global traveller, KSA is the only place where I got physically mugged. Jeddah gets heaps of break-ins, and drug consumption is way up everywhere.

and...females cannot go out in Western dress

and...Saudi people do not like men who wear shorts in public and wear loud T-shirts

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:08 am Post subject:

Thirty years ago, it was probably somewhat true (even at that time, I doubt that it was entirely true) that parts of the Kingdom were entirely crime free. Since that time, the old rumor persists that "you can leave stacks of cash or bags of gold openly in the streets and no one will take them" of of fear of decapitation by the Commission.

This rumor, along with the one that you can come to KSA and leave with enough money to buy a house in a year or so, need to be put to rest. The Kingdom is, in my opinion, a crime-ridden and dangerous place, with the most seemingly innocent villages probably being the most dangerous places to live.

Much of the crime is committed by empoverished, desperate guestworkers, many of whom will steal things just to be able to eat, since their compassionate and merciful Muslim sponsors won't provide enough food for an ant to live on. Or they may be stealing just to get enough money to get home after said sponsors left them stranded with no ticket and no way to return home.

However, I suspect that a much greater percentage of the crime is committed by Saudi-backed criminal gangs that traffic in all sorts of vile and evil stuff. Prostitution, pornography, drugs, homemade alcoholic beverages...all widely available at a price.

When I lived in a compound in Saudi Arabia, I personally knew of at least twenty burglaries/thefts that took place in the compound...and far greater numbers of accusations of thefts at the university itself. People lost computers, cameras, jewelry, all sorts of valuable items. The place is rife with theft of every kind. Do no go to KSA believing the old rumors. You need to take every precaution against theft and personal harm that you would take in any large city anywhere in the world. KSA is not a safe place by any stretch of the imagination.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In terms of petty crime, pilfering etc, KSA is still a better place than most cities in the "Western World". When I go on holiday I have to constantly remind myself to be careful, about leaving things lying around.

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

Well, I would say this is difficult to quantify without hard statistics.

I am only trying to inform new teachers who are considering going to Saudi Arabia....that there is crime in the KSA like in any country in the world.