Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I am headed off again to Saudi and nearly 56 years old. Excited about it. Been there before with different employers. It IS important to get a reasonable employer. That is true anywhere but ESPECIALLY in Saudi where your employer has more power over you.

To those who have NOT been in Saudi let me say this : do not fall for the BS you may hear. Saudi is an interesting and welcoming country. Of course you may have negative experiences but for me it has always been on the whole a positive experience.

Think about but remember to do the research on your future employer. And remember that you are headed there for some specific goal !!!

Mine this time is to get a NEW car !!!!

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

Scot 47:

I agree. I've never taught in the Middle East but I also try to apply the same thinking while working and living in Asia.

Without having some kind of goal - Studying Judo, taking Chinese lessons, travelling, etc, etc - I see a lot of teachers spin out, so to speak.

I also agree with you about being on the road so much - I teach. I like it some days I hate it but over all, so far, it's been pretty good.

Living in Asia has given me a lot more opportunities for travel, meeting nice people, learning languages and watching my bank account accumulate than living in Canada would have.

Having the right perspective is definitely important if you plan on having this type of lifestyle for any length of time.

Good luck with your new position!

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Yeah,I certainly agree with Scot on at least one thing...if you must go to Saudi...try to get a reasonable employer.This is not always that easy...especially for people who have not been there before and do not"know the ropes'.If you get the wrong employer in some place like Taiwan or Korea,you can just pull a runner.In Saudi,it is usually not that easy....since your employers hold your passport(and they give you one of those iqama things like another poster mentioned).Also,you need an exit visa to LEAVE Saudi.Therefore,if you get a bad employer...it can be pure hell on earth.Of course,there is a little trick with the passport some Saudi vets pull.but I will not go into that one right now....Like he said...do your research...check anything out carefully...look at the Job Journal Forum on Dave's under Saudi..

Scot says Saudi is a "welcoming country"(?).Well,Scot,I have taught there too,and I can hardly agree with you on that one.I hope your experience there is great,though,and has a minimum of difficulties. Smile

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I suppose experiences here in KSA are all different and I have heard that Riyadh is a touch xenophobic.

However MY experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. And they go back a long time.

Even now with the Dogs of War about to be unleashed, I am happy to be here.

Dave Kessel · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 49

Saudi Arabia is a closed country. Hard to get in and hard to get out. So, you need to choose a good employer-Aramco, Raytheon, etc. Your passport will be taken away but if you have an emergency, you can always go home. If you want to quit, you normally need to give a one month notice. Then, it is no problem.

This place is not for everybody. However, the possibility of you getting stuck here without a passport is not really that great. Normally people just finidh the contract and then, go home. And if they need to leave, normally, they can leave.

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

They keep your passport? "...normally, you can leave?"

Are you serious?

omar805 · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Posts: 69 Location: Thailand

That's always been one thing that's put me off working in Saudi - that your passport is taken away by your employers.
Was it last year that we read in this forum where a teacher who was working in Saudi had to get home in a hurry due to a family emergency (I think his father had a heart attack and subsequently died), and he couldn't get his passport? It was either lost or no-one could locate someone who knew where the passports were kept.
I've always thought that it was illegal or against the laws of your own country, to hand over your passport and have it kept by another person or organisation?

johnslat · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2003 3:21 am Post subject: Passport control

Dear omar805,
It may be " against the laws of your own country " ( I'm not really sure on that, although the USA embassy here doesn't seem to be " protesting " this " violation ", if indeed it is one ), but when you're here, you have to go by the laws of THIS country. Yup, you still have to turn in your passport and get an " iquama " ( identity card ), although, a while back, it was mentioned in the English language Arab News that this was supposed to change, among " higher-level " employees, anyway. But, as so often happens here, the topic dropped out of sight and, so far, hasn't resurfaced. But, since you can't get out of this place wthout first getting an " exit visa ", anyway, not having one's passport doesn't seem very important. BUT it does ( as always ) depend on who your employer is. If you're working for some private company with an unscrupulous boss, well, that could be bad news. And regarding the " emergency situations ", again, it can take a few days ( or more ) to get an exit visa - unless you have a lot of wasta. We had two cases this year - a non-native speaker whose Mom was sick. He got his exit visa and passport FAST, in a day, I think it was. And a Canadian whose Mom died - he was told it'd take a week or two. Hmm, wonder why there was such a difference?
Regards,
John

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

Do Saudi citizens resident in the U.S. have to give up their Saudi passports? If not, why not?

As for "going by the laws of THIS country," it's a good enough reason not to be in "THIS country."