Job Discussion Forums

[DirtGuy]

It looks like I finally have a position and I neither want to live in the offered compound not do I want to have my own apartment. Is it possible/common/likely to find someone with a room in a house or apartment to rent? Would this likely be with another expat or with a Saudi family?

As an alterntive to the above, are there very small efficiency units that can be rented for occupancy by just one person?

How do I track down either of these options?

Thanks.

DirtGuy

[nomad soul]

You definitely won't be able to share housing with a Saudi family. In fact, your personal interactions with Saudis will pretty much be limited to those at your place of work. However, splitting costs with a roomie would be feasible. If you do an Internet search on expat housing Riyadh, you'll find sites about apartment renting and sharing as well as some with ads. But best to wait until you arrive in country to see your actual options.

[cmp45]

You may also check out ... www.expatriates.com under Saudi Arabia
there is a section for rental accomodation...lots of rooms to let...however all or if not most are sharing with South Asians. Pakistanis, Egyptians, etc.
It may be worth alook...you might find something there.

[nomad soul]

Cmp45 is correct. A lot of the room rentals advertised are posted by non-westerners, and many of those ads state the renter must be a specific nationality. But if you wait until you arrive in KSA, I'm sure you'll find other male teachers looking for a similar housing arrangement or a studio/efficiency type unit. You guys could pool your info and resources so that you're not checking out potential accommodations on your own. Also, the company you signed up with should be able to help out with your housing needs or at least point you in the right direction.

BTW, why don't you want to stay in the company-provided compound housing?

[It's Scary!]

[DirtGuy]

Thanks for the tips. I did some poking around and I think what I want is out there. I'll take the company housing for a while and then start looking.

Why not just stay in the provided housing you ask? I usually enjoy my co-workers but not 24/7. Living and working with the same people sounds a little too incestuous for my liking. Besides, I've had roommates for years and in addition to the money savings, I've learned things and had experiences I never would have otherwise had. Most have been good, others not so much, but worth it on the whole.

DirtGuy

[It's Scary!]

I sense a train wreck about to happen! A logical person moving to the Kingdom?

Whoa, Nellie!

It's like what my wife used to say, "They don't used 'common sense' here", to which I'd reply, "You can't expect 'common sense' where 'sense' is uncommon"!

[nomad soul]

[DirtGuy]

The recruiter is telling me to live in the provided housing with all the other teachers for the first month and then look for a place. They give me a housing allowance if I move out that should be enough to rent a room based on what I've seen on other sites.

As for logic, I get the idea that not too much works in a logical manner where I'm going but logic also dictates that it's better to work in KSA than to declare bankruptcy in the US. After a year, I'll have everything paid off and then it's time to reevaluate.

DirtGuy

[battleshipb_b]