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scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

FFS !

Hatcher · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 602

I would add two things.

I stopped asking people in the KSA why they were there because everyone acted like it was a stupid question, and said, "MONEY!"

I make more money in China than I did in the KSA ut have to work harder.

On an hourly rate, KSA is tops.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Over the years I met many in KSA who were there as converts. For them, money was not everything. The other 3 "M's came into it - Mohammed, Necca and Medina !

elamericano · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 65

I'm not a convert but I quite enjoy studying Arabic, particularly writing.

Some universities here have Arabic language programs for foreigners. Which... of course... are managed by Saudis and actually taught by Levantines or Egyptians.

I looked at some of the requirements to enroll and for the full certificate program with a scholarship you usually have to be under 25, at least that's what the websites say. OTOH I did see a program in Jeddah that was shorter and for older adult learners.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The teaching of Arabic as a Foreign Language is not well developed in KSA. The assumption is always that the motives for study are theological or religious. The ideae that a non-Muslim might want to learn Arabic is viewed with some alarm.

In Jeddah I found my own teacher of Arabic - a Filipino Muslim who was a sworn interpreter (Arabic-Tagalog) for the Ministry of Justice.

revilo · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 181 Location: Mos Eisley

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

No exchange control in KSA plus a banking system that actually works. Two very positive features of working there.

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:52 pm Post subject:

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You can get foreign currency but are you going to keep cash under your bed ? When leaving you have to declare currency including foreign currency to Customs.

For those who have never seen it I recommend a visit to Alamoudi Bureau de Change ("Saraf") in Khobar. Amazing.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

I had a similar problem in Oman, but changed an amount each month at uaexchange into EUR, and in the last month into Emirates dirhams as I had a stopover there before going home. There is a limit of 10,000 euros into the EU, but I was not carrying anywhere near that amount. I found one way is to have a travelex card and load money onto that as a safe way if one does not have a bank account. All replies appreciated!!!

bigdurian · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 5:47 pm Post subject:

bigdurian · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: re: banking from the ksa?

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

Speaking of transferring money and exchange rates....

Maybe this is common knowledge but I certainly didn't realize it at the time...

The exchange rate SAR to USD in KSA is not the same rate that you can get outside of the country.

On one occasion, after selling my car and leaving the kingdom, I did not have time to stop at the bank to change SAR to USD. I thought it would not be a problem to do it once I had left since, "The Saudi Riyal is pegged to the dollar."

To my shock and horror, I found out that US banks don't follow the same exchange rates. I ended up having to exchange at 3.17 SAR to 1 USD. I lost a considerable amount of money due to my lack of knowledge. "Dumb-dumb wants Gum gum."