Job Discussion Forums

[kona]

I've considered Saudi Arabia as a place to teach in the past as the direct hire uni positions seemed pretty solid; however, now I'm feeling more and more hesitant to even pursue those lucrative contracts.

A lot of geopolitical writers have argued that the demographic youth bulge in many MENA countries combined with a lack of real economic opportunities helped ignite and drive the Arab Spring.

Saudi Arabia managed to release a substantial amount of public money during that time, but now that they're facing some massive budgetary shortfalls and headwinds in the near future due to low oil prices, and are cutting government salaries, fuel and utility subsidies, and a private sector that can't pick up the slack (and it's a lot of slack to be fair), it seems the social pact that the government has had with the people is increasingly more tenuous. They also seem to have what seems from the outside like the most conservative interpretation of Islam, so could that translate to increased social unrest in the country, and even terrorist attacks?

Do you worry about the security situation in the country in the years to come? Or do you think my apprehension is overblown?

[nomad soul]

[kona]

Of course, no one can predict what will happen precisely in the months and years ahead, but whenever one moves to a new country, one should do due diligence and understand the security situation of the place they are moving to.

I've never thought in the years past that Saudi Arabia would be a dangerous place to work, and the high salaries and generous benefits at some of the universities makes work there a tempting prospect. However, whenever I read the news about government budget cuts, the lack of a private sector, and a population who, some posters on here have said, only dream of a cushy government job (that are now unattainable except for the few really well connected), one wonders if there's a tinder box that just needs to be lit...

Anyways, you're probably right; considering how long it takes for application/interview/documents/visa, if I'm apprehensive now, just wait till 2017!

[nomad soul]

[bigdurian]

[Leno]

MOD edit

[2buckets]

Nobody expected what happened in Iran 1978/79. I was there for it all, came like a bolt from the blue.

"Iran is an island of stability in one of the most troubled area(s) of the world."
Jimmy Carter, Dec. 1977

You just can't predict what can happen. That being said, with the SA economy and salaries going down, and tensions in the Gulf going up, I'd consider somewhere else.

China seems to be popular nowadays.