Job Discussion Forums

GoingSaudy · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

Hi all,

I am requesting some expert opinion about making a choice between a job at a financial institution in Saudi Arabia and teaching at SQU in Oman. The Saudi Job is offering about US $70K all inclusive while the SQU job is offering about US $45K plus accommodation. Both jobs come with the usual annual paid vacation. Naturally, I prefer SQU job with its academic freedom but a quick check of the cost of living comparison shows that it is far more expensive to live in muscat than Jeddah. I would like to have your opinion on the relative cost of living for a family of 4 in the two countries

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Can't help you out, but I am curious to know if these positions are for teaching English. The 45K offered by SQU seems higher than I thought.

crocus · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 79

GoingSaudy says SQU pays about $45k plus accommodation. If you take the top amount the Language Centre pays its teachers - as 'Assistant Lecturers' - + travel allowance for those who live off campus + an education allowance for two of the children who may be at international schools in Oman then this can well come to this amount.

If this $45k doesn't include an educational allowance, then he can't be going to work in the Language Centre - no 'ordinary' teacher / programme co-ordinator earns this much.

GoingSaudy: with a family along, I wouldn't even consider Saudi. You're right, Oman is more expensive, but consider the quality of life between the two - Oman wins by several heads! You probably won't save money, however, which you would do in Saudi.

All the best whatever you decide.
Crocus

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'm not sure where this 45K number comes from either. In ESL, most teachers with MA and experience would be getting around $25K + benefits.

And I wonder at the assumption of 'academic freedom' at SQU. It is certainly a much freer lifestyle, but in most departments it is teach to the text. (not all, but many) I would certainly consider it a more pleasant place to be all around, but I am looking at it as a single female. (and if you have kids, Oman is very child friendly...)

VS

GoingSaudy · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

Well, the academic freedom I was refering to is in comparison to the saudi bank job. As a teacher I believe you have a relative freedom and flexibility of your time ie not necesarily (8-5) kind of thing everyday.

Basically the SQU package includes- a basic salary of 1030+universityallowance+utility allowance+rarity allowance+transportation allowance (if off campus)+education allowance

Going by the previous posts I see that Oman is family friendly but you will not save much - well I will certainly like to save some money Smile

What can an expat's wife do while in Saudi or what do expat wife do?
How easy/difficult/impossible will be to get a job (She is a well qualified and experienced IT) .
My other question is that can an epax's wife travel alone from Saudi to say for instance Dubai or she has to have a company on such a trip and how often can such a trip be made?

Thanks in Advance for all info shared, we are hoping that this will work out for the best for us!

crocus · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 79

GoingSaudy - please put me out of my suspense. You CAN'T be an EFL teacher??? Rarity allowance? Mmmm - again, not EFL. Wink

Hope you make the best decision for your family.

Crocus

GoingSaudy · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

Crocus - not not an EFL teacher Smile

- I was kinda reluctant cos this is an EFL forum but still very much a teacher nonetheless Smile

Saudi veterans hellooo!!!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

rarity allowance... wow, that's a new one!! Laughing

We have quite a few non-ESL/EFL teachers who come on here, so don't worry... we usually try to be helpful anyway.

Lots and lots of restrictions on the wives in Saudi, so make sure that your wife can handle that issue. She certainly has a better chance at getting a job in Oman... though it may not be exactly what she would want. But, at least she would have complete freedom of movement both within and to/from the country.

Hopefully a Saudi person will come on and give you some info on Jeddah...

VS

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

abufletcher · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:18 pm Post subject:

Maybe people who have lived in Saudi absolutely hated it but that typically because you get the fullest helping of everything related to being an expat: the most intense cultural experience, the most start separation of expats and locals, not to mention the wierdest bunch of expats I've ever met. I lived in the Asir for about a year and found it fascinating but then it was really more like being in Yemen (wild baboons and men with flowers in their hair). I don't think I would have enjoyed any job in the eastern regions nearly as much. Jeddah might be liveable however.

As a family man however I would definitely stay away from Saudi Arabia. I was on a single status contract during the time I lived in Abha. Your wife will enjoy her life in Oman MUCH MUCH more.

My wife and I and our three small children spent seven years in Oman back in the early 90's. I was teaching in the language center at SQU. We have nothing but positive memories. The campus is gorgeous, the students friendly, and the landscape everything a maddog or Englishman could possibly desire.

As for money matters I can't really advise you -- let me rephrase that --- you wouldn't want my financial advice! I never was one of those expats that came to the Gulf primiarily for the bottom line. I did an awful lot of traveling, grew a lot as a person and as a professional, but didn't save much money.

Some people leave the Middle East with a full bank account but they leave as essentially the same person they were when they came. I like to think that came away from my Gulf experiences as almost a completely different person and that it was the skills and knowledge and insights I acquired during my 12 years in the Gulf that ultimately got me my current job (tenured professor) in Japan.

Money's not everything. And if it is, you really shouldn't have gotten into teaching.

If both you AND your wife can be working you can disregard everything I've just said. Very Happy

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:35 am Post subject:

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject:

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

Saudi is a big country and it also has a variety of employers.

Good locations in Saudi in my opinion are the Eastern Province as it is close to Bahrain and tends to be a bit more liberal especially around Al Khobar...Jeddah is also considered a good place for western expats.

If your employer is okay i would take jobs in either of these locations and avoid most of the rest of the kingdom.

If money is you goal go for Saudi...it ain't that bad.

abufletcher · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:24 am Post subject:

If the prime attraction of a location (eastern province) is to be able to easily escape to another country regularly, then there's something wrong. I loved the Asir (wild baboons, interesting landscapes, access to the Red Sea, interesting culture) but you had to be willing to live within the confines of Saudi life. Why go to a country if you really don't want to be there?

On the other hand, I did have a friend who owned a little ranchito in Mexico and by working in Saudi for a year every 2 or 3 years was able to remain blissfully unemployed (though always active) in Mexico for the rest of the time. Very Happy

But then he ended up having a hell of a great time exploring caves in Saudi and stayed for quite a while.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject: