Job Discussion Forums

Isisgato · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 28

Hi, all, can anyone give me some inf on the family accommodation in both the UPM and the other places mentioned above ? I remember visiting the UPM accom more years ago than I care to remember, and it was ropey to say the least. ( It was known as the "Casbah" ). Has it changed ? What's the deal on accommodation in Jubail ? I'd imagine better, but................
All inf welcome ! Thanks.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Single or married?

hakbs · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Taipei vicinity

Steve is the man! He is a very good source of info.

He doesn't post regulary, but when he does, his info is accurate and based on first-hand info.

Wait until he gets back to you!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Didn't notice the word family. Should have read the post more carefully.

The OP has seen it at KFUPM which is more than I have! Married couples with no children seem to get a one-bedroomed apartment. I have not heard any body complaining about it, but nor have I heard anybody raving about it. You shouldn't have many more expenses than a TV though, and there are reasonable facilities on campus (supermarkets, gyms, libraries, barbers etc).

At JIC (and presumably UCJ) most married couples seemed to take the housing allowance. This is three months salary with a cap at SR45000. The area in which the colleges are is very pleasant, with beaches, trees, parks and many other amenities, but it is pricy. You would easily pay SR30000 for an unfurnished flat (furnished flats are hard to come by, and often very expensive), so you would lose money in the first year or two having to furnish it. Many of the less well paid staff take a flat in downtown Jubail, where the flats are smaller but generally nice and new, and tend to cost round about SR12000 - SR15000, so you would break even in the first year and make a handsome profit in the second. On the other hand you would be 25 kilometers away from the college so a car would be a necessity, and the city is anything but pretty.

What adds to the complication is that they are building married accommodation on campus, so that those who have been given the housing allowance may be asked to return to college accommodation when it is completed (or then again may not). The only thing you can do is ask at the interview and don't be surprised if the guy doing the interview doesn't know either.

They may be building other accommodation at KFUPM. Single people are due to move into the new accommodation next semester and I have no idea if any other staff accommodation is being built.

Isisgato · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 28

Many thanks for the inf re housing. What's the story on kids'education ? Is there an international school in Jubail ? If so, what age does it go up to ?

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

There is an exclellent school in Jubail with both British and American branches that goes up to 14.

There is a branch of Al-Hassan schools that goes higher, and I am told it has improved considerably over the past couple of years.