Job Discussion Forums

[Scruffey]

So, before you berate me... I already did a search on here and couldn't find when exactly the typical breaks are for those of you teaching at Saudi Universities.

I've found that some jobs say 90 days of vacation but it's difficult to find specifics for when the vacation time is.

For those of you currently working in the KSA:

1. How long is your vacation time?

2. During what months is your vacation? And is it continuous?

3. Do you usually go back to your home country?

Thanks so much

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

I be rating you 7 out of 10...

NCTBA

[cmp45]

[Bebsi]

The really reputable places, such as KFUPM, give 60 days officially in summer, but closer to 90 in reality. They also give around 10-12 days (calendar days) for each of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, PLUS another 10 days to two weeks inter-semester (usually in Feb) and a week mid-term (usually in April).

At the other end, some private universities give 45 days in summer (with anything outside that being unpaid), 3-5 days for each Eid, and...well, that's it! Even if the students have a much longer break, as they do, you must come in to work. It's very important that you do, of course, as that is the time when the really important thumb-twiddling gets done, and seats may explode and send radioactive dust into the cosmosphere if not kept at buttock-temperature.

I mean, you don't want to be wasting money on teachers having fun in foreign lands with their families or friends, when you are paying them to be there in the workplace, even if there's nothing at all to do. Now, do you? It may sound unbelievable to many, but that's the mentality quite a few places have.

Most places are in-between: 60 actual days in summer, ten days each Eid, and maybe one week for inter-sem, and a couple of days in April tagged onto a weekend, which is good for a chill-out, a trip within kingdom, or a few days in Bahrain.

[Scruffey]

Thanks for the responses guys. Interested to hear from any more teachers as well.

[Bebsi]

Most teachers in KSA univs who are from North America and Australasia tend to go home once a year, in summer, and to use the other vacation periods for travel either within the Gulf or Asia - maybe a week in Thailand or a 5-night deal in Dubai, sort of thing.

When signing a contract, you need to know something about the history and prior record of the employer vis-a-vis holidays, both paid and unpaid. In KFUPM, for example, although the contract says 60 paid days, historically they have always given more, and so you can safely assume a minimum of 75 days, with over 80 being likely. Other institutions give just what the contract says, and if the contract says 60 days, that's what you get. In some cases, they will just allow the 60, while in others they will pay you for 60 and allow up to a month of unpaid leave.

You also need to watch the shorter breaks. Like I said in my earlier posting, some places give 10 days to two weeks for the Eids, while others give the bare legal requirement of three or four.

Ideally, you should make a lot of inquiries of people with experience of any given establishment, before you sign the contract.

Summer break is typically from late June to the end of August.

[sheikher]

Saudis have yet to grasp the concept of specificity in regard to dates for "vacation time" for migrant workers. Accepting this idiosyncrasy is all part and parcel of indentured servitude.

It serves to heighten an employer's sense of empowerment and, anyway, is an approach consistent with the content of contracts, how they and visas are processed, and whimsical administrative interpretations thereof.

Al Shabaka Training Establishment, for just one example, has garnered quite some reputation for this same phenomena.

With regard to vacations, the specific date for Ramadan Day 1 cannot be officially established more than 24 hours in advance. Booking flights for what you thought would be your first opportunity for departure? Think again!

Expats who've made RT flight reservations well in advance for Eid breaks are often confronted mid-holiday with...

....SURPRISE!!!... http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article188518.ece

In another statement the Royal Court said King Abdullah ordered that studies will resume in all educational institutions under the General Education Department and the Higher Education on Nov. 27 instead of Nov. 22.

If the King requires urgent rest, why not also his subjects?

In line with King Abdullah�s policy of transparency in his relations with his sons and daughters of the Kingdom, the Royal Court announces that the king has a back problem. Doctors have advised him to take rest as part of a treatment regime,� the Saudi Press Agency quoted the statement as saying.

Man, ya gotta luv dat easy transparency!