Living and working in Saudi Arabia
Gengeral Information
Living and working in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of approx. 865,000 sq miles or 2,150,000 sq kilometres. It is bounded on the north by Iraq and Jordan; on the east by Kuwait, the Arabian Gulf, Quatar and the United Arab Emirates; on the south by the Sultanate of Oman and Yemen; and on the west by the Red Sea.
It is divided into six provinces, geographically distinct. Riyadh is an oases located within the central province of the Kingdom, along with Burayda and the Al Kharj. This area is the most densely populated area of Saudi Arabia. It is ringed on three sides by deserts. Throughout the country temperatures drop significantly at night. Even daytime temperatures can be rather cool, depending upon the location and the season. Travellers are, therefore advised to take some heavy clothing with them in winter as well as the usual light apparel.
Climate
Saudi Arabia is one of the driest countries in the world, with rainfall averaging less than five inches per year. Marked seasons, in the European or American sense, do not exist. Summer is hot with temperatures in some areas reaching 49°C (120°F). Winter is cooler with an average temperature of 23°C (74°F) in Jeddah and 14°C (58°F) in Riyadh.
Religion
Islam is the religion of Saudi Arabia and it is the only religion that can be practiced in the Kingdom. Islam means "submission" (to the will of God). Islam has been proclaimed to the world through the Prophet Muhammad who is the last in a succession of the prophets. Muslims recognise and revere the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus Christ. With close to three-quarters of a billion adherents throughout the world, Islam is one of the great monotheistic religions revealed to mankind. Islam is not only a religion which preaches equality, tolerance of other faiths and submission to the will of God, but it is also a practical legal system and a way of life, laying down rules for behaviour in private, social and business activities.
Language
Arabic is the sacred language of Islam, one of the most widely spoken international languages in use today and one of the greatest literary languages in history, with its immense range, power and beauty. Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia, but English and other languages are widely spoken and understood in the country.
Law
As Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, all law is based on the Holy Quran. It is called Sharia Law and governs both criminal and civil cases. The Quran itself is considered the constitution of the country and provides ethical values and guidance. Executive and legislative authority is exercised by the King and the Council of Ministers within the framework of Islamic law. The Kingdoms ministries and all other government agencies are ultimately responsible to the King.
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The Calendar
The Saudi Government operates according to the Hegira calendar, a lunar reckoning from the year of the Hegira (Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD). The twelve months of the Hegira calendar have 20 or 30 days totalling 354 days. Because the beginning of each month depends upon the sighting of the moon, it is not unusual for the calendar to be adjusted during the year.
The Work Week
Friday is the weekly day of rest. The normal work week is Saturday through Thursday, although many companies work a half day on Thursday. All government offices are closed on Thursday.
Special Periods
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hegira calendar, however the actual date is dependent on the sighting of the moon. It is a period of daytime fasting for all Muslims except the sick, the weak, nursing mothers, children under the age of puberty, military personnel during a war and travellers. The fast consists of abstinence from food, drink, smoking and sexual intercourse from daybreak to nightfall. Night-time is filled with feasting and prayers. The completion of the month of fasting is celebrated by the Eid al-Fitr (the Feast of Breaking the Fast), a three-day holiday commencing on the first day of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan. Nearly all businesses are closed for this holiday; government offices take a longer holiday. The pilgrimage to Mecca (the Haj) is one of the five requirements of Pillars of Islam and should be performed by all Muslims who can afford it.
The Haj occurs during the first ten days of the twelfth Hegira month (Dhy al-Hujjah). Millions of the faithful descend on Mecca and, to a lesser extent Medina, to perform ritual acts of devotion. The first pilgrims may arrive in Saudi Arabia two months in advance, and the last may depart two or three months after the actual dates of the Haj. The feast at the end of Haj, Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) begins on the tenth of Dhy al-Hijjah and lasts about four days. This, like the Eid al-Fitr, is a holiday observed by both businesses and government offices, although the latter are generally closed for a longer period.
The Ministry of Labour announces the holiday periods each year. Often these announcements are made very close to the actual start of the holiday. The Government during these holidays performs only emergency services. Because of the cut-off date for accepting passports for exit/re-entry visas, travellers must apply for these well in advance. The Saudi National Day is the only holiday consistently observed according to the Western calendar and occurs on September 23rd.
Dress Codes
In August 1979, a dress code for foreigners living in Saudi Arabia was published by the Society for the Encouragement of Virtue and the Elimination of Vice. Briefly, this publication is designed for the foreign residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is a guide for proper behaviour. The Society's publication stresses proper dress for females, although it also touches upon male attire as well. European clothing is acceptable within the compounds, however tight fitting clothes, dresses or tops with no sleeves are not appropriate. Long loose fitting clothes for females are a compulsory requirement. The majority of European women wear an Abbaya when outside the compounds. This is a big black cloak, which covers you from head to toe and conforms to the requirements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Proper attire is important for men as well. Tight trousers and shirts and any type of shorts are discouraged.
Accommodation
Free accommodation is normally provided close to the hospitals however each hospital is slightly different.
As the majority of the Nursing/Midwifery/Allied Health contracts are single status contracts, the accommodation is shared in two to three bed roomed apartments and come fully furnished and set up with linen, cutlery etc. Medical and Management positions offer single or married accommodation.
Women and Safety
The British Embassy website is a good source of information regarding safety aspects.
Getting Around
All hospitals provide a free bus and taxi service from your compound to your work site to cover all of your shifts. They also organise bus excursions into the city for shopping or other organised excursions.
It is also very easy and cheap to use the local taxi services. Remember, however that women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive a car. They are also not allowed to travel with a man who is not their husband, father or brother unless they are in a taxi!
Electrical Items
TVs are often provided in your accommodation and cable TV is available for a monthly charge. Cable channels include Super Movies, Hollywood Channel, Star World, MTV, CNN, BBC World and others.
Videos and stereo equipment are available to buy locally, and are generally slightly cheaper than back home. The electrical current is mainly 110V but 220V is sometimes available.
Other sources of information
The Saudi Arabian Information Resource website, contains more than 2,000 pages of information on every aspect of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Arabia.com - this comprehensive website and search engine, provides loads of information (much like MSN or Yahoo).
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Services in Saudi Arabia
Healthcare
The healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly and continues to provide excellent and challenging opportunities for providers. The government of Saudi Arabia continues to provide massive support to existing as well as new projects in order to see that health services are accessible to all people at all levels of care - primary, secondary, and tertiary.
All contracted workers and their designated dependents, who are also being sponsored by the Hospital, are provided with free healthcare during the term of the contract.
Schooling
There are many well-funded international schools that cater to the large expatriate communities living within Saudi Arabia.
Banks, currency and credit cards
There are several branches of international commercial banks available in the main cities in Saudi Arabia. The banks maintain normal working hours and offer most routinely available commercial banking services. The currency in the Kingdom is the Saudi Riyal and this is benchmarked against the US Dollar. Cash is generally preferred in all shops, particularly in the old souks. ATM cards are able to be issued to all bank account holders and machines are widely available throughout the Kingdom.
Tax
There is no tax in Saudi Arabia however all countries have different tax laws on income being brought back into their country.
Communications
The Kingdom is served by a modern telephone system although like all international calls there can often be some delay in sound causing the "echo" effect. Direct international telephone calls can be made to most of the world's countries. Often internet access can be made available from your home for an added charge. This service is continuing to improve.
Postal Service
Airmail service between the United States and Saudi Arabia takes up to ten days. Between Europe and Saudi Arabia the mail takes from four to seven days and between Saudi Arabia and Australasia approximately seven to ten days. All mail should be addressed to your location in Saudi Arabia.
Radio
The overseas service of the Canadian CBC, British BBC and the American "Voice of America" can be received in Saudi Arabia.
Television
Saudi television is broadcast throughout the Kingdom and is available at all of the facilities. Most hospitals now have satellite connections and offer channels like CNN, BBC, Star Entertainment and others. Videotapes/DVDs, which provide current movies, sports events, etc are available throughout the Kingdom and most expatriates invest in a Video/DVD machine in order to enjoy this feature.
Newspapers / Magazines
There are several Arabic dailies and weeklies. The Arab News, The Riyadh Daily and The Saudi Gazette and three English language daily newspapers are published locally. The Saudi Business and Arab Economic Report is an English language business-orientated weekly. A range of European and American newspapers, magazines and books are available in hotels, bookshops and newsstands. However these are often censored.
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What to do in Saudi Arabia
Travel
There are many fascinating trips that are organised through either the recreational centre on the compound or through other expatriate groups. What we do recommend is that when you first arrive in the Kingdom, take advantage of all opportunities and invitations to get out and about. In this way you will very quickly establish a network of like-minded souls for further trips and travel! Some interesting places to visit are; Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca and Taif, as well as Najiran.
Short holidays
Many expatriate employees enjoy a short holiday about mid-way through their contract year due to the close proximity of Europe locations such as Jordan, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt and Greece. These are very popular destinations. Flights and accommodation are easily organised within the Kingdom. A long weekend to Dubai or Abu Dhabi is always very popular.
Entertainment
Cinemas, discos, dancing halls and bars are not allowed within the Kingdom however there are many other social events organised. The local Embassies often have major social events and we do recommend you register with your local Embassy.
Food and dining out
There are many supermarkets throughout Saudi Arabia and they carry a range of products very similar to what can be found back home. There is normally a mini-market on the hospital sites which stocks a wide range of grocery and delicatessen products.
Eating out remains a very popular pastime within the Kingdom and as such there is a wide range of restaurants in the cities. If you are only looking at a quick snack you can normally find a fast-food outlet including McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut and many others.
Most restaurants have two sections, "men only" and a "family section". Single women and married couples with or without children eat together in the family section. Restaurants generally close during prayer times, however if you are in a restaurant during prayer call, you are usually allowed to stay.
Wine and liquor laws
The sale and/or consumption of any type of wine, beer or alcohol is strictly prohibited within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and holds serious consequences for those caught.
Sports and recreation
There are many things to see and do within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On compound there are many recreational resources available, from Olympic size swimming pools, up to date gym equipment, basket and volley ball courts to name but a few! Many people also take advantage of the chance to learn something new whether it is scuba diving, golf or horseback riding!
Shopping and leisure
In all of the major cities there are numerous supermarkets, food stores, clothing and appliance shops, and a wide range of electronic centres to serve the expatriate.
There are several good-sized supermarkets in Riyadh such as Tammim Safeway and Euromarche. These supermarkets and other markets and shops stock a wide range of American and European products. In addition, there is wide range of restaurants, which serve a variety of international foods.
Within the capital of Riyadh there are several world class shopping centres which offer a wide range of clothes, stationary, shoes, gifts, jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics, electrical goods etc. In addition many of the shops you would know from the High Street of the UK, let alone the designer stores of Versace, Dior, Armani and many more. As the majority of shop assistants are male it is not always possible to try things on, however it is a wonderful way to pass the time. Remember even in shopping malls they all close for prayer for the allocated period of time and then re-open.
Riyadh
Although Riyadh has officially been the capital of Saudi Arabia since 1932, it played second fiddle to Jeddah until the 1970s. Built with oil boom money, Riyadh is now a high-tech oasis of glass, steel and concrete, home to huge hotels, even larger hospitals and one of the biggest airports in the world.
The Riyadh Museum, to the west of Al-Bathaa, has all the usual things covering the history and archaeology of the Kingdom from the Stone Age to early Islam. There's an interesting display on Islamic architecture and a separate Ethnographic Hall, with clothes, musical instruments, weapons and jewellery. Signs are in English and Arabic.
Once the citadel in the heart of Old Riyadh, the Masmak Fortress was built around 1865 and extensively renovated in the 1980s. Inside the mud fortress there's a nicely econstructed traditional diwan (sitting room) with an open courtyard and a working well. The fortress is now a museum devoted to Abdul Aziz and his unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other museums in Riyadh include the King Saud University Museum, which has a display of finds from archaeological digs, and Murabba Palace, with exhibits of traditional clothing and crafts.
The Al-Thumairi Gate, in the centre of town, is an impressive restoration of one of the nine gates, which used to lead into the city before the wall was torn down in 1950. The flash, new, modern Al-Thumairi Gate is just across the road. About 30km (20mi) out of town is one of the largest camel markets in the Middle East. It's open every day and is a fascinating place to wander around (despite the smell).
Riyadh's most interesting attraction, the ruins of Dir'aiyah, lie 30km (20mi) north of the city centre. This was the Kingdom's first capital and is now the country's most popular archaeological site. Dir'aiyah was founded in 1446, reached the height of its powers at the end of the 18th century, and was razed in 1818. The reconstructed ruins include palaces, mosques and the city wall.
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Jeddah
Hyperbolically known as the Paris of Arabia, Jeddah is one of the few cities in the region to have built around, rather than over, its history. Although it's definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah (which is mid-way down the country's Red Sea coast) is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. Jeddah is centred on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along its coast road and the old city directly behind them.
Jeddah has some great museums, including the Municipality Museum. Located in a 200-year-old restored traditional house built from Red Sea coral, the museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with rooms done up in traditional style. The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hasan Khalil houses 10,000 items crammed into four mock-Arab, Disney-style buildings. The museum is a spectacularly badly organised mish-mash of kitsch exhibits, but there are a few real gems among the flotsam. The Jeddah Museum, the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography, covers the same turf as the Riyadh Museum.
Jeddah has one of the best souks (markets) in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city. Although some sections of it have been paved over, and others fitted with bizarre green and white columns, it's still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddah's three reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are the several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around the North City Gate.
Mecca & Taif
Most visitors to Saudi Arabia come solely to visit Mecca, just inland from Jeddah. Mecca is Islam's holiest city, and all devout Muslims - wherever they live in the world - are supposed to make the pilgrimage (or hajj) here once in their life. This is where Mohammed was born in the 6th Century AD, where he began preaching and where he returned for his final pilgrimage. Mecca and the holy sites in its immediate vicinity are off limits to non-Muslims. Apart from the obvious ideological arguments against breaking this rule, there are checkpoints along the roads to the city to stop non-Muslims from coming too close.
The centre of Mecca is the Grand Mosque and the sacred Zamzam inside it. The Kaaba, which all Muslims face when they pray, is in the mosque's central courtyard. According to tradition, the Kaaba was originally built by Adam, and later rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael, as a replica of God's house in heaven.
In the mountains above Mecca, the summer capital of Taif is open to all. People come here for the weather (much cooler than Jeddah in the summer months), the scenery and the town's relaxed atmosphere. Taif's central mosque is a good example of simple, refined Islamic architecture. Shubra Palace is a beautifully restored traditional house, which doubles as the city's museum. It was originally built around the turn of the century, and has been used as a residence by a number of Saudi kings. For a real taste of old Tail, the Tailor's Souk is a sandstone alleyway of ancient shops tucked between the town's modern buildings.
Najiran
Almost on the Yemeni border, in the south-west of the country, Najran is one of the most fascinating and least visited places in the kingdom. Set in a sprawling oasis, this area has been inhabited for about 4000 years, and was once a major stop on the frankincense route. Rumour has it that it's now a major stop on the Saudi-Yemen smuggling route. Yemen's cultural influence is stronger here than anywhere else in the country - you can see it in the architecture, and in the outgoing demeanour of the Najrani people. Najran has one big main road, and the bus station, hotels, post offices and places to eat are all along it or close by.
The Al-Aan Palace is one of the most remarkable pieces of architecture in the Wadi Najran. The main tower is five storeys high and dominates the oasis from the summit of a rocky outcrop. You can't go into the building because people live there, but there's an excellent view from the carpark over the oasis. Najran's fort has only been around since 1942 and was decommissioned in 1967 when relations with Yemen improved. Built as a self-sustaining complex, it has around 60 rooms, including livestock pens and its own mosque.
Najran has one of the Kingdom's newest and best museums, with displays on the formation of wadis and deserts, archaeological finds from the area, local crafts and tools, and photos of the area taken by Harry St John Philby, the famous diplomat, explorer and spy.
There are often many organised excursions to these wonderful locations, we recommend you take advantage of as much as possible - as remember - very few tourists ever get into Saudi.
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Useful Links
Interviews
Living and working in Saudi Arabia
Summary of Main Allowances
Additional information on Terms & Conditions - Single Status Contract
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