I've been working in a "preparatory year" program at a university in Riyadh for six months and would like prospective new teachers to know that the only reason for being here is the money.
Edex (as we call it) is a difficult employer. The administration under William Frawley, is reluctant to grant leave, even during school vacations. I arrived at the end of September, but was not allowed to leave the country until four months later, and then only for a week. We are given only single-entry visas and have to pay for renewal ourselves, unless we stay in-country.
The university panders to the students, who, though in their late teens, act more like 12 year-old. Many, if not most of them are not interested in learning English, but only in their attendance being marked, because they are paid for it by the government. If you teach here, be prepared to being ignored, and at times, even defied. In case of a teacher-student conflict, in most cases the teacher will be re-assigned to a different class with no notice or consultation, just on the basis of the student's complaint.
I came here looking forward to the experience, but my level of disgust is too high for me to remain.