Essentials to live in Saudi Arabia

Your favorite chips or other snacks!

Everything is easily available here
Just take your necessary belongs only

No kids? Singles or couples...

Bring: important papers, whatever family pics, and special personal products, products  like special hard to get organic/ GMO free/ etc ingredients and supplies, silly to Mention but not Vanilla extract for obvious reasons , a good supply of your Rx meds ... Everything
(dishes, kitchenware, bedding, curtains, bath accessories etccccc) is available here so forget about your household . It's not worth the effort and hassle  of shipping.  I set up a 'provisional' kitchen here and I have the basic white line as well as all small appliances like juicer, kitchen aid food processor, blender, immersion blender, dehydrator , knives etc!  Great Tv and electronics available and I even set up a home gym ... So yeah. If you play a guitar or any other portable instrument that you cherish.. Bring it . Otherwise , get ur stuff here. Hmmm...HoHoHo decor?

Families w kids:

Obvious stuff but most importantly:
Bring THEIR stuff, it's important... Toys, books, whatever....Even sheets... They need to feel home but in the new place. We were expats w kids for 18yrs. Their stuff is PRIORITY. The rest you can get here. Moving entire households is a huge hassle and not worth it. If a compound agrees to give u a sum of SAR to bring the unit up to standard as in many cases, then just make it work and furnish ur place and re sell, donate whatever when you gig is up. Repatriate with the kids stuff and your newly acquired goods like small and large decorative pieces from the Arab world! You will collect! Everyone ends up with incredible buys from faraway places.

The shopping here is more than adequate and if you need LUXE items , no problem for adults, kids home decor... Shopping is good in nearby DBX!

I've traveled to and fro and main yes an apt for 7 years without moving an initial household.
It's all good.

TO BRING:

Always bring your favorite snacks, me and my husband always stock up because they're either way over priced as they're imported or...major unhealthy! A lot of the food in Saudi is relatively unhealthy, high in sugar an/ or fat. Not as many healthy choices as back home for me.

Toiletries, especially tampons for ladies. They're very scarce here or ridiculously priced.

Marriage certificates- not that its even been an issue personally but some hotels can ask for proof upon arrival so i've been told.

Protein Powder- anything along these lines is sooooo expensive here! Stock up before you head out.

Camping Gear- again it can be enxpensive here and if this is a hobby you would like to take up or continue your going to want your gear.

NOT TO BRING:

Don't over pack on clothing. 1. its to cheap here. 2. your mostly in your abaya except during work hours so focus on work attire.

A bad ass attitude- Saudi is Saudi, yes there are rules we may not be used to but try to embrace the middle eastern culture and take away positive things during your time here.

Organic body and hair products are hard to find here so bring urs that will last you longer.

Patience & respect with high moral values.

so your manners will reflect your personality, which will keep grooming over years to come.
thanks
Khalid

Hi Christine,

Saudi Arabia have almost everything you might be looking for, but it also depends on what are your essentials and where are you coming from? For example, I have a lot of South African friends that when they come back from holidays at home, they bring a lot of spices back with them that can't be found here, but then again there will be some staff that they can still find here as well.

good luck on your relocation.

You may no need to bring anything, you can find everything in Saudi Arabia. Just try to keep on touch with good friends over here, and I am sure you can have what you wish for. Welcome anytime.

christmas and easter stuff, just be sure it doesn't have written out merry xmas or a crucifix etc.  Kids special stuff, sports gear and camp gear.  If you have special tools you like for tinkering or kitchen bring them, but not appliances.  You can likely get a lot of hand me downs from your predecessor if replacing someone and have a sponsor or shop the compound for sale board (if in a compound)  There are no real thrift stores that I found, but check around.  Brand new in the souks is a fun shopping experience.  Clothes are pretty cheap.  Good hiking boots for desert treks a must.

Hi
It depends on where. You come from, but everything is readily available, prices are negotiable and good accommodation is very expensive...its really not a bad country to live in :-D

Hi Christine
Welcome to Saudi Arabia.
Here you will find everything .....more cheaper than the whole world. Only thing you will not find is  alcoholic drinks and you cannot bring it in. So just relax and come with open mind and you will enjoy the place. Which city you are coming in. I live in Jeddah from almost 23 years. I am from India basically and very happy and content living in this place. Hope you enjoy too. Best of luck

You will find almost everything here basic things are easily available.U just need someone to guide you properly.Its also cheap,only thing you have to think about is your accomodation.Its quite costly and hard to find a good accomodation.Almost 90% of rest of the things u will get here.Just pack your bag with your belongings and come here.
Thats it!
Be prepared for the culture here,i have no doubt if you welcome it with a good heart u will enjoy here with such a warm community of people.

Hi, Always have a bottle of water specially during summer months when temperature reaches 45 degrees C. Lobello to avoid lip blister. You must always have your keys and your residence permit (iqama) ready at all times. 
You can always have what you want, i.e. electronic gadgets, high end mobiles, shoes,  fashion a la Zara, atbp. However, don't indulge yourself early in material things. Work...save... and enjoy the fruit of your labor by being a tourist in your native land.

Hai,
Literally, everything is available in Saudi Arabia (except the things that are banned in Kingdom). But some things are costlier than the price at your home country. I want to recommend the things that are NOT to be packed:-
1.any religeous stuff like photos, song CDs which are other than Islam,
2.poppy seeds - which is a common food spice in India is classified as narcotic in all GCC countries.
3.Liquor in any quantity or form
4. sex toys and other pornography stuff including porn videos.
5. anything that is made or carry the identity of Israel.

Now the essential things to be packed:
1. toileteries in minimum quantities until you become familiar about the neighborhood shops where you can get your favorites.
2. dress and winter clothing which are marginally high price.
3. For people from South India - they can't imagine a life without idli and Dosa. Here is wet grinders are available but double the cost of indian price. Better you bring the wet grinder from India to enjoy the seamless taste of Idli and Dosa!!!!

My Friends, Please Don't think from stomach.
KSA is among very few countries where you can find non seasoned stuff throughout year and all over the Kingdom !!!
isn't that enough to satisfy one's appetite ?
However, Manners with high moral values makes the changes.
Look staying in France will lead to us start French communications within months,
same for Spanish in Spain and German in Germany...................why people didn't bother to learn even ABC of Arabic while their generations are born to live here.
Here we are not fair with ourselves, even Muslims Expats are part of the same stream.
take care eat Khabsa, mandhi, or dozen of local dishes or have your own.
Khalid