What is your idea of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

Alliecat wrote:

you have to be capable of amusing yourself.  If you're the type who needs constant activities and outside stimulation, you'll end up being a mall rat, buying things you don't need just to have something to do :

SO TRUE!!

but that's only IF  you have the chance to go to the mall in the first place!!

JOHN GOODALL wrote:

My thoughts are that most Western people who re locate to Saudi Arabia, do not really experience REAL LIFE here. Driving around in fancy vehicles ,, Living in western style compounds with all the comforts of home..
They should try living like the majority of everyday Saudi Citizens for a while then maybe understand that life here can be very hard !!

You said right

RWMorgan wrote:

I find it surprising how dirty the country is in the cities, parks, and shore line. I'm afraid to go barefoot on the beach or even in the water with all the visible broken glass and trash. I would think with all the migrate workers that KSA would be spotless, especially with the obvious money of lavish Muslim homes which is another catch 22.

I personally witnessed a Saudi family open a car door, throw a ton of trash onto the ground, and then drive away although a trash receptacle was next to the car.

Aliakum Ashalam,
Al Khohol

Well when you realize no one cares about fixing the roads and potholes, speed bumps randomly appearing ever few meters then it's ok to litter all over.

Moe47 wrote:

strkr62 wrote:

I like working here. I don't like the fact that there is nothing to do but go out to eat and shop during off time. It would be a nicer place if it wasn't so restrictive and backwards. It is horrible to try and plan an outing around the closure of businesses for prayer time.  I mean come on...pray in shifts and keep the business open.

i know right this place sucks with all the surround system shit going on 5 times a day and cars honking 24 hour can barely get peace of mind.

I understand what your saying mate, but if we choose to work here then we need to respect them for their culture and way of life also, just as they respect the church bells on Sunday when they go to the West, in fact even the Atheists living there do so. We came here knowing fully well what this land is. I think the expats in compounds are lucky as I heard they have a decent life. I live in the South of KSA and I really want to ride a bike for exercise, but will be killed by a Hilux driven by a youth for fun!!! And yes it is unprofessional and backwards in many issues in KSA, but that boils down to rotten politics which I hate and keep away from, so please don't ask me for detail! LOL!

Moe47 wrote:

It is safe for non muslims in cities but try to go alone to qasim sorroundings or desert/ancient tourist places then you might encounter trouble from local outlaws. Google the french guys who got killed near mdain saleh.

that kind of areas no wonder dangerous not only for non Muslims but for every one but that kind of places are not safe in any part of the world

JesseGe wrote:

Its been a while since I arrived here.

When I first arrived, I was told all kinds of things about what to do and whats not to do!.

And because of my travels around the country, It is true that Saudi Arabia can be very different probably from anywhere you could go. This though does not make it horrible. I spent sometime to realize that if it wasn't the way it is, it would've lost its identity that we all know. Away from all the negativity that we see out there, I think it is a very safe, quiet and a beautiful land. If it wasn't the weather and how hot it gets, it would've been my first destination to start a family LOL!, I would though but I hate how hot it gets.

I am still struggling with the ideas put in the back of my mind about this land and its people. Please do not listen to anyone when you come to Saudi. Be the judge, go out and check things out yourself. Living in Saudi, getting to see Saudies, interact with them day to day everyday is a treat. I have many Saudi friends now and happy to say that these people are amazing. They are nothing like what I've heard.

Now I've seen things that I didn't like much but those things I couldn't really blame the people for. I am pretty convinced that the poor education system is the reason behind some of the bad attitudes you could catch around here. I am very sure that most of you would agree on this one. One of these things which you wouldn't expect happening in Saudi, its when you see Saudi women at traffic lights begging for money for the first time. It was a shock to me as I always thought they were all rich and happy!!.

Most expats moan about the same things every time, bad roads, speed bumps, litter all over. We keep forgetting that most of us live in compounds, tiny communities, far from Saudies real life out there. Saudies lived their whole lives with those bad roads, speed bumps and suffered from that litter everyone hates.

I like the land and I like its people very much. Go on Saudi ^5.

agreed but if u know Arabic then it is a very great place to live

syed zee wrote:

JesseGe wrote:

I like the land and I like its people very much. Go on Saudi ^5.

agreed but if u know Arabic then it is a very great place to live

How knowing Arabic makes it a great place to live, I dont know arabic and i still find it an intresting place to live

JOHN GOODALL wrote:

My thoughts are that most Western people who re locate to Saudi Arabia, do not really experience REAL LIFE here. Driving around in fancy vehicles ,, Living in western style compounds with all the comforts of home..
They should try living like the majority of everyday Saudi Citizens for a while then maybe understand that life here can be very hard !!

I think this is the general misconception. Yes many Western expats live on compounds and have nice cars. But there are many Arabs (Lebanese, Syrian etc) like this too, but I am sure you are not thinking that they, or the upper class Saudis should try living a different life style.

On a general note; I am surprised by how many people are criticizing this country. Yes there is discrimination, problems with infrastructure or things such as littering. KSA like everywhere in the world has its good and bad points. Try looking at the good rather than the bad. And if life is just so terrible here then perhaps we should go back to our home countries?

rareshine wrote:

my sentiments exactly, pack up and go home. I stopped taking this whining seriously a looooonng time ago.

well thats ur opinion but pardon me u live in jeddah and u said that that's mean u never see jeddah.if u see real jeddah i bet u never say like that

rareshine wrote:

The Saudi English isn't great, but neither is yours. Why would an expat expect to speak their native language when they are in a different country? That would be some very undeveloped thinking.

Thats what I was trying to tell him, Smile is the best language and it has worked with me most of the times

dr.teh wrote:

KSA is a good place to live in but all depends on your job. If you have got a good job at a good place you will lead a wonderful life. I m working at salman al habib hospital and satisfied.

Agreed with you, but I guess you are talking about job satisfaction and not life satisfaction !!