A few (largely geeky) questions

TimGJ wrote:

Hello there.

I'm contemplating a move to Saudi (I have the second interview in Riyadh once the visa comes through in a couple of weeks). I've read around the forums and think I have a have a general understanding but I have some specific questions on which I would value some advice.

Greetings Tim and welcome to Expat.com. I'm glad you took your time to read around a bit, now you know exactly what you want to ask. hmm, I will attempt to answer your queries. lets see how this works out.

TimGJ wrote:

The consultancy with whom I would be working would put me up on a compound somewhere in Riyadh. Reading the various blogs about compound life, I'm sure I could adapt relatively easily, particularly assuming that the apartments, offices etc. have air-conditioning.

you had me cracking up reading that. I mean sure your moving to a city in the middle of nowhere, but non the less its the Capital of KSA, one of the fastest growing cities and also one of the largest cities in the world. (not by population though)
the answer would be yes AC will not be an issue. .. . hope .. fully.

TimGJ wrote:

So the first question - what are working hours like in Saudi? Is there the culture of long-hours one gets in China or is it strictly nine-to-five for office workers (I would be working as a project manager on a telecoms project)?

hmm, well I could be answering you in a bookworm style but I rather not. lol.

normal companies have WHours like 8AM to 6PM including lunch break. 6 days a week. some make it 5 days a week but use those hours within the 5 days.

though there are companies which have hours like 8AM to 2PM and then 4PM to 9~10PM. I'm lucky not to be in that area.

TimGJ wrote:

Assuming I will be shipping some effects over from UK, much of these will be books and DVDs. These are all fairly innocuous - i.e. no bibles or pornography. Would that be allowed or am I better leaving them at home?

I personally dont think there should be any issues, and I heard your allowed one Bible. Boobies is a no no.

TimGJ wrote:

I believe that cable TV and broadband are normally available in the compounds. Whilst I'm not a great watcher of TV I imagine - on the assumption that there is little else to do - that I would watch more than I do in the UK. So, is cable typically available and if so are there packages of BBC channels on it?

Depending on your compound. your could have it all, or most of it. though the NET gives everyone all they need. tv ain't a bad choice.

TimGJ wrote:

If I subscribe to UK magazines like 'Private Eye' would they be delivered or are they not allowed in to KSA?

yes they would be delivered. just send them to your company address and your name with department. yeah, designation too. they just love mixing there papers up.

TimGJ wrote:

I am a Type II diabetic. I get excellent treatment on the NHS in the UK. I *understand* that the medical treatment is equally good in KSA and that employers would normally provide insurance. Could anyone comment?

employers MUST provide insurance by labor law. medical treatment is good. but have your research done on good hospitals near you and dont go to just "any" hospital.

TimGJ wrote:

Finally the geeky stuff. I pretty much live on the internet. Whilst I appreciate that access to certain sites would not be allowed, most of the sites I visit are very innocuous. Is access to websites generally allowed? Specifically I would like to be able to access:

* www.bbc.co.uk for news and also to stream internet radio for BBC Radio 4 etc.
* www.thetimes.co.uk - it would be my intention to subscribe to The Times on-line version.
* www.google.com and www.gmail.com for search and e-mail access respectively
* various geek websites like slashdot.org, python.org

Would these generally be available? What are the restrictions on internet access like?

Yes, yes, yes yes yes yes & yes. (I checked. lol)

TimGJ wrote:

I read a lot. Is amazon.com / amazon.co.uk available in KSA? I am also contemplating buying a Kindle book-reader. Are they available in KSA and do the wireless updates to them work?

Amazon is available, I have no idea about the Kindle reader but, iPad is widely used around here and there is a similar Samsung product as well. hope someone else can give a definite answer.

TimGJ wrote:

Sorry to ask such a strange bunch of questions, but I really would appreciate some help.

Many thanks.

Tim.

I hope this helps,

Salman