Alethe
Australian expat in the United Arab Emirates
Forum posts
105
About me
Australian
Lives in Dubai
Registration: 26 April 2010
EXPAT BLOG meet up - 27/08 - 9 p.m. - Horizon Lounge at Habtour Grand by joylok
After 2 successful meets, to whcih i could not make up, here's proposing Third meet on August 14. It should be fun to meet in open space: 1. Jumeriah Beach 2. Fujiarah Beach - logistics will be problem - but this is very peaceful and can help in ...
We've finally arrived after a couple of months travelling and I'm interested in events. Hope the evening is a great success. However I think I'll give this one a miss and wait for September as we are flying to Lebanon on 28th for a wedding. Sorry ... Read More
[EXPAT BLOG] IDEAS FOR MONTHLY MEET UPS by FeeAcer
[b][/b]Hi everybody on the Dubai forums, I have been following the discussions here since quite a few months seeing that I am moving from Mauritius to Dubai in July. I have read so many post about how difficult it is to meet people and make ...
For an inital meetup it's important that people can talk, the point after all is to get to know people. So I suggest if your choosing a bar or a club as a venue that you look for somewhere where the sound is at a manageable level. Read More
Work visa for Dubai
We have allowances but the contracts will need to be in our names. In KSA they also say none of these can be done without residency, but in reality both school and compound were willing to be more flexible because they knew my husband had a good ... Read More
Work visa for Dubai
Another question on a related topic. My husband has a job in Dubai, and his company are putting together a residency application for him. I understand that until this is done we theoretically can't rent a house, register our car, or send our ... Read More
american girl to marry saudi amd move to riyadh by amyasb
Hello, I am an American teacher, possibly to marry a Saudi and move to Riyadh. I am very speculative about the differences in culture. I have only heard really bad things about the lives of American women in Saudi. Can anyone offer any ...
Worth being aware that if anything were to happen to your Saudi spouse while you were in the Kingdom, you would end up with his family as your legal guardians and those of your children. I'm aware that there is an American citizen in Jeddah who has ... Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Best reaction I've ever heard to Aussie Embassy function, from an Indian Australian when asked if he'd enjoyed himself. "I had such a good time, I'm going to support Australian in the cricket from now on." Read More
Want to learn Arabic online by prasadpauti
Hi, I am going to join as Admin Asst. in Riyadh based office. I would like to learn Arabic language on line. If any body know good resources please reply me. I search web but still need proper guidance for good material. Please help me - ...
Modern Standard (MSA) is what most most online & class based courses are in. Classical is the version used for the Koran. MSA is what people across the middle east generally read and write (at least for formally writing). Even if they don't ... Read More
Compound or Diplomatic Quarters by papajerimun
Dear all First, let me say thanks for the Blog. You are making me think our experience in Riyadh will actually be much better than we first thought it could be :)And I feel like I already know some of you well. Now, to my question: my husband was ...
This would be somewhat questionable even in some compounds. My understanding is lists of overnight guests have to be submitted to a government department. How strictly that is adhered to probably varies from compound to compound. Read More
Greetings from a newcomer by Heady
Dear forum-ers: I am new in Riyadh and wanted to say hello to you. I understand it is a sort of tradition for newcomers to ask for tips and advice about living in SA, but I won't ask for anything. I will try and figure out everything by myself...it ...
It would give them other people to interact with other than the families they interact with which I think would be really easier. It also means they are only supervised by the families they work for during their working hours not their free time. ... Read More
Activities for my wife... by WTENGEL
Hey fellow expats...my wife is coming for a visit here in a few weeks and I was hoping for some advice form the married couples here...I have been here without her for the last 4 months and I am not very well versed on the social scene for couples. ...
I arrive almost 2 years ago in August and my compound was almost totally deserted during the day. Compound management here have a rule they won't run the shopping bus for less than 5 people, which mean't it only ran about 20% of the time, until ... Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Aussie embassy events are relaxed events, it's plastic tables and chairs out on the tennis court behind the embassy. The dress code is smart casual and there is a rack near the tennis courts for women to hang their abaya's on. There are a lot of ... Read More
Activities for my wife... by WTENGEL
Hey fellow expats...my wife is coming for a visit here in a few weeks and I was hoping for some advice form the married couples here...I have been here without her for the last 4 months and I am not very well versed on the social scene for couples. ...
One quick point, the expat women's social scene on compounds dies over the summer. Schools finish between 8th June and late June and as there are limited activities available for children when there not at school, most women and children leave as ... Read More
Compound or Diplomatic Quarters by papajerimun
Dear all First, let me say thanks for the Blog. You are making me think our experience in Riyadh will actually be much better than we first thought it could be :)And I feel like I already know some of you well. Now, to my question: my husband was ...
DQ is a large walled suburb where all the Embassy's are located, it has nice walking & cycling paths & some cafe's, restaurants & shops. Most people I know who live in DQ love it. Issues: 1. You don't get free access to the same shared facilities ... Read More
sun dried tomatoes by Alliecat
Anybody come across a place that sells sun dried tomatoes??? (if not, this is probably the perfect place to try to make my own!!)
The sun dried tomatoes at Danube today looked surprisingly good, the semi-dried ones were disappointing (as usual). Read More
Greetings from a newcomer by Heady
Dear forum-ers: I am new in Riyadh and wanted to say hello to you. I understand it is a sort of tradition for newcomers to ask for tips and advice about living in SA, but I won't ask for anything. I will try and figure out everything by myself...it ...
It is very difficult for people who live with local families, as life in Riyadh is very based around connections, rather than there being open events or venues that you can go to. Most western expats build their social networks around contacts from ... Read More
Single Parent/teacher by wanderlust2010
I've been told you can teach as a single parent in the UAE in particular Abu Dhabi. I have applied through the organization called "Teach Away." Has anyone worked through this company before? And I would be curious to know if there are any other ...
I found the live work explore list of international schools for Dubai really helpful. Here is a link to the Abu Dhabi list: liveworkexplore.com/abu-dhabi/residents/residents/education/primary-_and_-secondary-schools Schools normally list their ... Read More
Saloon or an SUV? by Oz_Sap
Hi guys, A million dollar question - when living in KSA, would you suggest a Saloon/Sedan or an SUV 4WD?:cool: Some say doesn't really matter and others say it does; I am wondering whether my friends here on this forum could break it down a bit ...
KSA is an excellent travel base and if you want to camp an SUV is good for carrying all the gear. UAE, Oman, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan & Egypt are all options for driving holidays. Plus lots of great off road trips to do in KSA. Read More
Pass the ball by MadMaz
Not much time left till football World Cup starts! I suppose there must be at least a few football fans here, so who are you gonna support? how far you expect them to go? and who you think is gonna win?? tell me all about it :) I support Germany, ...
Support the Asian representatives! --- Australia. Read More
Saloon or an SUV? by Oz_Sap
Hi guys, A million dollar question - when living in KSA, would you suggest a Saloon/Sedan or an SUV 4WD?:cool: Some say doesn't really matter and others say it does; I am wondering whether my friends here on this forum could break it down a bit ...
Saudi has wonderful off road driving opportunities, in the city its 6 of one & half a dozen of the other. 4wd bulkier & perhaps more likely to deter other drivers but saloon is more maneuverable so it's easier to get out of the way of people doing ... Read More
New to forum by polocat
hi all .. I am new to the forum. I thought I would drop by and see if anybody out there knows of the National Guard Hospital, King abdul aziz medical city. It looks like there might be a job for me there. Just wanted an idea of what its like to ...
I've heard complaints about living conditions at Faisal too. Al Yammama 3 is one of the newest compounds in Riyadh and is lovely. Read More
New to forum by polocat
hi all .. I am new to the forum. I thought I would drop by and see if anybody out there knows of the National Guard Hospital, King abdul aziz medical city. It looks like there might be a job for me there. Just wanted an idea of what its like to ...
National Guard hospital has a fairly good reputation for looking after the people who work there and for providing accomodation that is a higher standard than some other hospitals. They have staff at more than one compound so I can't make a blanket ... Read More
Children's clothes by Janric
On another thread Shahab wrote: i would appreciate some new questions to be answered rather than the same ones so I am here to oblige! Just wanting some input on whether I should stock up on kid's clothes before we leave Australia. It's actually ...
Don't buy in Oz, children's clothing even on sale are too expensive there. Costs in Middle East are much lower for equivalent quality. The last two winters have been very mild and my boys have got by with long sleeve t-shirts, long pants & a ... Read More
Ladies not working by uglybetty
I would like to ask to those ladies who are house wives whilst their husbands are at work-what do you do during the day? If you are in compounds do you get together with other women during the daytime? Im hoping that this is the case although it may ...
Hmm tried posting earlier doesn't seem to have worked. I get up with my kids at 6am, they leave for school at 6:30. My day always starts with prep for evening meal (I know odd time to do but evenings busy so like to just heat & serve). Washing ... Read More
Want to learn Arabic online by prasadpauti
Hi, I am going to join as Admin Asst. in Riyadh based office. I would like to learn Arabic language on line. If any body know good resources please reply me. I search web but still need proper guidance for good material. Please help me - ...
I've completed the Rosetta Stone Arabic program (Units 1 - 3) which I enjoyed but won't recommend, they are very expensive and I don't think they are value for money. I'm currently working through Tell-Me-More Arabic Level 2. This is a much more ... Read More
[EXPAT BLOG] IDEAS FOR MONTHLY MEET UPS by FeeAcer
[b][/b]Hi everybody on the Dubai forums, I have been following the discussions here since quite a few months seeing that I am moving from Mauritius to Dubai in July. I have read so many post about how difficult it is to meet people and make ...
My sons and I will arrive in Dubai at the start of September. We are coming from Saudi Arabia so we are use to hot weather too. The beautiful coffee shops in Dubai will be a major novelty for me after dealing with the broom cupboard style booths ... Read More
Ladies not working by uglybetty
I would like to ask to those ladies who are house wives whilst their husbands are at work-what do you do during the day? If you are in compounds do you get together with other women during the daytime? Im hoping that this is the case although it may ...
It depends on the age of your children. Mine are gone from 6:30 am until 3:30 pm which gives me plenty of hours to fill in but still means I'm frantically busy each afternoon and all weekend. Read More
sun dried tomatoes by Alliecat
Anybody come across a place that sells sun dried tomatoes??? (if not, this is probably the perfect place to try to make my own!!)
I've not encountered good quality ones. Making them sounds like a good idea. Read More
PLEASE HELP
I think bringing teenager is a very difficult decision. I agree if family able to be together this is always better. I'd look very carefully at schools though and probe them on: 1. about qualifications of staff (many international schools have ... Read More
Coffee Confidential by Ioanna
I'm a coffee afficionado...it's the Greek in me. Meanwhile here's what you can expect from my limited exposure to local sources: I am describing your basic cappucino Starbucks: known worldwide as overpriced and weak ($5!!) Seattles Best: Boil the ...
Saudi coffee when it's bad is dreadful. But if they get the spice treatment right it can be lovely. It is very hit and miss though. Read More
Warning by Alliecat
This was forwarded to me this morning: [quote]Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: INCIDENT AT KINGDOM MALL Importance: High Gents, I had dinner at the Kingdom Compound on Thursday night with friends and thought that I would pass the ...
There are a number of important security measures though that people need to be aware of. A couple of additional ones not specifically related to the incident here: 1. Never post photos on the internet that contain women. 2. Never post trip ... Read More
Coffee Confidential by Ioanna
I'm a coffee afficionado...it's the Greek in me. Meanwhile here's what you can expect from my limited exposure to local sources: I am describing your basic cappucino Starbucks: known worldwide as overpriced and weak ($5!!) Seattles Best: Boil the ...
I like Arabic coffee although I'll be contentious here and say that I think Omani coffee is much better than the Saudi version. Read More
Coffee Confidential by Ioanna
I'm a coffee afficionado...it's the Greek in me. Meanwhile here's what you can expect from my limited exposure to local sources: I am describing your basic cappucino Starbucks: known worldwide as overpriced and weak ($5!!) Seattles Best: Boil the ...
Inside the mall there is cafe directly opposite the Carefour. The coffee is pretty good but the family section is horrid. Tiny boxes with very high partitions and when I've been there they insisted on closing the cubicle curtains. Read More
Ladies not working by uglybetty
I would like to ask to those ladies who are house wives whilst their husbands are at work-what do you do during the day? If you are in compounds do you get together with other women during the daytime? Im hoping that this is the case although it may ...
If your not working you have to keep busy. I think that's why there are such a large array of activities run on compounds, it's filling in empty time. Read More
Coffee Confidential by Ioanna
I'm a coffee afficionado...it's the Greek in me. Meanwhile here's what you can expect from my limited exposure to local sources: I am describing your basic cappucino Starbucks: known worldwide as overpriced and weak ($5!!) Seattles Best: Boil the ...
There isn't a Marina here ;) But the Mall with that name is an older one near Riyadh gallery. A lot of the shop space inside is empty and the only reason I ever go there is to visit the coffee shop. They have outdoor tables in nice garden area ... Read More
Coffee Confidential by Ioanna
I'm a coffee afficionado...it's the Greek in me. Meanwhile here's what you can expect from my limited exposure to local sources: I am describing your basic cappucino Starbucks: known worldwide as overpriced and weak ($5!!) Seattles Best: Boil the ...
Caribou at Marina mall is my favorite off compound the coffee is better than other chain cafes and it has nicest environment for women to drink coffee. The coffee shop at FAL uses serve Illy coffee (very good Italian brand)my favorite overall. Read More
Ladies not working by uglybetty
I would like to ask to those ladies who are house wives whilst their husbands are at work-what do you do during the day? If you are in compounds do you get together with other women during the daytime? Im hoping that this is the case although it may ...
The first year is confronting yes, but its also absolutely fascinating. For me that overshadowed a lot of the irritations and frustrations during the initial year. When it stopped being so novel, then I found the limited range of things available ... Read More
Ladies not working by uglybetty
I would like to ask to those ladies who are house wives whilst their husbands are at work-what do you do during the day? If you are in compounds do you get together with other women during the daytime? Im hoping that this is the case although it may ...
There will be plenty of board women in your compound to spend time with, but I seriously suggest that you find yourself a time consuming hobby before you come and stock up on all the things you need. The first 6 months is pretty fun the places your ... Read More
Arriving at Salwa in July! by Skate
Hello! I'm due to arrive at Salwa Garden Village at the start of july with BAe and thought it may be worthwhile introducing myself before setting off. Initially, I will be unaccompanied however, my family is likely to join me as soon as MFS allows ...
The multi step security process at Salwa always makes me feel like I'm crossing an international border and entering a foreign country. Read More
How did you prepare yourself to move overseas? by MisterStretch
The whole purpose of this forum (as originally intended) is to help people prepare and transition into a new life in a new country. I've done this in many countries, and have my own system of preparation...[i]almost none[/i]. I check out ...
We lived in Arabic suburb in our home town so the food and the culture wasn't so foreign. Arabic food in KSA was a serious disappointment though :( I think it's definitely worth learning some basic Arabic, it really helps to be able to read the ... Read More
Will an American TV work in Saudi? by redgems
Hi All - Does anyone know about or have experience with bringing over an American TV to KSA? We want to bring our Sony Bravia/NTSC TVs to KSA - will the TV work? Is there anything we should be aware of before we try plugging away and subscribe to ...
There does not seem to be a standard in Saudi for power and plug types. Even within a single compound you can find both 110 & 220 plus every possible type of wall socket. As a result plug adapters and transformers are widely available. Read More
Licensed Teacher ADEC by andrewrhodes
Hello all, I'm new to the forum and I'm looking for some information regarding the Licensed Teacher positions with ADEC in Abu Dhabi. I've read a few posts regarding this, however I've noticed that such posts are from last year and I know how ...
I've only visited Abu Dhabi at the point, but Al Ain is my favorite city in the UAE, smaller than Dubai & Abu Dhabi with more Arabic flavor but still a reasonable size expat community. We met a number of expats there and they all seemed to love it. ... Read More
Teaching job in Pricess Noura Unviveristy by halaf
Hi, Can anyone provide me of the email of the HR, or the place where they announce for English teachers jobs in the above Uni?Anyone knows if there are still hiring foreign teachers? thanks
I know I'm very late joining this conversation but I will add that I've also heard bad things from staff at Princess Nora University as well. In the case of my friends it related to promises made about housing (in DQ) not being honored once they ... Read More
Greetings from a newcomer by Heady
Dear forum-ers: I am new in Riyadh and wanted to say hello to you. I understand it is a sort of tradition for newcomers to ask for tips and advice about living in SA, but I won't ask for anything. I will try and figure out everything by myself...it ...
We can't sit outside. There are a limited set of western chain cafes that have family sections which women can go into. (Most of them serve really bad coffee.) My favorite coffee shop is Caribou had Marina Mall. The coffee is nice and they have ... Read More
Greetings from a newcomer by Heady
Dear forum-ers: I am new in Riyadh and wanted to say hello to you. I understand it is a sort of tradition for newcomers to ask for tips and advice about living in SA, but I won't ask for anything. I will try and figure out everything by myself...it ...
I agree nonz most of the cafe's for women in Riyadh have all the charm & appeal of broom cupboards. Read More
VISA process for my Wife by zip
Hi folks, I am UK citizen and my wife is Pakistani citizen. I am trying to bring her in Riyadh. What documentation do I have to give to my company so this is done real fast. MY HR department is slow so I want to make sure I have everything. ...
The best site I know of for all Saudi government related processes is the Working in Saudi Arabia Blog, he has fantastic detail on a stack of processes. (Please note I'm not associated with this blog in anyway just found it a valuable ... Read More
Greetings from a newcomer by Heady
Dear forum-ers: I am new in Riyadh and wanted to say hello to you. I understand it is a sort of tradition for newcomers to ask for tips and advice about living in SA, but I won't ask for anything. I will try and figure out everything by myself...it ...
My first week in Riyadh my my husband suddenly discovered that most of the eateries he generally visited were men only. He'd never noticed before. Read More
Few Questions - couldn't get a clearer picture anywhere else by Oz_Sap
Hi guys, I have been following this forum for a while & its been gr8 throughout for someone like me who will be arriving in Riyadh along with my wife next month from Europe on a Team Leading IT role for a reputed company. I do have a couple of ...
True as they don't have children there are no daily school pickups & drop offs to worry about. However I'd still say having a reliable driver who you can access when you want is an extremely high priority for any woman living outside compound. Read More
Riyadh events 2010 by Alisan
Hi everyone, I thought that it's a good idea to start a thread about the events taking place in Riyadh, so all the Riyadh expat community are invited to share upcoming events, & preferably by providing all details. The event that is taking place ...
Recieved this by email today, I don't know any details beyond what is included here. Hi Everyone; An Exhibition for the next three weeks at the National Museum (located opposite the Water Tower going towards Batha). The Exhibition showcases the ... Read More
Warning by Alliecat
This was forwarded to me this morning: [quote]Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: INCIDENT AT KINGDOM MALL Importance: High Gents, I had dinner at the Kingdom Compound on Thursday night with friends and thought that I would pass the ...
There are a lot of Saudis (~80% of the population of the country) and many of them have no connection to the royal family. Many Saudi's from tribes not connected to the Al Saud's are extremely poor. Your average westerner in Riyadh probably has ... Read More
Warning by Alliecat
This was forwarded to me this morning: [quote]Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: INCIDENT AT KINGDOM MALL Importance: High Gents, I had dinner at the Kingdom Compound on Thursday night with friends and thought that I would pass the ...
Yeah basically that's my view. On the whole I think that Westerners are treated incredibly well in Saudi, much better than a lot of other nationalities and also better than Saudi's from undesirable tribes. On the occasions when people stopped me ... Read More
Warning by Alliecat
This was forwarded to me this morning: [quote]Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: INCIDENT AT KINGDOM MALL Importance: High Gents, I had dinner at the Kingdom Compound on Thursday night with friends and thought that I would pass the ...
I've been in Saudi Arabia 2 years and I have found without a headscarf I'm far less likely to be harassed either by security, religious police or locals. I've heard the same view expressed by other western women who've been in the country for ... Read More
Warning by Alliecat
This was forwarded to me this morning: [quote]Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: INCIDENT AT KINGDOM MALL Importance: High Gents, I had dinner at the Kingdom Compound on Thursday night with friends and thought that I would pass the ...
My issue with wearing a headscarf was that it seemed to confuse people, they couldn't work out what I was, a Western non muslim, a muslim convert, wearing tinted contact lenses perhaps. I found that people stared at me constantly and this made ... Read More
Few Questions - couldn't get a clearer picture anywhere else by Oz_Sap
Hi guys, I have been following this forum for a while & its been gr8 throughout for someone like me who will be arriving in Riyadh along with my wife next month from Europe on a Team Leading IT role for a reputed company. I do have a couple of ...
If your company can find you a compound spot in Riyadh in that budget I'd be incredibly surprised. Compound housing here is in very short supply & very expensive now. If your living off compound and your wife is coming with you, you will ... Read More
Warning by Alliecat
This was forwarded to me this morning: [quote]Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: INCIDENT AT KINGDOM MALL Importance: High Gents, I had dinner at the Kingdom Compound on Thursday night with friends and thought that I would pass the ...
I wore a headscarf when I first arrived but found when I stopped doing so that I got a lot less unwanted attention and that security and police people were a lot easier to deal with. I'm obviously foreign, deep blue eyes & very pale skin. My ... Read More
Chess in Dubai
We have two little boys who are keen chess players. I've found them a chess coach teaching at Knowledge Village, who I think will be good, but the other children in her groups aren't strong. Any suggestion on places where they can find either ... Read More
Living in the DQ by Janric
My husband's sponsor has informed him that the best place to look for housing is in the DQ. Can anyone tell me anything about this - I thought compounds were the best option for westerners? I'm thinking of recreation options for my children (both ...
DQ is the closest thing to a normal western suburb that you will find it Riyadh. It's advantage over compounds is that it is larger, with excellent places to walk and ride, so you won't feel so shut in. Read More
DRIVING OUT OF KSA by Sandman
I'm going to take my first road trip, out of the Kingdom, to Bahrain pretty soon and was just wondering whether any of you wonderful people knew what this entails. I've heard that there's a mountain of paperwork to sort out so that you don't get ...
When driving out of Saudi we generally aim to leave early morning (eg 6 am) so we hit the border before a lot of the traffic. Read More
Info about Riyadh... by hatsoff20
I need a little more info about Riyadh, eg what is the area called where four points is located, which schools are near to it, what type of area it is... (still my mind is full of questions but these are the only ones I got now...lol) also I got the ...
What is four points? Do you have a more precise name for it? Read More
GIRL PARTY! by Alliecat
Okay, I'm back and believe it or not, it's good to be back because my trip home was an unmitigated disaster (if it [i]could[/i] go wrong, it [u]did[/u]). Howevever, I did have an idea while away. What I've decided is to host a 'girl party' here at ...
You'll find that your not alone waiting inside closed malls. There are very limited prayer facilities for Muslim women in Saudi, so like us they are normally to be found waiting out the prayer times, in the least unpleasant spot they can locate. Read More
GIRL PARTY! by Alliecat
Okay, I'm back and believe it or not, it's good to be back because my trip home was an unmitigated disaster (if it [i]could[/i] go wrong, it [u]did[/u]). Howevever, I did have an idea while away. What I've decided is to host a 'girl party' here at ...
Outside compounds at prayer times, YOU WAIT. There are a some restaurants & larger stores (eg supermarkets) that will allow you to stay inside while they are locked up for prayers. Very quickly you adapt to planning your entire schedule about when ... Read More
GIRL PARTY! by Alliecat
Okay, I'm back and believe it or not, it's good to be back because my trip home was an unmitigated disaster (if it [i]could[/i] go wrong, it [u]did[/u]). Howevever, I did have an idea while away. What I've decided is to host a 'girl party' here at ...
Visas can be very painful. The process isn't very standard, every application seems to navigate a slightly different path. It really comes down to how well connected the person from your organisation who handles the visa processing is. Read More
School suggestions please
Thanks Chocmad. We are planning a trip to Dubai in late May to visit schools. I'll make sure I contact the ones you've mentioned and try to schedule interviews & tours with them. Read More
What to do in Riyadh by Pass
Hello all, am new here :) and would like to tell you about Riyadh city! First its as lots know a business city! there are such a quite good activites to do here: [color=#682bd3]1- Shopping (lots of malls and great shops) 2- going to Restauratns ...
The main comedy organisation is Smile KSA. They run fabulous events, with international and locally based performers at there events. I know they hold periodic auditions for people who think they have what it takes to do comedy. To date all ... Read More
GIRL PARTY! by Alliecat
Okay, I'm back and believe it or not, it's good to be back because my trip home was an unmitigated disaster (if it [i]could[/i] go wrong, it [u]did[/u]). Howevever, I did have an idea while away. What I've decided is to host a 'girl party' here at ...
It is worth having a reasonable range of casual clothes your happy to be seen in as when you visit compounds or go to social events the abaya's come off. Read More
Off Road (4wD) Club
My family are currently in Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia. One of the highlights of our time here has been getting out of the city and exploring remote parts of the country with the 4wD club. We have purchased the Explorer OffRoad books for UAE & Oman ... Read More
School suggestions please
Hi my family will be moving to Dubai from Riyadh during the summer. My husband will be working at Internet City and we plan to live near by (the southern end of town). We have two boys (native English speakers) aged 7 & 11 who are very bright. ... Read More
Riyadh events 2010 by Alisan
Hi everyone, I thought that it's a good idea to start a thread about the events taking place in Riyadh, so all the Riyadh expat community are invited to share upcoming events, & preferably by providing all details. The event that is taking place ...
Do we have any chess players here? Queens Chess Club, Riyadh ares having an Open Chess Tournament on th 14th, 2pm - 8pm. 6 Rounds 30 min games. FIDE Swiss pair system for draw. I can provide more details if anyone is interested in playing. Read More
Expat Club Saudi Arabia! "interested? c`mon in!" by Salman Omrani
[b]Howdy everbody! I've been thinking, and I bet so were many others, that we should stop talking about how to make friends and just get on with making them.:cheers: so I've got this great idea of starting a social network (in real life) so we can ...
There are lots of good places for picnics within an hours drive of Riyadh that don't require 4wD. If you stick to the rocky areas there are numerous good quality tracks that take you to attractive tucked away spots that are good for picnic and ... Read More
Wadi Hanifa by ifthy
Cud any1 guide me to reach Wadi Hanifa/Park, from say Batha. Kind regards, ifthy
We've driven past heading out walking but not visited. The park looks lovely and there are always lots of families there. Read More
Wadi Hanifa by ifthy
Cud any1 guide me to reach Wadi Hanifa/Park, from say Batha. Kind regards, ifthy
Do you have a GPS? If so I can give you waypoints. It's hard to describe the route, there are a couple of tricky turns. Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Let me know your email address when you arrive Ioanna and I'll make sure you get any Aussie Embassy event messages (while you wait to get on official list). Join the Southern Cross Women's Association too. They run good combined events for Aussie ... Read More
Access to Buses/Transportation by redgems
are there buses that women can take to get to the mall (or any where for that matter?)! we're at one of the compounds and i was hoping i'd be able to get around in riyadh while the hubbie is off working. please help maintain my sanity!
If we stay we definitely need to find a new place to live. The current transport arrangements for American school from FAL are completely inadequate. We are still tossing up what to do next year, wages in KSA do not seem to be keeping up with cost ... Read More
Ideas please... Day or overnight trip. Interested in cultural aspects. by saudiexpatfamily
Family with young children wanting ideas on where to go, what to do out of riyadh. Done the museums, zoo etc Looking for history things. Just read Jubail is neat but its more than a day/overnight trip for us. Want to learn more about the history of ...
The largest and easiest to access crater is Wahba. There are another 7 old volcano cones within a days drive of it, but there aren't roads to them, so you need properly equipped 4wd with at least 2 spare tyres per vehicle if your thinking of going ... Read More
Access to Buses/Transportation by redgems
are there buses that women can take to get to the mall (or any where for that matter?)! we're at one of the compounds and i was hoping i'd be able to get around in riyadh while the hubbie is off working. please help maintain my sanity!
We live at FAL near exit 8 and our children go to the American School on the opposite side of town. Which is a really bad combination. Read More
Access to Buses/Transportation by redgems
are there buses that women can take to get to the mall (or any where for that matter?)! we're at one of the compounds and i was hoping i'd be able to get around in riyadh while the hubbie is off working. please help maintain my sanity!
We do have a limo driver service at our compound the problem is that it is not adequately reliable during the after school period. I no longer trust them to collect my children, they've not turned up or turned up massively late too many times. As ... Read More
Ideas please... Day or overnight trip. Interested in cultural aspects. by saudiexpatfamily
Family with young children wanting ideas on where to go, what to do out of riyadh. Done the museums, zoo etc Looking for history things. Just read Jubail is neat but its more than a day/overnight trip for us. Want to learn more about the history of ...
For safety reasons most people who do visit the empty quarter go to the piece near the UAE border. If the Saudi police find you in the empty quarter they will immediately escort you back to Riyadh. Consider driving across the border into UAE and ... Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I wasn't fishing for an invite just encouraging you to use this as an opportunity to build friendships. Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Invites are precious don't waste them! Find people you like but don't know well and ask them to go with you. Most people really appreciate getting an invite to attend an embassy function, and spending time outside of work with someone an be a ... Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
That's the worst part of embassy functions, the limited number of guests you can take and figuring out how to ration out invitations across your friends. That and once you've invited someone as a guest you need to go even if on the night you feel ... Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I'm an Australian and we are fortunate enough to have an embassy that runs excellent events. So the answer for me is definitely yes. If your an Australian make sure you register with the embassy! Read More
Access to Buses/Transportation by redgems
are there buses that women can take to get to the mall (or any where for that matter?)! we're at one of the compounds and i was hoping i'd be able to get around in riyadh while the hubbie is off working. please help maintain my sanity!
Thanks CAF. The compound bus is fine for shopping & does work for standard school pick but unfortunately is has become some unreliable for after school program pickup that I'm no longer prepared to trust it. Read More
Social Events at Embassies by redgems
How can I find out about events going on at embassies in Riyadh? I've heard there are paid and non-paid events. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Each embassy has a different system, depends on what country you are from what they run and how you source invitations. It's a good idea to register with your countries embassy when you arrive and this a good opportunity to ask about whether they ... Read More
Ideas please... Day or overnight trip. Interested in cultural aspects. by saudiexpatfamily
Family with young children wanting ideas on where to go, what to do out of riyadh. Done the museums, zoo etc Looking for history things. Just read Jubail is neat but its more than a day/overnight trip for us. Want to learn more about the history of ...
It's a long overnight trip, with camping the only accommodation option but Wahba Crater is definitely worth checking out. Read More
Cost of living in riyadh by fasee
Hi, i am new to this fourm, wanted to know is a 10,000 package enough for me to settle in riyadh with my wife and kid...?? wud i be able to safe a decent amount if i settle for a 2-3 BR apartment got 3 salaries worth of allowance= 30k p.a to get ...
If your package included suitable housing this is a major plus as you are protected against housing price rises. If you receive a housing allowance, be conscious that the price may increase substantially when you have to renew and that the ... Read More
Moving to Riyadh by hatsoff20
Hi to all, I am presently in Kuwait and got an offer in Riyadh. I want to ask all the memebers that how is the life in Riyadh. How about schools, the rents and other stuff. how is the city. Thanks for your time
Make sure that the compound you are looking at offers a bus service to the school your children will attend. Remember to check that they provide bus pickup for after school programs at that school. Most compounds have a very short list of schools ... Read More
Access to Buses/Transportation by redgems
are there buses that women can take to get to the mall (or any where for that matter?)! we're at one of the compounds and i was hoping i'd be able to get around in riyadh while the hubbie is off working. please help maintain my sanity!
I've got to the end of my patience with our compound transport service. They fail to show up, or show up late to collect our children from after school activities so frequently that I have no trust left in them. Does anyone use a driver who they'd ... Read More