What is it like to live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia?
Hello, everyone. My fiance is applying to this job in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If he is taken, I will join him after we get married. Now, I need to hear from all foreigners who lived there. I hear life there is an absolute hell for women. How true is that? Also, it would be very useful if you can fill me in on how expensive life is over there. Say, the two of us lived in a little appartment, how much would we be spending on rent, food, etc? I mean the whole point of goin there is to be able to save. If we can't save, then I can't see a point of us going over there. Thank you in advance for all your answers. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Saudi Arabia - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
lives ther for 1 year and i wil never go back, hard to get a good drink, its bloody hot, its expensive and i really dislike all the arogant arabs that live there in their white dressen and look down on al the poor indian and philipino workers, also the look down on woman who noet wear scarfs and they will see u a lust oblect, 1way the say they hate that but in the same way he look at u and get dirty thoughts, good luck, i opeu get some good money here, thst the only god thing about the bloddy dessert state
2 :
Like going to another world. I lived in Riyadh, and I can tell you. You must respect the customs. Females must dress the same way as the Arab females. Women have to ride on the back of public buses. If you socialize with the Arabs, lets say at a social get together, women must go to the back room with all the other females, while the men socialize. You will hate it. Also safety is an issue for westerners. Also It's an oven in the months of March-Sep. It is miserably hot.
3 :
horrible you hear people houses get bombed and you hear gunshots DONT GO THERE
4 :
I'm married to a Saudi. Saudi is nice to foreigners as long as you don't break the rules. The women have to be covered in the long black Abaya and hijab(headscarf) when going outside in public otherwise the Muttawa(religious police) will tell you to cover up and harass you. Women can't go outside alone. In KSA everything is segregated by sex. The cost of living there is cheap. Medical bills and education are free. The women are treated like queens there. If a woman is in a grocery store the men will let her go to the front of the line so she can finish first and the same is done in banks. Restaurants are families and single males. Women sit in the family section. There is no intermingling with the sexes in Saudi Arabia. The malls have special days for the women and special days for the men meaning that a woman can not enter the mall when it is a man's day and the men can not enter the mall when it a woman's day. No other religious symbols are allowed in KSA along with pork, drugs, and alcohol. If your car breaks down then most of the Saudis will rush over to you and try to help you out. A man won't speak to a woman on the streets as it is disrespectful in Saudi culture and in Islam for a man to speak to a woman who is not his wife, sister, daughter or mother. There is no homosexuality and premarital or extramarital sex allowed in Islam or the kingdom. No making out in public. Be careful in Riyadh as the Arabs don't obey the speed limit and you can get hit by a car if you aren't watching where you are going. All buisnesses stop 5 times a day at certain times for prayer so the shops and resturants and malls will be closed for 5 minutes. Riyadh is very crowded. If you or your partner have AIDS or HIV you aren't allowed to come into the Kingdom. You will both need to be checked for those and you will also need 3 medical forms filled out and need to be vaccinated. You would be spending on food and rent maybe $200 USD. Non Muslims are not allowed in Mecca or Medina. As for the Muttawa just follow the customs and laws of Saudi Arabia and you will both be fine. You'll both have to sign a death paper which says if you bring drugs, pork, have homosexual relations, or alcohol into Saudi then you could be put to death for it or if your lucky just put in jail for 6 months and then deported. Saudi Arabians are very friendly and hospitable.
5 :
You can join Yahoo Group: Expat in Saudi http://groups.yahoo.com/group/expatsinsaudiarabia/ and find out and share the experience about living in the Kingdom. You can also read Carol's blog http://blog.myspace.com/american_bedu Send some messages to Carol and she would be more than happy to help you in Riyadh. To Ayisha: Yes, you're right. Saudi is nice to foreigners, but as long as they're white. Do not expect the same treatment for a "darkie" foreigner.
6 :
its not bad it kinda hot but u will have fun there it a nice place if u go there u have to see there malls !!but i would tell u to go to jeddah becuase it is really nice there and not as hot as riyad and no its not a absolute hell there i am a women and lived there and its verry nice !!
7 :
The hell is your country you smelly, beggars, harpy people!! Don't want to see your face in our country. Stay were you are! Enough is enough!!!!!
Read more discussions :
