Would you work in KSA?
Discussion
Countdown said:
Yep. The person who I'm good friends with - that was what he was originally told 10 years ago. His main role is documentation and training. However the locals don't seem to inspire a lot of confidence and he's reasonably confident that they will need him for a while.
To be fair, that's the position that most Contractors are in, regardless of where you're based. If the Employer decides they don't want you then that's your lot.
Ah, yes. There is the occasional gift of cash from the Royal Family (hint hint, Lizzie and co!!)To be fair, that's the position that most Contractors are in, regardless of where you're based. If the Employer decides they don't want you then that's your lot.
Training
That's one role I'd definitely not want! Was talking to an English teacher who works for BAE to get the Saudis English standards up told me he has to be careful not to fail anyone because they massively get the hump. Even the lazy, bone idle students who spend the whole of class playing on their phone.
I think most male Saudis just want a fancy desk to sit behind and get a salary doing bugger all! (Although there are definitely a few diamonds in the rough!)
Also, worth noting for anyone wanting to work in KSA, for years the Saudi government didn't really care about collecting tax from foreign contractors.
In the past couple of years it has been changing so you'll probably need to set up a local bank account (good luck!) and pay a little tax, nothing compared to UK levels mind you.
In the past couple of years it has been changing so you'll probably need to set up a local bank account (good luck!) and pay a little tax, nothing compared to UK levels mind you.
DoubleTime said:
Countdown said:
Porridge GTI said:
What with all the changes there are lots of opportunities coming up there.
Pros and cons?
I know a few people who work there.Pros and cons?
The money is great. The "locals" are complete and utter aresholes. You will never meet so many people that you instantly want to punch. Living in a compound drives most UK expats crazy and the majority seem to last about 2 years before leaving. Dubai, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi are much better places to work.
Obviously it helps if you're a muslim. A close family member has been out there for 10 years and he's managed to buy 4 BTLs outright since he's been there, the git
. His daily driver is a Landcruiser V8 which costs £12 to fill with petrol. He keeps talking of coming back, mainly because secondary school education for girls isn't great but the money seems to be keeping him out there.I've only ever heard of one person saying it was a great place and he was a clueless brown nose bosses b
h. The rest tell me Iraq is much better and that's saying something....ETA: wouldn't have any issue with a rotational position to KSA; expat living probably would have more question marks around it but that all depends on your personal situation (single/family/money-chaser etc).
I'm not sure i agree that Aramco are one of the best salary wise and i know they are complete tts to work for as a third party, the most arrogant company/people i have ever had to deal with.
If i could live in Bahrain and commute across the causeway daily i would consider it but to live there full time, not a chance. I have spent about two years working there on rotation and i have friends that currently live there and some that commute, everyone that lives there hates it.
ts to work for as a third party, the most arrogant company/people i have ever had to deal with.If i could live in Bahrain and commute across the causeway daily i would consider it but to live there full time, not a chance. I have spent about two years working there on rotation and i have friends that currently live there and some that commute, everyone that lives there hates it.
AndrewEH1 said:
I believe their bonuses are tied to the amount of years they are based in country.
Also, in time Saudis will start replacing UK personnel. It's already happening I understand
I was asked if i could develop an engineering training programme for a Saudi organisation at the end of last year. Their main motive being that they didn't have to rely on expensive overseas labour.Also, in time Saudis will start replacing UK personnel. It's already happening I understand
I was a contractor working on & off out in Jubail for 2 years, Money is the only think i can think of which would make it worthwhile, that being said i was only 1 hour (ish) from Bahrain, so if ever i wanted to get away from it all, i could follow the 'hypocrite' Saudi's over the causeway.
How much does Aramco pay?
I had an offer in the oil/gas industry from a contractor to Aramco about 2 years ago. From memory it was about £10k/month. This was at the lowest point of the oil price though. I did some research and was left with the notion that the only reason to go to Saudi was cash and it had no other redeeming features. I turned the job down.
I had an offer in the oil/gas industry from a contractor to Aramco about 2 years ago. From memory it was about £10k/month. This was at the lowest point of the oil price though. I did some research and was left with the notion that the only reason to go to Saudi was cash and it had no other redeeming features. I turned the job down.
AndrewEH1 said:
I think most male Saudis just want a fancy desk to sit behind and get a salary doing bugger all! (Although there are definitely a few diamonds in the rough!)
As a counterpoint in the discussion I’ve got a Saudi lad working for me at the moment and he’s the hardest working, most diligent of my lot.PBDirector said:
AndrewEH1 said:
I think most male Saudis just want a fancy desk to sit behind and get a salary doing bugger all! (Although there are definitely a few diamonds in the rough!)
As a counterpoint in the discussion I’ve got a Saudi lad working for me at the moment and he’s the hardest working, most diligent of my lot.I have lived in KSA for 18 years. I born and brought up there, my dad and other sibilings are still there, my dad moved to KSA about 45 years ago.
I go to saudi every year just to see my family.
Do i want to work in KSA? No not all.
If you just want money then its not bad to go there for few years but bear in mind, saudi has changed so much in past 5 years and because of saudiaization many expats have already left the kingdom.
Majority of Saudis are racist, grumpy, lazy and arrogant. The reason i don't want to work in saudi, its just because of no work ethics , no professionalism.They have money to start projects but don't have a capability to complete.
PM me if you have any specific question.
I go to saudi every year just to see my family.
Do i want to work in KSA? No not all.
If you just want money then its not bad to go there for few years but bear in mind, saudi has changed so much in past 5 years and because of saudiaization many expats have already left the kingdom.
Majority of Saudis are racist, grumpy, lazy and arrogant. The reason i don't want to work in saudi, its just because of no work ethics , no professionalism.They have money to start projects but don't have a capability to complete.
PM me if you have any specific question.
I spent a few months working there this summer. Working around a lot of Expats, it got me thinking "what would be my price to work here"?
I reckoned to do the same job I do in the UK, I'd want at least 3-5x my current (gross) salary. When you factor in tax, that means I'd be taking home ~5-8x as much. And one of the reasons I'd want so much is that I'd actually live in Dubai and commute weekly into the Kingdom....
I reckoned to do the same job I do in the UK, I'd want at least 3-5x my current (gross) salary. When you factor in tax, that means I'd be taking home ~5-8x as much. And one of the reasons I'd want so much is that I'd actually live in Dubai and commute weekly into the Kingdom....
brickwall said:
I reckoned to do the same job I do in the UK, I'd want at least 3-5x my current (gross) salary. When you factor in tax, that means I'd be taking home ~5-8x as much. And one of the reasons I'd want so much is that I'd actually live in Dubai and commute weekly into the Kingdom....
I guess you may not be working there in the near future then looking for those sort of multipliers!! Incidently I found just about the worst thing about Saudi were the airports. getting in could take forever. Hence would always fly to Bahrain & come across the causeway which was always far easier. Bahrain to Jubail (2hr drive) could be done quicker than just getting past the immigration queues at Damman!GT03ROB said:
brickwall said:
I reckoned to do the same job I do in the UK, I'd want at least 3-5x my current (gross) salary. When you factor in tax, that means I'd be taking home ~5-8x as much. And one of the reasons I'd want so much is that I'd actually live in Dubai and commute weekly into the Kingdom....
I guess you may not be working there in the near future then looking for those sort of multipliers!! Incidently I found just about the worst thing about Saudi were the airports. getting in could take forever. Hence would always fly to Bahrain & come across the causeway which was always far easier. Bahrain to Jubail (2hr drive) could be done quicker than just getting past the immigration queues at Damman!Thankfully I was never out East, I was always in Riyadh. I'm led to believe Dammam/Jubail are even more challenging.
brickwall said:
Thankfully I was never out East, I was always in Riyadh. I'm led to believe Dammam/Jubail are even more challenging.
Been in/out through Riyadh, Jeddah, Damman, the causeway & Kuwait border. Land borders are quick & easy, don't even get out of the car. The airports very hit & miss. I've done plane to taxi in 10mins at Damman other times 2hrs.Don't start me on Dammam, would arrive form the orderly q behind the one open desk, immigration officer would be on his phone or chatting or anything but letting people through immigration. Then he would close and nothing. This happened several times and could take 2 hours to pass through and in.
Worse was when I first went and did not have the correct stamp from Abu Dhabi for my visa, sat for 6 hours until shift change stamped passport and I was on my way!
Yes Bahrain was my preferred route then the mad run up to Jubail.
Worse was when I first went and did not have the correct stamp from Abu Dhabi for my visa, sat for 6 hours until shift change stamped passport and I was on my way!
Yes Bahrain was my preferred route then the mad run up to Jubail.
Flew in to Damman on 1 occasion, client was on a flight that arrived an hour earlier. On going the immigration queue saw the client in a queue behind one desk. I joined another queue. I still got through before him who had got in an hour earlier. i asked him the next day what time he'd reached Jubail.... 40 mins after me.
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