tamtam
From: Australia
7/4/2006 10:16 EST
I've just gained employment with Aramco and I will be moving there Oct/Nov 2006.
If possible I would love to get in touch with any single women living in the compound and find out more about what life is like there.
I'm interested to hear about the opportunities for social life, if there are many other single young women living there? I'm not dating mad but would like to know if there are also opportunities to meet and have friendships with single men?
Also what is the accommodation like? Should I bring my own furniture or is it possible to buy nice stuff when I get there? What household / personal items should I make sure to take with me in case they are hard to come by over there?
Sorry, a lot of questions, but any info would be a great help - I read a lot about married women living in Dhahran but not much about the life specifically of a single woman living on the compound. I'm a 28 yo Australian.
Thank you!!
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donald436187
From: United States
7/6/2006 10:42 EST
Advice: Don't go. Stay in Australia. Of all middle eastern nations, Saudi is the worst. Women are treated very badly. I was a visiting professor at universities in Oman and UAE, much more progressive than Saudi, but even there, things were terrible. (I'm male.) Weather sucks, too. Money's good, though. Contact me at donald_hendon at yahoo dot com if you want to talk about it. I lived in Sydney as a visiting prof in the 1970s, and it's a wonderful place. Why on earth would you want to leave. By the way, most expat males seem to prefer the ever-abundant supply of Filipinas to western expat's. At least you won't have any competition from Saudi females in the dating game. If you go, remember what I wrote here. My words will always be in the back of your mind when you experience difficulties there, and you WILL. -- Donald Hendon, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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yargsa
From: Saudi Arabia
7/6/2006 14:49 EST
Dear Tamtam,
I am an NZ resident Australian and I live and work in Al Ahsa which is nearly 2 hours drive inland from Dhahran but I spend most weekends in Dhahran staying with friends. In fact, I am in Dhahran 3 nights every week. Al Ahsa is a more remote desert spot. Previously, I have spent some 5 years in Jeddah followed by a time in the UAE.
You are really quite lucky to have found a position with Saudi Aramco as I have heard that their compound is very nice. The facilities are supposed to be very good. They are a company which look after their employees.
I would be extremely surprised if your accommodation was not fully furnished and equipped. Most company supplied accommodation is. Whether it is single or shared accommodation depends on your job and your company's policy.
The glory days of working in Saudi are truly over as far as the great social life goes as fewer Western expats are here now and tighter security has brought a lot of the Embassy do's to an end. However, it is not all dull and boring by any means even if you are a single woman. It is just that the opportunities are fewer these days.
Dhahran region is a more relaxed part of the country to be compared with Riyadh as far as religious and cultural restrictions go. Women are rarely hassled which is not the case in Riyadh. People are very friendly and always very appreciative if one tries to learn a little of the language and culture.
Although I miss Jeddah because of the wonderful coral reefs of the Red Sea, I made good friends during my time in Dubai and it is only a short flight to there. In fact, it is possible to drive there if one likes a challenge. Moreover, it is only an hour's drive across the causeway from Dhahran to the island Kingdom of Bahrain which, like Dubai, does not have the restrictions of Saudi.
Twice, now, I have been to the International Rugby 7's which take place on the first few days in December in Dubai. A little while before the World Cup, the Socceroos played Bahrain. When I lived in Dubai, I went to the Dubai Tennis Champs twice. I have seen Federer, Agassi, Henne-Hardenne, Davenport, Serena Williams all playing about 50 metres from me. And it was so cheap to go too.
To live and work in a foreign country is an adventure and an enriching experience even though it can be a bit of a challenge sometimes. Why not try it? You can always go home if you don't like it.
Judy.
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salsxa
From: Australia
7/12/2006 05:51 EST
Hey,
I am a single women and i live in Riyadh and i am having the time of my life. I ahave now been here for 8 months and have no plans of going back to australia in the near future. I have a fantastic social ilfe here, better than at home and i have made some awesome friends, ones i know i will have for life!
As for the compounds i have heard that aramco ones are very good quality and everything is supplied, ie: sofa, beds, kitchen utensil and anything else you may need, if you are not happy with the furniture there is an IKEA and other furniture places around.
There is possiblilities for relationships and i am sort of in one now and majority of my friends have boyfriends and although it can be tricky in public it is easy in compounds so yes its possible.
Hope this has been some help and your plans go well
Sally
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pakkactc
From: Saudi Arabia
8/26/2006 11:25 EST
Hi,
I am not single, but I am living on the Aramco compound. You will meet plenty of single women working on the Aramco compound, especially nurses and secretaries. There are plenty of single men who would be more then happy to hook up with you. At the parties the single men complain that there are just not enough single women. Plus if you later get a multiple entry/exit visa then you can meet single people in the bars in Bharain.
It will just take a little time to meet people, and you will have to be very sociable at the start.
Single housing is very small, so don't expect a lot. You will have a small bedroom, bathroom, ktichen and a very tiny living/dining room. If you are lucky, you will have a small porch. You will notice that married housing is much larger, and it is totaly unfair.
Aramco will lend you furniture for a couple of months, and then you have to rent it from them. If you are allowed a shipment with Aramco than definately ship some furniture out. There are plenty of places to buy stuff, but keep in mind that you might not want to be spending money refurnishing a house if you don't have to.
Aramco has a classified section on their website to buy used items from people who are moving. This you will only be able to look at from an aramco computer, so you will have to wait until you here to see if there is anything you want.
The power is 110 on the aramco compound, so unless your appliances work on it or you want to buy a converter, it is better to buy applianecs in the area and leave your at home, but keep in mind that they sell both 110 and 220.
In the way of what to bring. A range of clothes. You cannot try clothes on in dressing rooms, so clothes shopping is not much fun to do here. On the Aramco compound you can wear almost anything. Off the compound big baggy clothes are fine to wear, but if you want to wear an abbiya you can buy one in Khobar. Khobar is the nearby town where you will do most of your shopping.
Also bring things the remond you of home. Some books with photos of Australia, and maybe some photo books of places you want to visit. Things that make you home an escape from the country where you are living.
More than likely you will love it here. A lot of people stay until they retire. There are some families here who their parents came in the 1940's and their kids, and their kids, have all came to work and live in aramco.
Hope you enjoy it.
Tina
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feex
From: Saudi Arabia
9/11/2007 02:46 EST
the advice you got from that donald guy is ridiculous. absolute rubbish. that's all.
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geegee78
From: Saudi Arabia
10/2/2007 22:00 EST
I hope this is truer? I move their in two weeks and I have to admit this is one of main concerns!!!! I have a very active social life here in Australia so I would like to hopefully meet some single women when I am there! So if you wan to get in contact with me my email is geegee78@gmail.com.
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bakshi
From: Saudi Arabia
10/5/2007 18:42 EST
Hi Sally
I certainly agree with what you say.
Hope she has followed your guidence.
bye
dr_ashfaqahmed@yahoo.com.au
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bakshi
From: Saudi Arabia
10/5/2007 18:48 EST
Dear Judy,
Nice adivse, keep it up.
By the by I work near Al Ahsa and wish to know good restaurants in Al Ahsa.
Thanks
dr_ashfaqahmed@yahoo.com.au
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Breastmilklover
11/26/2015 23:17 EST
Hello i live near Riyadh too
I have a good idia about all places in Saudi Arabia i live here more than 30 years
Breastmilklover2004@yahoo.com
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bitaro90
3/20/2016 10:57 EST
Hi Sally,
can you please contact me on bitar_90@hotmail.com (0539028966).
best Regards
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zeenashaikh
7/11/2016 06:46 EST
Dear Judy,
it was great reading your comment as others have only discouraged me, I am an Indian Married muslim female planning to come down alone on a visit visa to look for a job, How do i prepare myself for the same and how do i get a secure sharing accommodation?
Your advice will be appreciated, hope to hear from you soon.
Kind Regards
Zeenat
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