There are certainly pros and cons, much to consider.

For me, an American, I get great tax benefits (tax free income) from being here, but I don't know if that's a benefit for you or not.

Make sure your package includes the following: Housing or a good housing allowance (should be between 50K to 100K SR per year for a single, in my opinion) Note that it's not easy or quick to find housing, so make sure the company provides a hotel in the short term and covers all expenses (transportation, meals, etc.). Longer term you'll need or want a car, and the company should provide a transportation allowance for that - 10K SR a year or so.

You'll need to work out the transfer of funds with your company, or plan to use a money transfer service from here.

Until you get an Iqama (a residency permit) you can't open a local bank account, so make sure you have an ATM to withdraw cash in local currency. The rates are usually better through your home bank.

Travel in/out of country is easy, reasonably priced - $1200-1500 roundtrip to the USA - I don't know about Madrid. Check out expedia.com or other travel sites for rates and schedules.

Research the web, believe most of the good things you read, and discount 50% of the bad things - it's much better here, I think, than most reports. If you live conservatively and don't mind not drinking (very much), you'll find it not too bad of a place.

Downsides - not a lot to do other than work, unless you join a sports club or live on a western compound (not that western compounds are quite expensive - see what your company offers or recommends).

If your company has been established for a long time and has European or American employees in the past, they should be able to let you talk to someone that has been here before, for their company. That will help you determine how good the package is, and whether the company is one that you want to work for here (or not).

Good luck,
Rob

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That's a great answer, Rob. Thank you so much. The company is a Saudi one which is in a joint venture with my current employer. They have invited me to go over in about three weeks' time to meet everyone and visit clients, see how work is done and then we'll talk about all of these things.
Will let you know how it goes.

Have a good Sunday.

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Adam - glad to help - here's a page with lots of useful info - http://www.hasher.net/Riyadh/Riyadh.htm

Once you're here, you'll have a chance to talk with people and decide if it's a place that suits you (or not). The main thing is to go with the flow - you just have to accept the culture, the traffic, crazy drivers, racial prejudices and enjoy the experience, the food, the learning and the money.

Good luck,
Rob

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As for a women's point of view. We've been here for about a year now and live on a western compound. Housing allowance should be more in the region of 100 to 150K minimum I would say. Especially if there is a possibility that at some stage you would consider bringing your family. As far as I know all Western compounds have waiting lists. There are many good international schools in Riyadh that follow anything from the Australian cirriculum to the IB, GCSE or A level. Schools are expensive.
There are quite a few activities here, although it is a matter of taking your time and finding out about them.
We still own a house in France and have no difficulty transferring funds back to France. Also flying in or out is not difficult. Depending on the time of year flights can be very reasonably priced. We have just booked flights from Egypt to Geneva via Riyadh for Christmas at GBP700 for two.
Once you get all your paperwork sorted, as a previous person said, travel is also not an issue. Exit/re-entry visas take about 3 days to get and are done online now.
Be aware that only your biological children can come for visits or to stay. Everything revolves around your iqama. Once you have that everything else falls into place.
If you want to visit a compond on your visit here let me know.

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Just on the note that "all compounds have waiting lists" - there is an element of truth in this, however, what I have come to realise is that this is a standard line from the compounds when they actually wish to reserve space for favoured partners or companies they are well connected to.
I work for a UK based consultancy and we have lots of dealings with a few big clients in the Kingdom. Those clients are well connected with certain compounds, and now so are we.
It sounds like a very open and trustworthy company to be taking you over there to see it all before asking you to sign on the dotted line. As anyone will tell you, do your research, get as much honest feedback as possible and find out exactly what is on offer before making a decision. This is coming from a recruiter. I have heard and seen it all!
Good luck and have a great experience when you get there.
(and as per the last response...take great care to consider your wife and children before making a long-term or permanent move.)
Best Wishes,
Laura

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