Expat Guide to Living in Saudi Arabia

Whether you're already living in Saudi Arabia or preparing to move to Saudi Arabia, our Expat Guide to Living in Saudi Arabia offers articles and reports submitted by expats about expat life in Saudi Arabia. For answers to specific questions, visit our Saudi Arabia Forum to talk with expats in Saudi Arabia.

Moving to Saudi Arabia

Expats who want to move to the Saudi Arabia should fully explore what it means to move and live there. Read a lot of comments from people who live in Saudi Arabia, and have for a number of years.

5 Tips for Living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Expats in Jeddah offer advice about living on compounds vs living out, where to meet other expats, international schools, raising kids in Jeddah and much more.

5 Tips for Living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

Expats living in Riyadh face a number of adjustments. Women have to learn to wear an abaya in public and are not allowed drive. Western compounds often enable expat families to relax and live like they do at home. In this article, expats offer tips for newcomers to Riyadh.

10 Tips for Living in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is an expat post that some love and some find incredibly challenging. Expats offer tips about living in Saudi Arabia - from the conservative dress to rules for Western women and more.

Expat Healthcare & Health Insurance in Riyadh

An expat in Riyadh recommends returning to the US or Europe for medical treatment should the need arise. She found that medical care, even at the top hospital in Riyadh, was substandard.

Culture Shock in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

An expat in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia appreciates how accepting the locals were of his family and how they live their lives day to day. He found prayer time and the fact that stores are closed during the middle of the day a challenge. He admits that life in Al Khobar was more challenging for expat women, who have to be transported everywhere and have more rules to live by.

Culture Shock in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A woman from New Zealand accepted a job in a hospital in Riyadh. Although the hospital and job was English-speaking, she enrolled in Arabic classes at a university. She found the culture and treatment of women extremely challenge at times, but knew what she was getting into when she accepted the job.

Retirement in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

A retiree in Al Khobar, who has lived all over the world, talks about retiring abroad.

More Culture Shock Reports for Saudi Arabia

Culture shock is part of the settling in process. Knowing the different phases of culture shock and how other expats in Saudi Arabia handle it can be very comforting. Below are some of the responses from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Submit a Culture Shock Report

More Living in Saudi Arabia Reports

What are people's priorities in Saudi Arabia - work? family? What are the best ways to meet other expats? Are people accepting of racial, cultural and religious differences? Below are some of the responses from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Submit a Living Overseas Report

More Moving to Saudi Arabia Reports

What should you take with you when you move to Saudi Arabia? What should you leave behind? What type of housing and neighborhoods are typical for expats in Saudi Arabia? Below are some of the responses from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Submit a Moving Overseas Report

Reviews of Schools in Saudi Arabia

Reviews and school profiles from expat parents and even a few school administrators in Saudi Arabia. Great place to find insight into school facilities, teachers and curriculum. Below are some of the reviews from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Submit an International School Review

Dream vs. Reality of Living in Saudi Arabia Reports

Most expats have have "dreams" (and fears) about the expatriate experience before they moved to Saudi Arabia. If you are already living in Saudi Arabia, share how those "dreams" have been fulfilled, and how they have not. Below are some of the reports from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Dream vs. Reality of Living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Submit a Dream vs. Reality Report

Retiring in Saudi Arabia Reports

Retiring abroad can be a great option for retirees seeking their dream lifestyle at an affordable price. Help other retirees, who are thinking about retiring in Saudi Arabia, by filling out our Overseas Retirement report. Below are some of the reports from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Retiring in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Submit a Retire Abroad Report

Having a Baby in Saudi Arabia Reports

How did expats choose their doctors, midwives, hospitals? What is childbirth like in Saudi Arabia? Below are some of the reports from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Having a Baby in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Submit a Having a Baby Abroad Report

Working in Saudi Arabia Reports

What's it like to find a job in Saudi Arabia? How difficult was it to obtain a work permit? What types are jobs are typical for expats in Saudi Arabia? Below are some of the reports from expats in Saudi Arabia:

Working in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Working in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Submit a Working Abroad Report

Additional Articles

Living in Saudi Arabia

Expats in Saudi Arabia have made tremendous contributions on our forums and in expat reports. This article highlights some of the insight provided about compound life, bringing a dog to Saudi Arabia, the decision to move to Saudi Arabia and more.

Guernsey Teacher's Move to Riyadh: "Best Thing I've Ever Done."

Anna Coquelin, originally from Guernsey, has just started her second year teaching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and says: "It's the best thing I've ever done; I really love it here."

Women in the Kingdom: Life as an Expat Woman in Saudi Arabia

Any woman considering a move to Saudi Arabia, should really do her research, talk with other expat women in the cities where she may be living in Saudi Arabia, and, if married, discuss the positives and negatives at length with your husband.

Expatriate Health Insurance

Get a quote for expat health insurance in Saudi Arabia from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get a Quote

An Expat Talks about Culture Shock & Living in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Women in the Kingdom: Life as an Expat Woman in Saudi Arabia

Living in Saudi Arabia

10 Tips for Living in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is an expat post that some love and some find incredibly challenging. Expats offer tips about living in Saudi Arabia - from the conservative dress to rules for Western women and more.

Saudi Arabia is an expat post that some love and some find incredibly challenging. Expats offer tips about living in Saudi Arabia - from the conservative dress to rules for Western women and more....