Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Report of what it's like to live there - 06/18/15
Personal Experiences from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Monrovia, Liberia and Stockholm, Sweden
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Georgia, 24 hours (give or take) with connections in Frankfurt or London or other large hubs
3. How long have you lived here?
10 months
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Government
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Most every expat lives on a residential compound. These are spread throughout the Khobar, Dahran area. Everything is fairly close together, my commute was a 20-minute drive (with heavy traffic).
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
This all depends on where you purchase your groceries and household supplies. In general, I would say they are slightly more expensive here than State-side. (Keep in mind, I moved here from Sweden where everything was WAY more expensive.)
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Can't think of anything.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Yes. There are many American restaurants as well as Middle Eastern ones as well. Most deliver (even the fast food ones). I have an app on my phone and often order directly from the restaurant of my choice from that and have it delivered within an hour. The price is generally comparable to the States.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
occasional ants and flies during the winter
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
We have access to the APO system which is dependable. International shipping is available through DHL and FedEx.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Domestic help is available. Finding a good/dependable worker that is available when you want is sometimes difficult but doable. The cost is generally around 25-35 SAR (US$7-10) per hour.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There are gyms at most of the residential compounds, most are free of charge. There are also some health clubs, but I believe most are for men.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Many places don't accept credit cards so it's smart to have cash on hand. I use ATMs all of the time here.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
There are some on Aramco but not sure exactly which ones.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Very little
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
There are some places that aren't quite as developed as we are used to but I have noticed elevators and ramps in most large facilities. Therefore, I don't think it would be too difficult depending on the disability.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Taxi services are available, but as government workers, we aren't authorized to take public transportation.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Pretty much anything goes from what I've seen but the roads in general aren't maintained very well and drivers have to be defensive. Gas is cheap, so the large american SUV is popular.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
internet is available. I'm not sure if it would be classified as high speed. I paid nearly US$1,000 for 10 months of service.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
We brought a GSM unlocked phone with us and bought a sim card when we got here.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
No quarantine. There is a vet and kennel on Aramco.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Maybe for men... I couldn't imagine there being many job opportunities for expat women on the local economy
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
There are plenty of volunteer opportunities at the school, and at Aramco.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Work: business casual
Public: conservative (all women wear abayas)
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Normal concerns that go along with Middle Eastern posts
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
I've found the medical care here to be quite available and good quality.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Moderate to unhealthy (when there are sandstorms).
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
October through May the weather runs between 70-90F degrees, there can be some rainy days that dip into the 60'sF. June through September the weather is Hot, Hotter, and "OMG, I think I'm on fire" temperatures upwards of 120F degrees
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
The school is next door to the U.S. Consulate and I've found it to be very accommodating.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
I'm unaware.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
My child goes to the nursery at the school next door. The nursery is open from 7:30am until 3:30pm. It's perfect for someone working part-time but can be problematic for families in which both husband and wife work full time. I LOVE the nursery!!! My daughter has learned so much. It's super inexpensive too. It averages about US$15 per day. Usually my monthly charge is around US$300.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Yes, Aramco has plenty of sports programs for all ages and some residential compounds have free play sports programs.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
There is a large expat community. As with many posts, some love it and some don't. I personally love it and find that many of my friends do too so I find morale to be high among my friends.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Getting together with friends
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
It's a good city for all of the above as long as they are open minded and adapt to any situation easily.
4. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
No
5. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
I don't know much about the racial part but there's definitely no freedom of religion and there is no gender equality.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Connecting with great people and being invited to the homes of locals
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
visiting Bahrain, getting involved in Aramco activities, the consulate and compounds put on fun events, desert camping, women's spas.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Local art, furniture, and clothing
9. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Saving money, experiencing a very exclusive culture that most people can't just choose to visit, a sense of community among various groups (consulate, school, residential compound, etc.), and various functions and social outings.
10. Can you save money?
Yes
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
I felt pretty informed.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
furniture
4. But don't forget your:
Sunscreen
5. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
6. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476773963/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1476773963&linkCode=as2&tag=thesunspousunder&linkId=GW2LBZR73ERSYHS2
He mentions Saudi Arabia a lot in this book and it is insightful on the roles of women in this country.
