Moving to Saudi

[Umar001]

for men its pretty much the same, but for women first of all we cant drive, not many jobs available, not many places to take our kids to play like parks and community events and things. There are recreation facilites but a bit more expensive than the west, the internet is much slower............

Wa Alaykum Salaam Wa Rahmatullah,

Oh I see, so how do you survive if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Mercedes]

I'm a teacher here. i have a chauffeur or just use taxis if need be. I take my kids out at whatever facilities there r such as amusement parks, the Red Sea in jeddah, pretty much where ever i go.

job availablilities for women used to be limited to schools and hospitals, and is still mostly in those sectors. About 2 years ago they started opening up jobs to women in Sales, reception for large companies, accounting, IT fields. Countries like indonesia and sri lanka usually provide domestic workers (Nannies, maids) to the kingdom. Malaysia and the Philipines usually provide Nurses. About 60% of the saudi work force is foreign.

People assume women cant move around here without a mahram, but thats very untrue. She can take care of anything she needs to on her own, going to the bank, doctor,work etc. Saudi women are not permitted to travel outside the country without a mahram. Foreign women are allowed to.

 

[Umar001]

Wow so you manage to survive on your wages, but you have a package, like where you get certain things from the employer on top of your wages right?

Masha'Allah, sounds amazing.

But how come you are allowed to be with a non mahram like the driver? Does the police say anything?

 

[Noora_z3]

sallamu 3aleikum
sister crayon, i wanted 2 ask u hw wud it b lyk if i wud want 2 go 2 saudi arabia, lyk mecca or madina 2 study islamic studies n qur'an n stuff
i'm 16 years old, soon becomin 17 n wat wud i hav 2 go through 2 get there?
will i also need a host?
jazakallahu khayran
wassalam

You can apply to Madinah University and Umm Al-Qura University for Islamic studies, check their websites, if you they accept you, then they issue a stuent visa for you so you dont have to worry about it.

 

[Noora_z3]

Salam Alykum

Oh eayh public eduationa is free, see bro, if a certain school didnt accept a forign kid its not because they stopped accepting non-saudies but because there are no available seats.

I am in indian, I was born in Saudi, Dammam more specificlly, I lived here untill I was 18, then went to malaysia and lived there for 5 years, came back and got married, my husband works in damma so we are still in Saudi.

I agree with sister Mercedes in everything she said. Its a safe country, am I saying 100% safe?, of course not, but it has low crime rate compared to other countires. I cant count the times I used the taxis and thanks Allah so far nothin happend. I go to resturents alone to meet my freinds and never once policeman stopped me asking for a mahram. I also travelled to Malaysia alone and never been questioned.

There are lots of Dawah centers in every city, they are DESPERET to get some volunteers for dawah work, unfortunatly, peaple prefer to stay home and complain that there is nothing to in saudi.

The peaple here (not the goverment) are SO nice, I lived among them and they treated me as like one of them, they have their own short comings, yet, they are so unique. Rents are considered the cheapest compared to other gulf countires, overall one can do lots of saving living here and thats why THOUSANDS of non-saudis live here. Life here is much cheaper than life in the UK.

Muslims environment is great, yes there are some peaple who drink and commit adultary, even at Prophets time there were muslims who used to drink despite the prohibition, but its not done in public.

 

[Noora_z3]

Wow so you manage to survive on your wages, but you have a package, like where you get certain things from the employer on top of your wages right?

Masha'Allah, sounds amazing.

But how come you are allowed to be with a non mahram like the driver? Does the police say anything?

Yes there are packages, diffrent companies offer diffrent packages, the company paies for one vacation every year (includes the parents and 2 kids), the rent, hospital bills (of the parents and 2 kids), lots of companies also give their staff cars and pay for the gas as well (well you never have to worry about the gas, its SO SO cheap).

 

[Umar001]

Salam Alykum
I am in indian, I was born in Saudi, Dammam more specificlly, I lived here untill I was 18, then went to malaysia and lived there for 5 years, came back and got married, my husband works in damma so we are still in Saudi.

Wa Alaykum Salaam,

Was it easy to get into the country when you came back?

 

[Mercedes]

It is easy as long as u have ur re-rentry visa stamped on ur passport which is done before u leave here and as long as ur not bringing in any illegal things (drugs, pornography, alcohol).

 

[Ersan]

"Why do they ban people from openly practicing a religion other than islam? Why do they ban churches and synagogues from being built?"


Cuz it is the part od the Shariah it can never be alowed to build kyafir temples where can kufr openly be propagated, but it's also haram to destroy those that are already built before islam got there. And there shoudn't be any kyafirs in arabic peninsula at all, but the let them be there, wich is bad...

 

[Umar001]

It is easy as long as u have ur re-rentry visa stamped on ur passport which is done before u leave here and as long as ur not bringing in any illegal things (drugs, pornography, alcohol).

Wa Alaykum Salam,

But, in order to have a re-entry visa you should have sponsor who does that?

 

[Mercedes]

Yes, in this sister's case she probably returned with her husband under his work visa.

 

[Umar001]

Yes, in this sister's case she probably returned with her husband under his work visa.

Wa Alaykum Salam,

Na'am that's what I had assumed.

What's teaching English there like? Easy/Hard normal relaxed stressful?

 

[crayon]

Sis why do u pay 20,000 a year for schooling? people under residence are permitted to go to govt schools until they finish high school.

GAS????crayon are you insane ?????? we are in the land of oil where a monthly electricity bill i like $10 USD and you can fill a Camry's gas tank with $5 USD. ROFL.

I go to an international school because my arabic isn't strong enough for me to take all subjects in arabic.

And you're right, I checked today, and foreigners are allowed into public schools.

Sorry to disappoint you, but no, I'm not insane. Bro Habeshi was asking about living expenses, I said he would need to take into account the cost of gas when he is calculating how much he needs to spend. How is that insane?

 

[Umar001]

Thanks sis crayon,

By the way am being told that an iqama cost thousands of pounds?

 

[crayon]

Woah, I doubt it would cost that much... On that link I found it says it costs 500 riyals, unless it's out of date or something.

 

[Umar001]

Woah, I doubt it would cost that much... On that link I found it says it costs 500 riyals, unless it's out of date or something.

Thats what I was thinking, it must be something else I guess. Insha'Allah I hope to make it to Saudi.

 

[crayon]

Inshallah Allah grants you what you want and what is good for you in both this life and the next. Have you prayed istikharah? If you definitely decide to come here, when will you come? Talked to the family friend and sorted things out? Sorry if I'm being nosy, I just want to see how this plays out inshallah. :]

 

[Umar001]

Inshallah Allah grants you what you want and what is good for you in both this life and the next. Have you prayed istikharah?

Insha'Allah I'm going to pray it.

If you definitely decide to come here, when will you come?

I really want to come asap, but it depends, I think I need to finish my degree, if I start one in september, so at least 3 years if I do that, plus on top of that a year probably to pay the fees, so 4 years if I go through that, but if I go without it then insha'Allah a year or so.

Talked to the family friend and sorted things out?

I spoke briefly, me and him are going to meet in my home country this summer since we are both going there and he told me he'll bring me the info/papers I need.

Sorry if I'm being nosy, I just want to see how this plays out inshallah. :]

No worries, insha'Allah I'll keep you updated.

I really want to go now, but I have to think about the long term, being able to try stay there as much as I can, meaning I need to have a solid foundation insha'Allah, so that I'm employable and so forth.

 

[Umar001]

Also is it true that the police dont have uniforms?

 

[Umar001]

Salaam Alaykum,
Can anyone confirm this, to apply for a work visa (im guessing from the WEST) you must have a degree