snowdrops:
@ op

Cpngratulations on your job. Pay looks nice in addition to juicy incentives.
However as you alluded there is no social life. What's all that money without true freedom? Like living in the 12th century. Does not also look like where one can raise family.
Don't get me wrong it may not be my cup of tea I know millions move there en mass even as we speak.

Thanks alot.

Let me say a lot of people who are here have specific financial targets, and not to live here for good. So people here are here to make money to pay up their mortgages, or business start-ups etc. So if you have a target, you don't look at it as "lack of freedom "

Personally, I would rather spend those "freedomless " years and have debt free life in the future., than living on hand to mouth because of debts or mortgage.

As for raising kids, when your children are still in primary level, I think it could be a very good environment for them. There are alot of private schools for foreigners ( Western Education ), but from High School level, I would not want to raise my children here.

As you said, it maybe not everybody's cup of tea. But the building or saving for the future is my priority. So it all depends on priorities.

chineloSA:


@ coohamid, I am also new here. Perhaps in about one year I will have a bit of knowledge with regards to industries, companies etc.

So at this stage I will lying if I say I have knowledge to help you.
But I would advice you to search companies that you are targetting websites, rather than agencies. Too many scams.

I appreciate your response...
Wishing you a memorable stay in Saudi .

FOR A NIGERIAN WITH BRITISH PASSPORT ,a muslim,any hope of working there for 1-2 years?

rafcrown:
FOR A NIGERIAN WITH BRITISH PASSPORT ,a muslim,any hope of working there for 1-2 years?

Alot of hope for you as long as you will present your British passport. Even better pay. But Nigerian passport, it will be hard.

Good luck

Hello dear,congrats on your new job. I

ujugladys:
Hello dear,congrats on your new job. I am a medical doctor presently inNiIa, igot amessage for an interview to come and work in Saudi Arabia, I am a bit skeptical about their strict religious practice,then secondly,the sponsors are offering very little compared with thefigures you stated here,. I am married as well and they are also offering to bring my husband as well please I will need ur sincere advise,the figures u wrote here per month is what they are offering per annum,waiting for ur response,thanks

Hi dear, thanks a ton

Congratulations to you too.

With regards to religious practices, some of the information is sensationalized. But yet you will get culture shock.There is a lot that will definitely shock you, but also depending on your location. I don't even know where to start.Some regions/provinces are a bit relaxed and some are more conservative. The mid and north region are very conservative. If you will be in Riyadh or Dammam its a bit relaxed. Jeddah and Mecca are a bit strict, because of religious sites.

1. I have not been bothered with what I do in my room. Majority of expats live in compounds which are highly guarded by the police force or soldiers. No one will bother you with what you do in your private room, but don't bring a bible or any religious material on your first arrival, you may be unlucky. AND stay away from prayer meetings of any other religion either than Islam.

2. You always have to wear your Abaya and Niqab and stay away from discussing religion or anything that will insult their culture or religion.

3. Everything is separated, Woman and Man section. Restaurants there is man ( single man ) and family section, Banks as well etc. So you will have to observe that.

These are the things that I can say, but ask me specific questions and I will tell you what the situation looks like.

With regards to your offer.
1. What passport are you holding or that you used to apply? Is it Naija passport?
2. Is it a private or public hospital?

But the figures you are giving me does sound correct to me, yes there are discrepancies but I am shocked they could be this much.

Yes they are know to be unfair with regards to pay if you are not from US, UK, Canada, Australia and SA.
Any other professional from any country either than the above, is paid less regardless of whether you are Muslim or not, or Arab or not. Even with these countries US gets paid better than the rest, then UK and Canada, then Auzzie then SA in their order. .

I have a colleague from India whose husband is a doctor, the husband get paid around than $3000 a month and the wife way less than that by virtue of the fact that they are from India. If they were from US, or any other five countries probably the pay would be doubled. That's a reality here unfortunately.

Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, India, Turkey etc, they are paid way way less. So you passport here speaks for you.
I would advice you to try and negotiate for at least closer to what you want and see what will transpire.

With regards to your husband, what does he do for a living?

Thanks a lot dear,we this page

ujugladys:
Thanks a lot dear,we both have Nigerian passport and he is a lawyer. It is actually a job agency that sent the interview date which is holding this sat and Sunday, they didn't say if It is a private or public hospital and we get to pay for the interview. That is why I am a bit skeptical about the whole thing,sounds more like a scam to me. So with Nigerian passport u get to b paid as low as $2500? And will my hubby get a job offer there?or he needs to get employed from here before going there? It may be a scam though,thats how I found this page on the net when I tried to look them up. Thanks dear waiting..

Sounds like a scam to me. I would advice you to go there and check what is going on. That will teach you a lot in terms of identifying scams.
But paying agency fee, sounds like a scam to me. Majority of Saudi recruiters are based in UAE or Saudi Arabia and a few in UK and Canada.

Yes unfortunately your passport speaks for you in this part of the world. This create animosity among employees but that's the reality here.

With regards to your lawyer husband, law is not a lucrative business. Coincidentally we were discussing that a few days ago with some collegues. Their justice system does not even permit lawyers to be lawyers. Its wack.
Our Directors son from US was caught for public indecency, he was never tried in the court of law. Just some few man who decided his fate and issued a sentence and he doesn't even know whats the sentence. Apparently no one even bothers to count for you. You can be jailed for 10yrs and end up spending 30yrs.

It could be their Sharia or something, I am not sure why

Alot of people I have met who came with spouses, their spouses end up teaching at their Universities some get English teaching positions and some get content subject positions. They really do pay well. But then the passport determines how much they pay you. But you will not complain when you convert to your home country currency irrespective of the fact that you will be paid less than your US, UK, CAnada, Australia and SA counterparts.

I would advice you to target the Hospital websites of the the hospitals you wanna work for. This really sound like a scam.

Few points on how you spot a scam
1. You never pay until you get to visa application process and some companies pay for your visa application and some refund you. So this one sounds fishy.
2.The offer letter is always in English and Arabic
3. Once they make an offer they attach company registration documents, visa block paper with a list of numbers which will include your visa number which has been assigned to you and company ID number
4. The Offer letter will have your visa stamp on your contract.
5. Some offer you exorbitant salary which may be way above the average salary for that particular job.
6. Some avoid skype interviews.

chineloSA:


Sounds like a scam to me. I would advice you to go there and check what is going on. That will teach you a lot in terms of identifying scams.
But paying agency fee, sounds like a scam to me. Majority of Saudi recruiters are based in UAE or Saudi Arabia and a few in UK and Canada.

Yes unfortunately your passport speaks for you in this part of the world. This create animosity among employees but that's the reality here.

With regards to your lawyer husband, law is not a lucrative business. Coincidentally we were discussing that a few days ago with some collegues. Their justice system does not even permit lawyers to be lawyers. Its wack.
Our Directors son from US was caught for public indecency, he was never tried in the court of law. Just some few man who decided his fate and issued a sentence and he doesn't even know whats the sentence. Apparently no one even bothers to count for you. You can be jailed for 10yrs and end up spending 30yrs.

It could be their Sharia or something, I am not sure why

Alot of people I have met who came with spouses, their spouses end up teaching at their Universities some get English teaching positions and some get content subject positions. They really do pay well. But then the passport determines how much they pay you. But you will not complain when you convert to your home country currency irrespective of the fact that you will be paid less than your US, UK, CAnada, Australia and SA counterparts.

I would advice you to target the Hospital websites of the the hospitals you wanna work for. This really sound like a scam.

Few points on how you spot a scam
1. You never pay until you get to visa application process and some companies pay for your visa application and some refund you. So this one sounds fishy.
2.The offer letter is always in English and Arabic
3. Once they make an offer they attach company registration documents, visa block paper with a list of numbers which will include your visa number which has been assigned to you and company ID number
4. The Offer letter will have your visa stamp on your contract.
5. Some offer you exorbitant salary which may be way above the average salary for that particular job.
6. Some avoid skype interviews.

I thought as much,was surprised I didn't see much on them when I checked online. Were u interviewed for your job before you left SA? Thanks

ujugladys:


I thought as much,was surprised I didn't see much on them when I checked online. Were u interviewed for your job before you left SA? Thanks

Yes, I was interviewed through Skype. Yes, you have to be interviewed. If not insist on an interview.
Majority of scammers don't speak proper English, so they normally avoid contact through Skype or phone call.

Try Armcor website as well. Very good employer.

chineloSA:


Yes, I was interviewed through Skype. Yes, you have to be interviewed. If not insist on an interview.
Majority of scammers don't speak proper English, so they normally avoid contact through Skype or phone call.

Try Armcor website as well. Very good employer.

The interview is even going to be here in Lagos,lol at a hotel o,thats why I doubted it. Thank you very much

ujugladys:


The interview is even going to be here in Lagos,lol at a hotel o,thats why I doubted it. Thank you very much

Nne, got try and see what transpires Let's not dismiss them like that, but don't pay anything.

OP, is there a possibility for anyone who would teach Mathematics at Secondary school level?

Though their oil and gas industry would have been a better option for me but I don't have experience as a fresh graduate yet.

iwatch:
OP, is there a possibility for anyone who would teach Mathematics at Secondary school level?

Though their oil and gas industry would have been a better option for me but I don't have experience as a fresh graduate yet.

Dear, there are plenty opportunities for you.
Please try www.seriousteachers.com
You need to register your CV there and then apply for any position or region you will be interested in.

All the best of luck.

chineloSA:


Nne, got try and see what transpires Let's not dismiss them like that, but don't pay anything.

Ok, I will go there to look around,it is close to my house. The armco site, I checked and different websites was shown,is it armco SA international?and I think they mostly need specialist doctors from other countries from what I saw online,even though that advert says 3years post graduation will do

iwatch:
OP, is there a possibility for anyone who would teach Mathematics at Secondary school level?

Though their oil and gas industry would have been a better option for me but I don't have experience as a fresh graduate yet.

If you are an Engineering graduate, you have no problem. YouTube and some books on servicing exploration equipment will help you secure a job there. Most of my friends in Dhahran got their jobs via this method. They started with them on a salary of SR17,000 and it's now SR25,000 even with Nigerian passport! Though I left there years ago to get my PhD in the West , I still have contacts there.

Nigayoyo:


If you are an Engineering graduate, you have no problem. YouTube and some books on servicing exploration equipment will help you secure a job there. Most of my friends in Dhahran got their jobs via this method. They started with them on a salary of SR17,000 and it's now SR25,000 even with Nigerian passport! Though I left there 2 years ago to get my PhD in the West , I still have contacts there.

That's encouraging. Thanks a lot.

@Nigayoyo please can someone who read chemistry get a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia? Thanks.

Nigayoyo:


If you are an Engineering graduate, you have no problem. YouTube and some books on servicing exploration equipment will help you secure a job there. Most of my friends in Dhahran got their jobs via this method. They started with them on a salary of SR17,000 and it's now SR25,000 even with Nigerian passport! Though I left there 2 years ago to get my PhD in the West , I still have contacts there.

I learnt that they only take people with experience and me I am a fresh grad with NYSC but HND. How do I proceed? Do you know what site I could look into and apply like the seriousteachers.com given by the OP a while back?

I studied Petroleum Engineering Tech. Pay is not really my concern honestly. I just need to start from some where
Thanks

cutieme:
@Nigayoyo please can someone who read chemistry get a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia? Thanks.

It's possible but chances are very very slim. As much as I know, only their universities (KAU, KFUPM, KSU and KAUST), research institutes and SABIC in Riyadh employ chemists with PhD. Chemists with BSc are scarce in the Kingdom of SA. In fact, an average Saudi student would never go for a degree in Chemistry. They prefer the engineering disciplines.

2sex:
I learnt that they only take people with experience and me I am a fresh grad with NYSC but HND. How do I proceed? Do you know what site I could look into and apply like the seriousteachers.com given by the OP a while back?

I studied Petroleum Engineering Tech. Pay is not really my concern honestly. I just need to start from some where
Thanks

But have interned in any oil servicing or exploration company in Nigeria before? If yes then you're good to go bro!

Nigayoyo:


But have interned in any oil servicing or exploration company in Nigeria before? If yes then you're good to go bro!

thanks so much

Nigayoyo:


If you are an Engineering graduate, you have no problem. YouTube and some books on servicing exploration equipment will help you secure a job there. Most of my friends in Dhahran got their jobs via this method. They started with them on a salary of SR17,000 and it's now SR25,000 even with Nigerian passport! Though I left there 2 years ago to get my PhD in the West , I still have contacts there.

wow wow wow. thanks so much. How was the interview done during your time? Was it over skype like the OP said?

So let me get this straight...

For instance, I started googling jobs Saudi Arabia and I landed on MonsterGulf.com. In one of the listed jobs was Hose Technician.

If I apply for this role, the next thing I should do is to read up something relating to Hose Technician, Use Youtube.com to fortify myself even though I never did anything in school relating to Hose Technician in school.

Then I get selected, interviews will be conducted over phone or skype right? if all goes well and I get the job, I will still undergo training over there right? Am I getting you correctly?

I have my international passport ready lol.

Yes, even without IT in core oil sector, cos I did mine in construction company, but my school experience is enough to set me straight because we had rig inside my school, I know the different roles of personnels on rig from the floor man, monkey man to the drilling superintendent, I understand basic drilling, production and separation terminologies and I can pick up well. We did make drilling mud, used weighting materials called thickener to increasing the weight of mud, thereby increasing its viscosity and dilution to reduce the weight of mud if too heavy, Montmorillonite or bentonite was used in the lab for making drilling muds. I understand the basic functions of drilling fluids which include, cleaning the well by removing well cuttings, serve as a lubricant, cools the drill ringst during drilling, suspension of well cuttings between drill string, annulus and wall, prevent them from falling back to the bottom, and also circulating, helps to prevent blowout by preventing well fluids under high pressure from entering the well and so on.

I also know the basic operations of crude oil from well heads to through the manifold, to the separator (we have the horizontal and spherical separator which come in 2 or 3 phases, depending on what is expected from the well) up to storage tank.


Let me know Sir and I will turn Google upside down today!

@chinelo SA I decided to just go and look around 2moro and see what is happening there during the interview,only for me to meet a doctor who just returned last month from saudi,he said it is not a scam that he went for sameinterview,paid and he went with his wife for the oneyear contract

ujugladys:
@chinelo SA I decided to just go and look around 2moro and see what is happening there during the interview,only for me to meet a doctor who just returned last month from saudi,he said it is not a scam that he went for sameinterview,paid and he went with his wife for the oneyear contract

That is great news dear. I hope that doctor is not part of the scam to convince you as well. But please as I said it's better to go see, even if it's scam, you will learn.

As for paying, I am skeptical. I never paid a kobo. And all potential employers also advised me not to pay anything.

Nne, goodluck,please update us we want to learn.

chineloSA:


That is great news dear. I hope that doctor is not part of the scam to convince you as well. But please as I said it's better to go see, even if it's scam, you will learn.

As for paying, I am skeptical. I never paid a kobo. And all potential employers also advised me not to pay anything.

Nne, goodluck,please update us we want to learn.

No he is not part of the scam,i will update you,though I am not sure about the whole thing,their strict laws is kind of scary and the things I have read about the place online is discouraging. Women are not allowed to drive cars and you can't be seen in public with any other male except ur hubby or relatives,so how do u go to work?who drives u to work? And a woman is not meant to be seen walking alone,please how do u do it?

ujugladys:


No he is not part of the scam,i will update you,though I am not sure about the whole thing,their strict laws is kind of scary and the things I have read about the place online is discouraging. Women are not allowed to drive cars and you can't be seen in public with any other male except ur hubby or relatives,so how do u go to work?who drives u to work? And a woman is not meant to be seen walking alone,please how do u do it?

Thats good oo See I woke up from my bed with laughter eeehn. I was just like you before I came. I was scared to death. I knew no one before I came here.

Anyways, yes its true, woman don't drive here. Its ok for a 13yr old to drive than a 30yr old woman with a driving licence So many car accidents here, drivers are reckless because small boys are behind the steering wheel, acting as guardians to their female relatives. Thats their laws.
Yes you cannot be seen with a man you are not married to in public. If you are in the same car, you should be sitting in the back seat if you are not married or else the Mutawas want to see a marriage certificate.

When we go to work there is a staff bus that shuttles between work and compounds. So that should not be a problem. When doing your private errands, the employer normally gives you shopping days and the bus takes you for shopping and drops you back to your place of residence. When you wanna go on your own, you can take a cab, but sit in the back seat, but know that its not 100% safe,anything can happen. And ISIS is here now we are told to be more vigilant as expats now. We are told never to walk alone anymore.

I am not trying to discourage you. All depends on the region.

chineloSA:


Thats good oo See I woke up from my bed with laughter eeehn. I was just like you before I came. I was scared to death. I knew no one before I came here.

Anyways, yes its true, woman don't drive here. Its ok for a 13yr old to drive than a 30yr old woman with a driving licence So many car accidents here, drivers are reckless because small boys are behind the steering wheel, acting as guardians to their female relatives. Thats their laws.
Yes you cannot be seen with a man you are not married to in public. If you are in the same car, you should be sitting in the back seat if you are not married or else the Mutawas want to see a marriage certificate.

When we go to work there is a staff bus that shuttles between work and compounds. So that should not be a problem. When doing your private errands, the employer normally gives you shopping days and the bus takes you for shopping and drops you back to your place of residence. When you wanna go on your own, you can take a cab, but sit in the back seat, but know that its not 100% safe,anything can happen. And ISIS is here now we are told to be more vigilant as expats now. We are told never to walk alone anymore.

I am not trying to discourage you. All depends on the region.!a o!

Oh so they have entered. My dear please be careful o!i doubt if I will take the offer,you guys Shld move in groups o,and my dear if it gets out of hand,biko leave o,ndu ka kwa

There is a lot you will need to adjust to
1. Weather ( dry and hot )
2. Dress code ( abaya and niqqab and gloves in some areas all black not colour )
3. Weekday running from Sunday to Thursday
4. Driving
5. Prayer times ( shops close more than five times a day )
6. Gender specific services and areas

I cant finish it. But you will adjust.

I have learned a lot from this thread. There is bazically no life in Saudi Arabia from what I can gather when you compare to the UAE. You just make sure you save as much as possible from the fat salary and move on. I will like to come over there as well, please do they consider gulf experience - will this be considered over nationality?

frostmate:
I have learned a lot from this thread. There is bazically no life in Saudi Arabia from what I can gather when you compare to the UAE. You just make sure you save as much as possible from the fat salary and move on. I will like to come over there as well, please do they consider gulf experience - will this be considered over nationality?

Are you saying all of us here don't have a life eeeehn? What life are you refering to eeeeehhhhhn naaaa? Talk?

Well alot of people who are here are here to make money and move on. This country is different to most Arab countries I gather. I have been to UAE and I can say there is a difference. Very hard to explain, but hey people have been working and surviving before me .

I am not God, I cannot tell you that you cannot or can be considered. All I reported on was paye discrepancies and preference of Nationalities, which is a reality, regardless how others don't want to admit it. Regardless of those who claim to have worked in the Kingdom say, they know its a reality.
I also said all Nigerians I know here do not use our Nigerian passport. I have also had conversations with them and they also admitted to being aware of Nationality preference in the Kingdom and also pay discrepancies.

They can consider you. Just put your application forward and see what will come out of it.