Living & Working in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Some of the most attractive aspects of working in the Middle East are:
- Salary Paid Tax-Free
- Free accomodation
- Free flights
- Medical Cover
- Bonus schemes on completion of contracts
Many, who have worked in the Gulf States, have had the experience of a lifetime, made lifelong friends, travelled the world and returned home financially secure.
Saudi Arabia has become a land of opportunity with more than 2 million foreign workers, one in six of the population. Job openings attract people from Ireland, the UK, Europe, the USA, Australia and the Far East.
Saudi Arabia is not a conventional tourist destination. Most people go to Saudi Arabia for business or to fulfil the once-in-a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca.
When you have time off you may want to venture out and see something of this unique country. Steep ridges, rolling dunes and dazzlingly green oasis contrast with the underwater wonders of the Red Sea coral reefs. Lose yourself in the market-place bustle of the souks; or wander out to gaze at remains of the long-lost civilisations that flourished and declined along the old spice routes.
The enjoyment and success of your trip may depend on your willingness to respect the Saudi way of life. Learn a few words of Arabic with its elaborately turned phrases – you will give infinite pleasure and open the door to renowned Saudi hospitality. You cannot fail to come to terms with the key phrase “in shalah”, meaning “God willing”. It is one of the most important phrases in Arabic. Allah takes care of everything. All Saudi life revolves round this simple, but fundamental rule.
Frequent Ask Question
Do I need to get registered to work in Saudi Arabia?
Every health care professional is required to obtain a license to work in Saudi Arabia https://www.scfhs.org.sa/en/about/pages/organization.aspx The process is complex. CCM Recruitment will work with you throughout the process.
Am I eligible to work in Saudi Arabia?
To be eligible to work in Saudi Arabia, candidates must have the following:
- Current nursing registration
- Minimum of 2 years nursing experience in the specialty you are applying for (must be acute hospital experience)
- Australian/New Zealand working rights
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing
Is English spoken in the hospital?
English is the working language in the hospitals. Translators, and ward clerks who act as translators, are always available to assist in communicating with patients who do not speak English. Hospitals offer free courses in basic Arabic and one quickly picks up the basic Arabic phrases related to one’s job.
Where will I live?
Most expatriate staff either live on the hospital compound or in a private compound.
Can I leave the compound?
Yes, you are free to come and go as you please, but some have late-night curfews. People leave the compound to shop, visit friends who live on other compounds, attend cultural events (e.g. concerts at Embassies), dine out, sight-see, etc.
What is the social life like?
Like anywhere, the social life is what you make of it. There are organised trips to sites of historical interest, sports competitions, and other recreational activities (tournaments, marathons, etc.). Dinner parties, desert parties, and beach parties are common. There are concerts at embassies and expatriates organise amateur theatre companies and musical ensembles in the major cities.
Does Saudi Arabia have a tourist industry?
There is a domestic tourist industry in Saudi Arabia, where large numbers of families both from within the country and from neighbouring states travel to the numerous vacation spots along the Arabian Gulf coast, on the Red Sea, in rural areas such as the Asir National Park, and in mountain resorts such as Taif. Throughout the Kingdom, there are first-class hotels, excellent facilities and all kinds of restaurants, and many places of great historic interest and natural beauty.
How do Saudis dress?
Saudi Arabian dress is strongly symbolic, representing the people’s ties to the land, the past and to Islam. The predominantly loose, flowing garments reflect the practicalities of life in a desert country as well as Islam’s emphasis on keeping it all covered up. Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton (known as a thawb), with a gutra (a large square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) worn on the head. For those rare days when it gets a bit chilly, Saudi men wear a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. Women’s clothes are often decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread and appliqués. Unfortunately, only their family gets to see them in all their glory, as Saudi women must wear a black cloak and veil (abaya) when they leave the house, to protect their modesty.
What should an expatriate wear in Saudi Arabia?
Expatriates in Saudi Arabia must dress modestly and conservatively in public. Women should wear long, loose clothing, high-necked and long-sleeved. Men should wear jackets or long-sleeved shirts with long pants.
Do Saudi citizens have to pay for health care?
The government’s policy is to offer medical services free for all citizens. Each individual citizen has the right, at no cost whatsoever, to all levels of health care, from emergency first aid to sophisticated transplant surgery. In addition, there are numerous special programs for the disabled and the elderly.
What is there to do?
There is more to Saudi Arabia than cities and desert and, with good communications by air and road; many of the remoter regions are now accessible. You can enjoy the beaches and marine life of the Red Sea, the contrast of sand and oasis, or the mountain greenery of the south-west. Numerous archaeological sites shed light on the Arabia before Islam, but permission must be obtained to visit them. Inevitably your first port of call will be one of the big cities: Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, or the capital, Riyadh.
What is the shopping like?
In Saudi Arabia, shopping is a form of entertainment and should be embarked upon in this spirit, especially in the souks where there is so much to delight the senses and tempt the purse. Prices are not fixed, so you will be expected to negotiate, a skill much prized by the Arabs. All of the big names you see at home are also available in Saudi Arabia such as Next, Benetton, French Connections, BHS and Marks and Spencers.
Electronic goods, cameras and watches can often be good value, especially in the markets, but the main attractions for most visitors are naturally the antiques, traditional items and of course the gold jewellery.
How many daily newspapers are published in the Kingdom?
There are ten local newspapers published daily in Saudi Arabia, three of them in English: Arab News, Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily. In addition, there is an independent international Arabic newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat, which is published in London and printed simultaneously in a number of cities including New York. Several of these newspapers are accessible on the Internet.
What time zone is the Kingdom in?
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on Greenwich Mean Time plus three hours. The Kingdom does not adjust to daylight saving time. The UAE is Greenwich Mean Time plus four hours.
What is life like in Saudi Arabia?
Many customs in Saudi Arabia are undergoing rapid change and because of outside influences certain modes of behaviour are no longer so rigidly maintained. However, it is as well to familiarise yourself with the etiquette and customs. You will appreciate the people more if you understand how they think and act, and in return they will appreciate your courtesy and consideration.
The family is the all-important social unit. Arranged marriages are still common. Never ask after a Saudi’s wife. They may, however, ask after yours, because they know that it is acceptable to do so in the West. The extended family system is very much in operation, and relatives remain in close touch with each other.
A woman leaving the immediate family circle will be veiled and must not be alone with a man other than her husband or a close relative. Traditionally men and women do not mix in public, but nowadays they are often invited to dine together. Women are not allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia. Men should not wear shorts except at the beach. Women should keep their knees and elbows covered. Western women often wear a long black cape or abaya over their clothes when going out into the street.
Ancient Arab customs established that noble actions are performed with the right hand and ignoble ones with the left. It is always better to use the right hand to take and to give, and if eating with one’s fingers, to eat with the right hand only.
When the time for prayer is called by the muessin, people pray wherever it is clean and convenient. Never walk immediately in front of someone who is praying; leave at least a few metres’ distance.
Non-Muslims should not attempt to enter a mosque, which is a consecrated place for prayer. They are not allowed to approach the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and during Ramadan even non-Muslims must not eat, drink or smoke in public or in the presence of Muslims during the daylight hours.
Photography is a sensitive subject. Don’t photograph women, mosques, royal residences or military establishments without permission.
What is the local currency?
Saudi Arabia’s unit of currency is the riyal. The dirham is used in the UAE and the dinar in Bahrain. There are no restrictions on currency exchange. You can change money at the banks and transfer funds overseas. Major credit cards are accepted at most large hotels, some restaurants and the bigger stores. Don’t make a trip to the souk without cash. Always take your iqama with you if you intend to change money, pay with a traveller’s cheque or use your credit card.
Banks do business from 08.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs Saturday to Wednesday, and 08.30 to 12.00 hrs on Thursday.
Useful Link
See our set of useful links and resources, where you can learn and check more information about offered jobs in different countries.
- English language Newspaper online
www.arabnews.com