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Denis PopovContent:
Some things are cheap in Saudi Arabia; others cost only slightly less than in Western Europe. The average family of four will need at least SR20,000 a month to cover basic living expenses. But if you live alone, SR5000-6000 is enough.
SR5000-6000 is enough for you. While things are generally cheap in Saudi Arabia. While the generally low cost of living and high wages would seem to indicate a good standard of living, other factors can be a problem. The most significant are pollution, climate, lack of freedom and tolerance, which greatly reduce the quality of life in Saudi Arabia.
Until recently, Saudi Arabia prohibited foreigners from buying property, so all expats were restricted to renting. However, the laws have recently been relaxed, allowing foreigners to buy property for business or residence. In comparison, flats typically sell for SR3,000 to SR7,000 per square meter in the city center or SR1,800 to SR5,000 per square meter outside the city center.
But remember, you need to consider your salary, already based on it, whether you can buy a house in Saudi Arabia.
On average, salaries in Saudi Arabia are lower than in Qatar and the UAE, but comparable to the UK. In the capital, Riyadh, the average salary is SR260,500 a year; salaries in Dammam and Jeddah are comparable - SR233,500 in both cities. Outside these cities, however, salaries are significantly lower. The average salary in Medina is around SR 197,500 and in Tabuk it is SR161,400.
The average salary in Medina is SR 197,500 and in Tabuk it is SR161,400. In recent years, minimum wage laws have been introduced in Saudi Arabia. Different rates apply in the public and private sectors, as well as for Saudis and foreigners.
All nurseries and kindergartens in Saudi Arabia are private, so you'll have to factor in the cost if you have young children in your family. You can expect to pay between SR10,000 and SR50,000 per year, but companies with more than 50 female employees are legally required to provide childcare during working hours.
Tuition costs in Saudi Arabia The public school system in Saudi Arabia is only available to Muslims, so many expats choose private international schools for their children by default. Tuition fees can vary greatly depending on which grade your child is in and which school they attend. For example, the annual fee for kindergarten at Al Noor International School is 11,000 SR and the tuition fee for a 12th grader at a British International School is over 90,000 SR per year. These amounts do not include the cost of school uniforms, transport, activities and other materials. Tuition fees in Saudi Arabia are usually much lower than in countries such as the UK, the US or other European countries.
Saudi Arabia is a country where school fees are much lower than in other countries. Saudi Arabia also has a number of highly ranked universities offering a variety of courses, but they are particularly known for oil and gas-related majors such as engineering. On average, university tuition fees range from SR30,000 to SR50,000 per semester.
Saudis are now forbidden to marry women with nationalities from Chad, Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to the police, the number of female residents of these countries in Saudi Arabia has already exceeded half a million and continues to grow.
New rules have also been introduced for marrying foreign women: the groom must be at least 25 years old and, if he has a first wife who is a citizen of the kingdom, there must be a good reason for remarriage: for example, the union may be concluded if the first wife is terminally ill with cancer, Parkinson's disease or is infertile. If she has filed for divorce, however, the Saudis may remarry no earlier than six months after the dissolution of the marriage.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy and its legal system is based on Sharia law.
Our society is used to gender equality, where women have the same rights as men. In some cases, women even have more rights, which they undoubtedly need. But there are some countries where gender equality is out of the question. Saudi Arabia restricts women in many areas of life.
Decision-making.
A woman is not allowed to make her own decisions and to have her life as she sees fit. Her father, husband, brother or other male significant other will make any decision. Even if a woman wants to go shopping, she must always ask her husband for permission.
Communicating with men.
It is forbidden for a local woman to have any contact with a man. Even just asking for the time, asking for directions and so on. Even at school, girls have to be separated from boys from a young age to avoid any contact.
Showing a man the exposed part of her body.
It is forbidden for women in Saudi Arabia to show any part of their body. It is not even a question of not showing their legs, buttocks or breasts, but even their arms or exposed face.
According to men in that country, women with an open part of their body excites men's minds and pushes them to commit a crime.
Marry the woman of her choice.
Even a woman may only marry the man her father or another male relative in the family wants. It does not matter whether she likes the man or not, she will still live with him and build a family.
Driving a car.
Women are not allowed to drive a car. They won't even be issued a license and won't be taught how to drive.
It is considered that driving a woman is a sin for which she may be punished by G-d. That is why even women themselves don't want to learn how to drive a car.
Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of the global economy and social welfare in recent years.
Jobs for women:
Jobs in Saudi Arabia for women are only possible in the education or health sectors.
In the medical field, women and girls can only be employed as gynecologists and dermatologists.
Women can only work in the oil industry as engineers. But only one company in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco, employs women. Other organizations do not have a similar right to employ women.
In 2015, women were allowed to work at cash registers in department stores. But the main condition is that the woman's face is completely covered. They are also allowed to work as storekeepers in these organizations.
Jobs for men
Most of the male citizens of this state and foreigners work in the oil sector. This is because the main part of Saudi Arabia's income (more than 90%) comes from the export of oil products.Men who have no training in the industry can find jobs in tourism, construction and IT technology.
In Saudi Arabia, the search for a soulmate is taken very seriously; it is forbidden to get intimate before marriage at all. It's not like everyone in Europe can meet the first person they meet. As said earlier, women have no rights at all to talk to men they don't know. With men it's all a bit easier, but there are certain limits. For breaking the law, the perpetrator himself will be severely punished.
The health system of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is of a high standard - according to some it is one of the best and most modern in the world. There are no problems with medical services not only in big cities but also in the most distant regions of the country.
The only difference in medical services for citizens residing in large administrative regions is the quality and level of medical services - Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, hosts most of the best clinics with highly specialized equipment and specialists in the Middle East.
This high level of medical development in the country is largely explained by the fact that the government allocates rather large funds for health care - over 8% of the budget of Saudi Arabia, which is high even in comparison with European countries.
The country's healthcare system comprises: public medical institutions, private charitable and private hospitals in the cities, public dispensaries and health centers in the countryside.
Advantages
Lots of career opportunities.
High earnings and standard of living. Financial matters are a decisive factor in most cases, and Saudi Arabia's wage levels can satisfy even the most skilled professionals in any industry.
Security. In 2017, the kingdom's capital, Riyadh, made it into the top 50 safest cities in the world to live in. It has the lowest crime rate possible, thanks in large part to the widespread presence of law enforcement.
Travel and tourism. With Saudi Arabia at the heart of the Middle East, hardcore travelers can explore the UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, or even Singapore, Thailand or China at a fraction of the cost.
First-rate schools. International schools in the Middle East employ the best teachers from around the world, and teaching is done in English exclusively by native speakers.
Disadvantages
Every resident must follow a very conservative dress code due to the religiosity of the population.
When foreigners get a job, they sign a contract of employment which includes, among other things, an expiration date. Attempting to quit before the agreed time is punishable by serious penalties.
Women in this country have far fewer rights than men.
Friday night lovers might find life in the kingdom rather dull. There are no cinemas or bars and alcohol is banned.
Even for those who can stand the heat, another drawback in Saudi Arabia is the sandstorms. Sandstorms are a regular occurrence, covering windows, cars and passers-by with a dense layer of sand.
In general, Saudi Arabia is a good place to go to work. But we advise you to weigh the pros and cons before you go. We wish you the best of luck
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