Being an Expat Woman in Saudi Arabia | Expats Everywhere
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- Опубліковано 20 тра 2017
- ExpatsEverywhere talks to Kalie about living and working as a woman in Saudi Arabia. Are you interested in moving there? Watch as Kalie tells us about her experience along with jobs that are available, what it's like living on a compound, a typical work day, salary, the weather, visas, safety, the KSA as a travel hub, and much more.
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This was an excellent and helpful video. Thank you both for the information. I would follow her advise because she sounds respectful & down to earth. Excellent job guys!
Thank you for the comment. Kalie really appreciated it. She's helped facilitate several people moving to Saudi either through her blog posts or her work with ExpatsEverywhere.
Nice details, very helpful.
Thank you. Thanks for watching.
Bored? How about learning something, doing an online course? Just get creative and think outside the box, and soon you won't be bored!
Hi Sandi, thanks for the comment. This interview talks about just that. ua-cam.com/video/eQ-j3fn9SCE/v-deo.html
A note, if you don't find the very specific beauty products that you like in Saudi I'd recommend using Amazon.com or any other e-commerce site-it really works and you don't need to be bothered! Thanks 🙏🏼😊
Thanks for the comment, Barza. We noticed that you've commented on two video recently. Are you an expat or local in Saudi?
for fast internet, you need to subscribe to fiber optics internet network instead of DSL even DSL is excellent you must be using sim card internet that doesn't work in crowded cities only in the villages it is so fast so being in major cities in Saudi Arabia and complain about internet speed it depends on you cuz DSL reach up to 20mb and fiber optics up to 200 mb you just have some ignorance about how to get fast internet service in saudi Arabia , that up to you
What company did you use to coordinate this? Also, were you required to have an advanced degree to teach at a university? For example, if I just had my bachelors (in something unrelated to teaching) would I be able to go there? Thanks!
If you would, email us at expatseverywhere@gmail.com
Hi, I've been interested in teaching english to adults within the gulf regions. I am applying for my masters which will be done through a reputable university online. However, I noticed that many teaching job opportunities in the gulf have mentioned they do not accept online degrees. Have you seen this as an issue? do you think it is a big issue?
Ooh, that's an awesome question! Online degrees are tricky. Online universities are worse. Generally, a degree is a degree, but you need to find out if the online degree from the reputable university states that it's an online or online completed degree. For some schools, this is an issue, especially if the places that you're wanting to apply to say they don't take online degrees.
i did live in saudi arabia, just as same as her, in location area. she did mention that she lived in eastern province, i think because she mentioned aramco, bahrain etc. but i lived kind a opposite of her. she lived in compound (it's gated and heavily guarded), i lived 'freely' in small town adjustment of al khobar. i am a man. most of what she said was true. because i lived 'freely', i can go outside my company's apartment anytime outside working time, alone. yes it is pretty boring to live in eastern province, aramco-dhahran-dammam-al khobar area. only mall and corniche you can go to. as for internet, i do not have same problem like her. i do not know what kind internet she was using, maybe cellular type,. i was using dsl and everything just smoothly, video call, download video, watching tv streaming etc. for safety, well, it's not bad. there are some crime here and there but not as bad as other third countries. you still can walking alone in the middle of the night freely and not worry you getting mugged.
She lived in Al-Hasa if that helps. It sounds like the Internet problem was mainly at this one compound although some people that lived off the compound (for the same company) said they experienced problems around prayer time in Al-Hasa. Thanks for commenting!
Expats Everywhere i don't think it's the poblem if the compound was in city area and she used dsl. people who live outside city area mostly use cellular service because there's no dsl coverage. i've been in al hassa city or you might called it 'town'. it is a nice area, better than al toqbah where i lived. btw, al hassa is shiite area, most of my saudi colleges came from this area.
It was definitely cellular service. We've just heard that the new building on the compound have been equipped with DSL. Thanks for sharing.
I want to do teaching abroad, is it easy for me and my family to move there. What is the procedure
Thank you for the message. This type of detailed stuff in what we go over in our paid consultations. All of our videos on our website and YT, you can access them for free. If you'd like to learn more about our consultation services, please visit www.expatseverywhere.com/services/
I'm living in Saudi as a househelp,buh going through a lot.please can you help me find another job?I'm a high school graduate
This is a tricky situation. Domestic workers in Saudi Arabia have a tough time. It's not the best of countries in the world to do that type of job. At ExpatsEverywhere, we're not a headhunting or job recruiting consulting agency. We help equip individuals with information they're seeking for a move to a new country but not finding people jobs. The main job related thing that we do is to create profiles for people on job search websites of their choice. Does that make sense?
Ma'am are you still in Saudi Arabia
I will travel the whole world soon
Do it! Have a great time.
I am looking for videos of people who aren't in compounds but who live in the Saudi Arabian community as a revert to Islam (which is what I am). Anyone have perspectives on that, and life for women there?
Hi, we don't have any videos from that exact perspective. It's very rare that companies hire and allow unmarried foreign women to live off of a compound. It's not impossible but extremely rare. We do know a few foreign married women that live off a compound with their husband though. However, they did not want to do interviews. Thanks for writing.
Expats Everywhere That's a shame. Still, I'm asking around. Thanks for replying :)
You're welcome. Thanks for reaching out.
Expats Everywhere There's a vlogger by the name "Very Mary Videos/Vlogs". Her and her brother are in Saudi. Maybe you can contact her.
The Quiet Niqabi i am saudi if i can help you it's my pleasure sister
Can l ask privately dear
Pliz assist
Hello! I am an an Argentinian Teacher. I see a lot of American or European teachers, not latin. How come? Is it possible for me to be accepted? Thanks.
Vanessa, so sorry that we missed this comment. Thank you for commenting. That's a great question. Part of the answer comes down to international schools, their curriculum, and their hiring criteria. For example, a lot of schools will want their teachers have to a teaching license in that particular country where the curriculum is from. The other things that a lot of schools look for in foreign teachers is that they come from native English speaking countries unless they're foreign language teachers. So is it possible for you to be accepted, absolutely! Put yourself out there and try. See what the reception is go from there.
Many people say: "Oh, living in Saudi Arabia is great because you can save lots of money!"
I know I am going to hate myself for asking this simple question, but I don't understand: If I am a US citizen working in Saudi Arabia, how can I save lots of money of I still have to pay the US taxes, which are about 20% of my income?
OK, let's say I am paid 5000 USD each month in Saudi Arabia. Good salary. But $1000 USD is going for Taxses, right? Si, I am left with 4000 USD in my pocket. Which is still good but still...
Also, If I am going to the US for summer vacations, I will not have a US medical insurance for that period of time. So should I buy a medical insurance before traveling to the US?
Can someone tell me about taxes?
But thank you very much for the movie, it was very informative!
That's a great question. Here's the simple answer but it's not tax advice. After a certain period of time outside of the US, money earned outside of the US is considered foreign earned income.
When you file your taxes, you'll be prompted to answer some questions regarding your taxable income. There are two checks and if you pass either one of them then your foreign earned income is exempt up to $104,100 (2018). You might still owe state income depending on the state but your federal is tax exempt. The two tests are the bona fide residence test and the physical presence tests. Check with the IRS on how to meet those standards and you're good. That money up to 104k will be federal tax free.
We hope that helps. Thanks for the question.
Medical insurance all depends on your new contract. Some places (employers) provide international insurance. Check about the coverage in the US. A lot of international insurances don't cover the US so you might need a separate policy. It's pretty straight forward to obtain 1-3 month policies.
@@ExpatsEverywhere Thank you very much for very useful information! I am not very sure about the terminology, but do I understand correctly that, if my income in Saudi Arabia is less then $104,100 per year, then I don't need to pay the federal tax and I need only to pay the state tax? If I understood it correctly, then it's not that bad! Or I did not understand you correctly?
@@ExpatsEverywhere Oh, thanks! It's also very useful information. Do you know how to get 1-3 month policies, I mean should I find some medical insurance in the US that would be able to provide me with a such medical policy?
@@T34isBEST You're welcome. Yes, definitely. Contact an insurance company in your area and go from there. They should all have a sheet (.pdf) that will give you prices based on age, gender, how much coverage you want with what type of deductible.
Hi! I'd like to ask you a question: can western men and women intermingle in the compound? Or you only find either men or women in a compound? Thanks
100% men and women can mingle in a compound. You have singles and families that live on these compounds and they're mixed nationalities. Although, there are some compounds that are only women so find out before you commit to a compound/employer.
Thanks for the question and connecting with us in our expat community. It would be awesome if you would 'like' and 'subscribe' for us to help the growth of the channel so we can reach more people and help more people.
Thank you!
You're welcome. Stay connected.
Can I contact this women . she is beautiful and unfair to be single
متزوجه
just to let you know, filipinos there are no just maids. for her to connect maids to filipinos is stereotyping. My husband is an architect and he is a manager there. I am a woman and I am a customer service manager too.
That's awesome. Would you like to do a video and we can tell your story and shoot your perspective? Also, would you agree that a vast majority of Filipinos work in the service industry and/or are domestic helpers in KSA?
Different routes who would attack you don’t you think you are exaggerating I don’t know
How long did she stay?
She stayed 1 year mainly due to hitting certain objectives while in Saudi Arabia, but has stated she could have done another year.
Did she have an education degree or an unrelated one?
She's state certified in FL to teach ESL, but it wasn't necessary at this particular job.
I was offered 4k with housing and have an unrelated BA. I am kicking myself for not taking that gig in 2013-2014. Are those still available?
We've recently spoken to the people that work for this program and to be honest, they're going backwards. The western director is in his final year and a lot of the old guard are leaving with him. They're especially leaving after being told that the wages are going to be reset to $3,200 per month. That was the starting salary when Kalie took the job and they received bonuses for time spent there and if the teacher was in a leadership position, that could bump people up to 4k. The vacation structure has already changed and people aren't happy about that. In saying that, there are high paying gigs still available but not there at that school (KFU).
Nice video. Real strength lovely spirit
Further..... I AM MARRIED AND HAVE KIDS🤗🤗
Hi can I reach plz coz am here in Saudi Arabia
Hi Ann, who would you like to reach?
Expats Everywhere OK am working here in Saudi us a house help and these are not good how can you help me to come out and get a good job coz am a high school level .or if I can get even house work with good family I can be happy .reply plz .am from Kenya
Ann, please e-mail us at ExpatsEverywhere@gmail.com. Thanks!
Hi my email account is 73annkamau@gmail.com
Please give a find back
How can I meet with you
Like right now I am in Saudi will you take me from here
And how much amonther
We're no longer in Saudi Arabia. - Josh & Kalie
Are you required to dress the certain way by law? If you have walked without a headscarf, or better yet other revealing clothes like tank tops, what were the reaction from the local people? I may have not watched the entire end of the video
Hey Andy! Good questions. Women have to wear abayas, the big robe that covers the body. In more conservative cities, these are all black. However, there are plenty of cities where women wear very colorful abayas. This is generally policed by the religious police. You aren't allowed to walk around in tank tops. That would cause big problems. Remember that compounds are a different scenario though. You are free to walk around in tank tops and such on compounds as those are for foreigners. Expats don't have to wear a headscarf. Some choose to though just to not stick out, especially in more conservative areas.
Getting drunk! International flights are really expensive.the heat in summer is unbearable.
james rippingale hi where you from
How can your connection to the internet be affected by the five prayers?! Plz tell us:)
The general conscientious is that the Internet speed is manipulated (at least in Al Ahsa, a very conservative part of Saudi Arabia) during the time leading up to the prayers so that people get off the Internet and go to prayer.
Expats Everywhere not true! This thing does not even happen in Makkah and Medinah! I thought these videos are really meant to help guest workers picturing the life style in Saudi rather than just showing rubbish!
Omar, thanks for the input. That's great it doesn't happen in Makkah and Medinah. It's good to know. We're not sure why there's a correlation but the fact remains that there's a correlation. Thank you again for posting.
Thanks to you tho! I suggest removing that part as it's not true and no such thing as she mentioned is happening in the whole country! I didn't give that example of those two places to receive compliments and thanks from you. That's just to say they are considered as holy cities and Islamic regulations are applied there the most! However, shutting down services like internet, electricity, ...etc, during prayer time is not among the code of conduct.
Sorry Omar, these are people's experiences and opinions. We're not going to censor them because we or someone else disagree with them. The only thing that we've censored to date is vulgarity and that came from the comment section.
this is very irrelevant to the video title "being a woman in Saudi Arabia" it's totally about how much cash u can save in Saudi Arabia
You will not find like Saudi and Saudies respect the difference that is famous
i am always suspicious of people living there who still pronounce it Sawdi.......I will keep watching her though and come back with my comments lol
Yes a little too much of ''I'm a westerner and this is how I want my life to be'' type.....you are in someone else's country honey, better suck it up and get on with it, you live on a compound you can have a fab life. Friends, activities etc Your social life is what you make it. Oh, and don't look down your nose so much at those other countries you mentioned and their workers who are mostly employed in construction! You admitted you make the money you wanted, so do they, in the end you are no different from them. Think about it.
@PLK123 I thought the subject matter was in Saudi Arabia? Not in Europe. I cannot answer for all of Europe, and quite honestly I don't understand what you are trying to say. Sorry.