What It's Like Living & Working in Saudi Arabia | Seeing the Dramatic Shift (LIBERALIZATION)
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
- Rob is a British national that has experience working in several countries outside of the UK. The bulk of his experience has been in Saudi Arabia. Over the past decade, he has seen a dramatic shift that he can pinpoint to a few significant and milestone events.
This interview is going to prepare people that are wanting to head to Saudi Arabia for work, especially if they're going to the more populated centers of Saudi. Rob has been all over the country for travel and has a comprehensive understanding of the country because he has integrated with the local community a lot more than most Western expats.
Let his knowledge inform you and put your mind at ease about the realities of living in Saudi Arabia that might be very different than what you hear in traditional media.
Thank you, Rob D | / wonderland1985
NEOM | www.neom.com/en-us
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:14 How long have you been Saudi Arabia?
01:34 What were your first impressions of Saudi Arabia?
03:36 Why did you decide to move to Saudi Arabia as your first country abroad?
05:23 When did you first start seeing these dramatic changes?
10:29 Many foreigners live on compounds but do you live on a compound?
12:00 What's your favorite city to live in?
13:58 Are you able to meet locals?
17:13 What cities do you recommend for a good expat community?
20:25 What challenges did you face when you moved there and how did you overcome them?
22:05 What is the cost of living like in Saudi Arabia?
26:49 Do expats still get good "expat packages" to move and live in Saudi Arabia?
29:04 What currency do you get paid in?
30:54 What's the next big shift that's going to happen in Saudi Arabia?
33:21 What advice would you give someone that wants to move to Saudi Arabia?
34:44 How has living abroad transformed your life?
* ABOUT US *
Josh and Kalie left the US for a life abroad in 2009 and haven't looked back. They have lived in Spain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and are currently in Portugal. Yes, they realize they only moved to countries starting with the letter "S" until they spoiled that streak with their move to Portugal. Follow ExpatsEverywhere as we aim to get information to you through expat interviews, city breakdowns, expat life, travel, vlogs, and more.
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Yes this is more like an interview that touched most the aspects of Saudi recent changes. Like I said in your previous video about Saudi I love it here and there’s no country or society without challenges but for me my peace of mind and security is very important and Saudi offers these. Have been here for almost 7years. Thank you for this.
You're welcome. Thank you. We're trying to get one more Saudi interview in 2022. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere that would be great 👍 all the best
Thank you so much for such useful information 😊
What a lovely and helpful insights, excellent interview and wonderful invitee
As a Saudi that was a very good interview and I believe it will be very helpful to people who wants to visit or work in Saudi Arabia
Thanks. We're glad that you liked it.
@@HairOfTheDog2000 Cry harder mf 🍼🍼🤣
Great video thank you for sharing!
Hi Rob. Thanks for the video!
Thanks, James.
Finally an interview with someone who actually seems to enjoy living in Saudi Arabia!
Very interesting interview! Great job, Kalie!
Thanks so much, Terri! - Josh & Kalie
Really interesting, thank you for the valuable information. I spent sometime in Oman now considering an opportunity in Saudi Arabia so it was a fascinating presentation thank you again!
Thank you for your honest opinion, anyone who will add something good to our country is welcomed.
Enjoy your stay and hopefully one day you will be a Muslim as well 😊
Thanks for sharing this video.
Thanks for watching as always, Yasin.
@@ExpatsEverywhere 😁
I will share this on my community tab. I don’t really have much people on my community but this may help one or two people wishing to come here for work or tourism.
Than you, Evangel! - Josh & Kalie
Very nice report
Everyone is welcome in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we are happy to visit friends from the United Kingdom for business or tourism.. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country of comfort and safety.
Great information
Interesting,many western expats are coming here and are discussing changes of Saudi,I think Saudi people should also send their expats in west to track down the developments/changes taking place there and share that on social media,like here.
What are the roads like in and around Riyadh? Been offered a job there- but the amount of fatal accidents make me feel a bit uneasy…
Hi. I’m from Saudi.
I don’t know how the roads are in foreign countries. So I cannot compare.
But I can tell you this:
In Saudi, everybody has a car. Literally every adult. Doesn’t matter if poor, very young, or what. If you live here, you cannot go anywhere without a car. It is a basic need. Like water.
That said, the amount of drivers here is a lot higher than any other place with the same population.
So maybe. Just maybe because I don’t really know. Maybe the higher accidents percentage is affected by that? I don’t know…
@@Nawaf- Hi, thank you for your reply. I was actually thinking that’s why it is so high, everyone drives, fuel is cheap and public transport is limited so a lot more journeys are made. I haven’t been offered a job yet though…👍
@@GarethSewell1982 I think the style of commuting in Saudi is like Texas.
Why didn't you mention electronic applications that fulfill all people's needs without leaving the house or office, such as bank applications?
I lived in Saudi Arabia before
My only fear going to work in Saudi is racial abuse and discrimination despite being a muslim and speaking Arabic, just for the colour of my skin I'd still be unsure of how I'd be treated. Although having british nationality would help, its still the biggest deterrent for me for now, although I would like to get first hand experience before placing judgements as it could turn out otherwise.
Thanks for this extensive interview!
what ? There are loads of black people in Saudi Arabia, bot natives, visitors and workers. Thats foolish. Islam strictly forbids racism.
everytime you hear the islamic call of prayer, either in Saudi arabia, Malaysia or Bosnia, know that its a heritage we have from our beloved Prophets freed slave Billall, the african slave who was described to be blacker than coal and was the first muslim to call the prayer from the minarete. You need reflectioni.
@@TheCriticalAnalyst This is in an ideal world, but sadly I've heard of cases of racism and as I said, it might not be as bad as what I've heard but many people have noted this and it was putting me off.
@@m7md961 ive never xperienced any of that, im white but did haj among people from ghana, nigeria, angola, no problem we had a wonderful time, I think your too infected by propaganda in the uk
Many Saudis have dark skin so idk why they would be racist racism is very a western idea
bear in mind a man's experience is always different to a woman's in many places in the world
That's right and city to city, and job to job, and nationality to nationality it'll differ too.
I worked in Saudi Arabia in the past. I was in Riyadh and it wasn't my favorite place to be. To much religious control, check points, no movie theater. It was my first place that I've ever been carded by religious police and also regular cops.
There a documentary filmed by a Saudi national filmed 10 years ago or more where he goes through Saudi Arabia with a hidden camera. This film is utterly shocking! You see Public scourgings a woman accused of something stupid and beheaded on the spot in the middle of the street by the morality police. No judge no jury. Headless bodies hanging from construction cranes for everyone to see. Public hangings and every evil imaginable. Neighbors afraid of each other because everyone is a rat. This guy probably lived in a westerners only zone gated community. I dontvthink your allowed in Said Arabia if your not Muslim
@@gc4580 You are allowed in Saudi Arabia if your not a Muslim. You are not allowed in Saudi if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport. I remember traveling and they gave you white paper for a stamp if you went to Israeli. My company had to disown an American because he became Muslim and changed his name etc. because of the work that I did. I wish a question would have been asked about employment pay being based on where your from and not your skill set.
Yes as I mentioned in the interview it’s all very different now with many cinemas or movie theatres as you call them.
As a Saudi, I will explain to you:
1. The religious police are only exposed to men who harass girls, and flirting with them is forbidden in Islam.. The relationship should be through marriage only.. Because adultery is forbidden in Islam and the heavenly religions.
2. Cinema: It is rejected by Muslim sheikhs because its stories contain women’s bodies and perhaps kisses, actresses’ short clothes, women’s dancing and songs, etc..
And other things that are forbidden to watch in Islam
3. Checkpoints to maintain the city's security from drug, alcohol, and weapons smugglers, etc. Therefore, Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries in the world.
I hope that the laws that you did not prefer will continue, because I really prefer them to continue
Thank you for your response sir. It is with respect my response. I do agree with you and each country should have it's own rules. Older and younger generations do seem to view laws differently also no matter the country the people might be in. I had interactions with religious police that wasn't based on exactly what you said. I seen how pretty Saudi can be outside of the city but I do rather not bring any females that I know to Saudi for my own reasons.
All the people that are leaving nasty comments and don't know shitt about anything They're just hating on saudi because their unemployment going to end soon
This is freaking me out, he looks just like one of my cousins
Nice!
Hello,
Soudia Arabia good invester country. Future investment is more than best.
FDI, foreign direct investment in ksa.
"Liberazation"?? have respect for those who actually love their culture and religion
Watch Riyadh turn into Las Vegas in 20 years.
My advice as a Saudi is to be keen on learning the Arabic language and being in harmony with the Saudi people instead of isolating themselves with Westerners to gain language, culture and understanding of the society in which they live,
Many Westerners may live ten and twenty years and do not know why we reject gender equality or why in the past and even now we prohibit women from driving, and this Westerner takes his impressions on TV channels instead of hearing the opinion of the Saudi people who live among them.
A simple example: You in the conversation are pleased with the decision to merge the families section with the youth in restaurants, but this thing bothers me and my wife, because my wife does not accept eating in front of foreign men and I am jealous of my wife and I do not like to eat next to strangers and vice versa, so government decisions are not of course all Is it right or it fits with our culture and what we want, but maybe the opposite
Likewise, alcohol is one of the things forbidden in religion. If the government allows it, it is against God’s law, the culture of society, etc.. So we will be sad about this change that distances us from our religion, our culture, our morals, our values, etc. You will know and understand these issues when you speak Arabic and converse with Muslims.
A new meeting, and if I want special guests of my choice, I will choose these Americans to interview them:
Prof. Richard Mortel : Professor of Islamic History and Adviser at Al-Imam University in Riyadh; Interested in the history, archeology and heritage of the Arabian Peninsula
twitter.com/MortelRichard
These are Americans and Westerners who lived in Saudi Arabia and some of them still live in Saudi Arabia and understood its culture : Dr. Laurence Brown and Dr.Tahir Wyatt, Saajid Lipham, Joe Bradford ,Nicholas Pelletier, Yusuf Estes, Sheikh Othman bin Al-Farouq، Samuel Sharcher ، Shaykh Hasan Somali ،S,Abu Mussab Wajdi Akkari ، Abdur Raheem McCarthy's - ـ Ustaadh Muhammad Tim Humble, Abdur Raheem McCarthy's - Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Dimashqieh
، Shaykh Wasim Kempson ، Ibrahim menk + Adnaan Menk ، . Mufti Muneer ، Khalid Green . Sheikh Bilal Philips
، Farid Responds ،Sheikh Khalid Yasin Shaikh Yusha Evan، Sheikh Okasha Kameny ـ Sheikh Abdur Rahman Hassan ، Dr.. Zaghloul El-Naggar ، Dr. Abdul-Rahim Mollazadeh ، Junayed Ahmed - Farooq Broberg
One of the most important books for learning Arabic .. Good luck to you.
Madinah Book 1 | Abu Kenzah Jamal | Lesson 1
ua-cam.com/video/4MBgBso-_RM/v-deo.html
There are some Americans who travel a lot in Saudi Arabia. On UA-cam, I can send their channels to you.
@Khalid Mohammed The prohibition of alcohol came gradually in the texts of the Qur’an and is mentioned in the hadiths of the Prophet and the Prophet’s biography.. It is strange that you are ignorant of information known to Muslims!
I am a westerner and I do not get knowledge from TV I get knowledge from my extensive network of Saudi friends. I also do not drink alcohol.
@@wonderland1985 Well done Rob. Wine wastes money and the mind goes. I know that we are proud of our religion, our culture, our civilization and our Islamic laws.. and there are no secrets in our religion or anything that we are afraid to discuss in our culture.
And if you talk to a Westerner who is a graduate of an Islamic university in Saudi, it is better than talking to a Saudi graduate of a scientific major. Like some of the names you mentioned.
To understand Islam, these are four easy and concise books.
To understand Islam, these are four easy and short books to understand our culture. I hope you will accept them as a cultural gift.
Explanation of the Book of Tawheed - Imam Muhammad Abdul Wahab
d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en_50_questions_and_answers_in_faith.pdf
A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam
islamhouse.com/en/books/1221
Islam Its Foundations and Concepts D.Muhammad ibn Abdullah as-Saheem
islamhouse.com/en/books/255758
BECAUSE YOU ARE Allah: A Journey to the Seventh Heaven : Allah's names and attributes
islamhouse.com/en/books/2828646
The Three Fundamental Principles
ua-cam.com/video/U-yBbTlcVTU/v-deo.html
The Fourty Nawawi Ahaadeeth(Book of Fundamentals of Creed from the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad) 42 haadeeth
ua-cam.com/video/rcsJ_RorUSs/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/bsiL2Lil9-c/v-deo.html
The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi - Sheikh Sa'd Al-Shithry+Sheikh Ali Al-Shibl
ua-cam.com/video/zecQiW9KIcw/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/ARdcRYPPP0o/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/XTo1r3hRkNc/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/eRfbXEIqZ3g/v-deo.html
Good luck dear .
Apologies for this question but coming from a native English speaking culture (USA) how difficult is learning arabic in comparison.
By the way I'm 37 going on 38years old.
Thank you for any input
@@MLK_Sold_Black_america_out Many Americans speak Arabic fluently, such as:
Dr.Tahir Wyatt, Saajid Lipham, Joe Bradford ,Nicholas Pelletier, Shaykh Hasan Somali ،Sheikh Khalid Yasin
Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allah selects for His mercy whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. [2:105]
=============
Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know. [24:19]
=============
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was. [3:59]
The truth is from your Lord, so do not be among the doubters. [3:60]
Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars [among us]." [3:61]
Indeed, this is the true narration. And there is no deity except Allah. And indeed, Allah is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. [3:62]
But if they turn away, then indeed - Allah is Knowing of the corrupters. [3:63]
Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]." [3:64]
O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then will you not reason? [3:65]
Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allah knows, while you know not. [3:66]
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. [3:67]
Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers. [3:68]
A faction of the people of the Scripture wish they could mislead you. But they do not mislead except themselves, and they perceive [it] not. [3:69]
O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allah while you witness [to their truth]? [3:70]
O People of the Scripture, why do you confuse the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know [it]? [3:71]
==========
Who does greater wrong than someone who, when revelations of his Lord are recited to him, turns away from them? We shall inflict retribution on the guilty. [32:22]
I'm sure this might be removed but I have seen Saudi man back in '09 slap a Saudi woman in an American Embassy and nothing happen. I have seen religious police torment people out in public.
There a documentary filmed by a Saudi national filmed 10 years ago or more where he goes through Saudi Arabia with a hidden camera. This film is utterly shocking! You see Public scourgings a woman accused of something stupid and beheaded on the spot in the middle of the street by the morality police. No judge no jury. Headless bodies hanging from construction cranes for everyone to see. Public hangings and every evil imaginable. Neighbors afraid of each other because everyone is a rat. This guy probably lived in a westerners only zone gated community. I dontvthink your allowed in Said Arabia if your not Muslim
@@gc4580 do not lie
😱
saudi is much safer than the USA tho
no real info here
Question: France prevents Muslim women from their rights, in everything, even in clothes, why don’t you talk about it? Did the agenda not issue you orders?
Basically, the authorities there are controlled by secular West and it is the West who are pushing for these changes, to make Saudi Arabia secular as well. So the benefits of a crime free Muslim society will be lost as Islam is watered down for Western culture purposes. Corruption of Islam will result in all the good safe environment there will be lost.
Women are better drivers, internationally! Yay! 😜
😊- Josh & Kalie
Maybe they can drive for Uber
If you mean by "Liberalization" religious freedom , mix gender , women and gay rights ,alcohol , pork , tolerance to western culture . Saudi Arabia still don't apply these reforms
Our happiness, security, and life with Islamic Sharia:
We have reasons for prohibiting alcohol, fornication, homosexuality, usury, gambling and pork.
Women have more rights than men, and vice versa, in proportion to the situation and needs of each gender, according to the tasks assigned to it in family rights
As for work and commerce for women, they are all free.
America will not accept the application of Islamic Sharia in its countries, just as we do not accept Western law that contradicts our religion, culture, values and morals.
you have your religion and I have mine .
If being gay, alcohol or pork make you happy, then that’s good for you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean same things make us happy
Nice to see you back from the dead Milton, can I suggest you watch the video and listen?
And they shouldn’t like France said, when in Rome do like the romans
@@wonderland1985 Milton is obsessed with Saudi Arabia. He literally writes nonsense on every Western creative video about Saudi for some sick reason.
Why don’t speak about Iraq 🇮🇶 women what happen to them by your mentally
Soldiers
Stay away from my country and your agenda expose already 😂
ماعندهم اجندة لكن لا يفهمون دينك ولا ثقافتك .. يمكن شرحها بطريقة جميلة لهم بدلاً من الإساءة. واخلاقنا بالكلمة الطيّبة .