Hi All,I am currently speaking to one of the big four regarding roles in the Middle East. One of the locations they are talking about is Saudi. Anyone got any ideas what it is like to work out there? I would plan top work there and come home every few weeks or so to the UK where my family is based. I am looking to do this role for a few years to make some money, which leads to the questions;whats the money making opportunities like working in Saudi?whats the lifestyle like there for a western male, for the short term?The company is E&Y. Please dont turn this thread into a B's and C's of E&Y unless it is ME focused.Many thanks for all our help in advance.Brian

Have worked in Saudi 3 times in past 9 yrs on consulting projects. First couple of a 4-6 weeks basis and then trip back to family, last time ending July 07 on a stay there for several months basis..!OK as it's a top consultancy the accomodation should be top notch and safe. probably be on one of the top 4/5 western compounds in Riyadh [ assume that where you're going..]Have restaurant, swimming pool, supermareket, some social events in periods outside school holidays, gym and maybe tennis corts or the top one [arizona ] has it's own 9 hole golf course..the compounds have very tight security with armed national guard, maybe a tank and concrete chicanes etc. Need ID card to get in all visitors have to be pre-registered hand over ID..at office this will depend on your circumstances. I worked at Saudi Telecom where there are c150 western ex pats spread amongst a large campus..mixed working atmosphere, call for pray breaks working day twice and all stops for 30 minutes. start c 730 am and finish c 430pm..English = working language..'few' real problems . You need to be more aware of your security at offices I believe as residential compounds more tight.outn on streets fine, starbucks might be a target though of irate coffee drinkers, downtown has M&S, Debenhams etc, McDonalds and every US fast food outfit seem to be in Sauditime / day differences - saudi is +3 hours on GMT and also the saudi working week is Saturday - Wednesday...can cause disruptioin ref getting hold of family when you're working their w/end and also staff in UK call you on yr weekend.phone system now fine but you'll need a locasl mobile SIM anyway let alone if you break down in yr car , no real public call boxes .satellite TV get live premiership /6 nations rugby / cricket matches courtesy of SA sports channels , BBC World etcsocially you're better off as there is probably a team there - need to get on the social invitation list of UK and US embassies to get invited to their social clubs where there is alcohol, need to find one of the 3 Riyadh hashes to get invitation to join them on desert walks / parties..can play golf at arizona or one of 2 other local golf clubs but you want to book early tee off times, there is cinema club at the compound next to Arizona, and a local choir/orchestra you need to ask around for other specialist groups there is even a poker group..no cinema/theatre/bars/decent bookshops [don't really count Jarir stores ] UK papers best bought in yr compound shop Sunday Times = £6,can't really buy CD's in Saudi beter bring own/buy in Bahrainpeople do run trips to eg jeddah for scuba diving and others go out for w/end trips to desert eg wahaba volcanic cratersaudi driving is dangerous - don't trust anyone look for the notorious saudi sweep manouevre, . don't drive late at night outside cities for your safety, watch for loose camels on motorways, petrol = 9pence litre for super unleaded..saudi motorways the toilets are ugh!there is a guidebook to Riyadh issued early 2007 available in jarir bookstore + recommend you get local maps whenn therebanned = alcohol, bacon and pork products [have bacon dble cheeseburger at US embassy ], bibles/crucifixes etc, careful what you photograph eg not at airports want to get away...? make certain you have a flexible busieness visa if a 6 month type you HAVE to leave country every 28 days..they don't tell you..Bahrain = 3-4 hours drive from Riyadh on motorway and then over causeway = normality, Marks and Spencers, normal shops, beer, disco's, all british papers/magazines etcFly to Abu Dhabi /Dubai = easy saudi weekend possibility, driving probably needs over 24 hours to get thereDoha - can drive from Riyadh but bit far [640kms each way ] take sensible precautions about heat.. eg in may the breakfast temperature was 28C leading up to 47C at peak - on hottest days central city can reach 50-55C and hotter in desert outside citybut may need bomber jacket for december - february with cold mornings and evenings..longest I did was 56 weeks going back and forth..you need to black out important family periods / take your holidays..you couldi nvite family to Saudi if they could stay on yr compound it takes a lot of forms to fill but company could help you..swop a few trips home for their fares to you..I would suggest they don't come in summer so maybe February or Easter..also local kids depart to Europe as do mums c June 20- September 10th..and compound life goes very quite then..could consider inviting family to eg Dubai for a middle eastern break or Jordan and meet them there from saudi - they get a feel for middle east w/out the restrictions saudi puts on personal freedoms like alcohol, religion and women's clothing/ability to drive a carA lot here. I think you'll find it Ok the issues are can your family hack you being away for so long? After c 1 year does this do anything extra for your career?Booz Allen have 2 large houses and their guys get to go away EVERY weekend back to Dubai or Beirut...would it be better to see if E&Y did the same for you it would really help your sanity..so 1 flight ticket and a 2/3 night stay each weekend 'next door' to saudi..All the bestJames Shine

Middle East-since 2003 I have also worked/lived on a long assignment in Egypt plus smaller assignment trips to Jordan and Sudan, have associates who've done time in Yemen and Oman, plus I have visited Bahrain and Qatar and Libya [leave out UAE as being very open and a holiday destination ] also have a friend currently working in KuwaitAm about to go another middle east state for several months..so could perhaps briefly answer some basics about those places..My personal ranking would be1. Bahrain2. Egypt3. Jordan or UAECheers againJ

Sounds like a great place to work... army tanks outside the hotel and £6 for a Sunday Times!

James - thanks for all the information.Were you based in the UK and sent out there? Any idea of what the expat packages are like if based in Saudi? Thanks,Brian

Sorry - I meant to say that it would a EY Manager type package I was after.Brian

Brian, I know someone who works for E & Y in Riyadh in the Kingdom Tower; which department are you considering joining? BAS? TAS? BMAS?

mAN, be careful . its still towel-head country. why do you want to mix oil with water

"towel-head country"That's nice. You're just the type of person I often come across working in consulting who complains about effing muslims/immigrants/chavs/p@kis,etc because you're stuck in a dead-end medicore role, permanently ensconnesed in a Travelodge, getting more and more angry as the world and your future pass you by. Nice one.

Spent a year in Saudi. Some great work happening there. You should be able to add some good bullet-points to your CV.Socially, if you have quite a few like-minded colleagues, it should be ok, lest it may feel like solitary confinement.

If you are coming to make money then its a best place now a days. i have american in my company who came with the same plans. dont expect a good lifestyle, you can have lot of time for work and yourself, however saudi is getting expensive so becareful about salary if you need help just let me know i do live and work in a consulting company in riyadh salman01@hotmail.com