Life in Saudi Arabia

Riding on a Camel back and moving across the sand dunes and winds in the Arabian Desert with an Arabic song playing in the background. The idea might seem synonymous to a lot of people’s perception of working in Saudi Arabia.

But, is there any other shade to this cliched thought?

Yes dear reader, there definitely is. Working in Saudi Arabia is a different experience altogether. Right from beautiful places like Dumat al Jundal and Jamarat bridge to the rich delicacies like Kabsa, Haneeth and Baladi cheese, this Kingdom has a lot to offer to those living here.  Saudi Arabia gives numerous job opportunities to grow and excel in one’s professional life.

However, the discussion to follow will talk about the work conditions and idiosyncrasies in this country. Giving it a quick glance might help you gain an insight regarding the professional life and work environment you’ll be facing, once you are there.

What do you need to know about the employment contract?

• You will be provided with an employment contract which will specifically mention all the details of the pay-package. Any verbal communication will not be considered or covered by the contract.

• The employment terms mentioned should be in coherence with the labor law in Saudi Arabia, governed by the Ministry of Labor.

• Though you’ll be handed over an English-language contract signed by you and your employer before departing for Saudi Arabia, but you’ll be asked to sign an Arabic version after your arrival as well. Arabic version is the one that will be referred in case of any dispute.

• When checking the contract make sure the details regarding salary, job title and description, probation period, housing allowance and relocation costs are included.

What are the working hours in KSA ?

• The number of hours you’ll have to devote to work per week varies between 40 to 48 in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, depending on the organization’s policy.
• Office hours range between 7.30 am/8 am until 12 noon, then from 3.30/4 pm until 7 or 8 pm.
•  Most of the government offices are open from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm with the general banking hours being 8 am until noon.
• However, in the month of Ramadan the working day is reduced to six hours, which a lot of companies apply only to the Muslim staff.
• Friday is the Muslim day of rest and if your firm has a five-day working week, the other day off will either be a Thursday or Saturday.

What are the work ethics you need to keep in mind?

Work ethics keep on altering once you are moving across the globe from country to country. In Kingdom of Saudi Arabia they are much different to those followed at any work destination in the world. Right from the most conservative style of dressing to a specific polite way of greeting your co-workers, this country has the most different set of work and business etiquettes in store for you.

For instance, you will be expected to greet your colleagues by the title Sayed (Mr.) or Sayeda (Mrs.). Whilst working in Saudi Arabia you’ll also have to avoid scheduling any business meeting on Friday, which is generally known by the name ‘Juma’- meaning the prayer day.

What is the remuneration available in different professions?

• According to a salary survey (in Saudi Arabia) by a reputed website the average monthly salary in the country is 16,252 SAR.
• However, the maximum salary is as high as 140,000 SAR and the minimum is as low as 833 SAR.
• The remuneration associated with some prominent professions in Saudi Arabia (as of 2^nd Sep 2014) can be found below.

• Accountant: 60,187 SAR per year
• Civil Engineer: 96,866 SAR per year
• Electrical Engineer: 112,355 SAR per year
• Mechanical Engineer: 109,091 SAR per year
• Project Manager, IT: 198,372 SAR per year
• Registered Nurse: 54,714 SAR per year

What will be the entitlements associated with your job?

• Employment in Saudi Arabia includes a 21 days paid vacation for the first five years of your tenure. Some companies allow the employee to go on vacation only once in every two years. Hence, make sure that your work contract includes at least 21 days of paid vacation in a single year.
• From the 6th year onwards the number of vacations increases to 30 per year. However, if your employer has made you to sign a contract of 21 days’ vacation even after you’ve entered the sixth year of tenure, the law obligates him to pay you for the remaining 9 days per year once you’re leaving the kingdom.
• An employee working for more than 2 years is eligible for ‘End of Service’ benefits too.
• For less than 5 years: 1/3^rd of the ESB award or half salary.
• For more than 5 and less than 10 years: 2/3 of the ESB award or half salary for the first five years and full salary for the next five years.
• For more than 10 years: Full ESB award or half salary for the first five years and full salary for the rest of the years.

Working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will make you a part of eight million expats in the country, thriving for a comfortable and secure work life. But, it might seem like a cake walk, once you are well acquainted with the norms and regulations followed in this country.

If you are new in Saudi Arabia you might be interested to know ways to use Public Transport in Saudi Arabia, check here. TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Author Bio: Anshuman Kukreti is a professional writer and a keen follower of the global job market. An engineer by qualification and an artist at heart, he writes on various topics relating to employment across the gulf.  Reach him at

https://twitter.com/AnshumanKukreti

Update: 30-Oct-2014 10:55 am
In a recent statement to Arab News, undersecretary for Labor policies at the Labor Ministry said

expatriate women teachers on dependent visa (house wife iqama) can work at private schools without transferring their sponsorship to the school, This decision has been taken to tackle shortage of female teachers at private schools. Instead of issuing new teacher’s visas and source them from abroad Ministry decided to take advantage of locally available skilled female teachers. This will require a formal approval from the MoE (Ministry of Education) for each individual candidate.

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Expatriate Dependents can now work in Saudi Arabia at private organizations or International Schools without transferring their sponsorship to their employers, Saudi Gazette newspaper has reported. This decision by Ministry of Labor will allow local community schools or private schools to hire wives or daughters of expatriate workers who are already living in Saudi Arabia but unable to work due to their iqama status, which previously not allow them to work.

This will reduce amount of foreign manpower required for local education system and help utilize existing manpower which is available here in the form of expatriate dependents.
Expatriate dependents which are previously living in Saudi Arabia but unable to take part in development of country can now easily join hands with locals and can utilize their education and talent to bring prosperity in education sector of Saudi Arabia.

I am emphasizing more on education because this sector lacks qualified staff and private schools are already taking benefit of expatriate dependents but in an illegal way (because govt does not allow dependents to work). However current move on MOL will bring a good change in local education system and it will make more and more qualified people available for hiring in schools and other organizations.

Dependents have to register with Ministry’s Ajeer Service which will be monitored by MoE (Ministry of Education)

Schools in Saudi Arabia were always having problems in recruitment of female teachers because their guardians aren’t ready for transferring their sponsorship to schools. Now under monitoring of MoE female teachers can easily work in schools without need to transfer sponsorship (iqama) to school and schools will be responsible for their medical insurance.

As per Saudi Labor Law, daily working hours cannot exceed 8 hours so the same will be effective for female teachers. Additionally female teachers are entitled to 21 days paid annual leave.

There are further benefits for pregnant working females. They can have a maximum of 10 weeks maternity leave. They have a right to get 1 hour break for breast-feeding their children. Furthermore employer cannot fire a female during maternity leave and the employer will be responsible for all medical expenses for the pregnant female teachers. These are some great benefits female teachers will get, Thanks to Saudi Arabian Govt.

If you are not familiar with how to get your family in Saudi Arabia, read this post.

GETTING FAMILY VISA IN SAUDI ARABIA

Check Traffic Violation Fine regularly in Saudi Arabia should be your first priority these days as major Saudi Arabian cities are now covered with security cameras all around. Each Person who got a Saudi Driving license and drives a vehicle in Saudi Arabia should know How to check Traffic Violation fine. Saudi Arabian govt has setup a system called Saher which helps increase road safety. This system is working under Ministry of Interior Saudi Arabia. Saher system has setup Traffic Cameras on various busy and non-busy roads. These Saher cameras read violater’s number plate and automatically add fine to his account.

In Saudi Arabia traffic fines range from 150 SR (minimum) to 1000 SR (maximum). Traffic violation in Saudi Arabia is greatly controlled by Saher cameras however fast drives don’t like it because they get traffic fines. Ministry of Interior (MOI) website allows everybody to check traffic violation fine online. You are just required to provide your iqama number at MOI website and you can see status of your account. Sometimes you don’t see a camera flash due to some reason and the traffic fine is already added in your ignorance so it would be a good idea to keep track of your fines online & regularly checking for traffic violation fines via MOI Website.

Check Traffic Violation Fine Online via MOI Website

1. Visit MOI (Ministry of Interior) Website

http://www.moi.gov.sa

2. Go down on the page a little and you will see MOI Services Section in the page, Click on the link as pointed with an arrow in picture below. Upon click, a new page will be opened, check next snapshot.

3.In the final screenshot below, type your iqama number (for expats) and national ID number (for Saudi Nationals). In the next text box, type the given image code. It is called captcha  and it is used to block spam or script attacks. Once you enter required details correctly then click on View button. A green line of text will appear in the bottom and will tell you the amount of your traffic violation fines. Say Alhamdulillah if you find it 0 (Zero)

So that’s all. I hope you will find this information useful. Feel free to subscribe to my blog.

Read more about Similar topics

How to Get a Driving License in Saudi Arabia – Step by Step Guide

How to Renew Car Registration in Saudi Arabia

 

Freshi Ice Sticks is a Jeddah based Ice Cream / Ice Sticks manufacturer and retailer who sells fruit based Italian ice cream called gelato. Freshi is rapidly moving across Jeddah as it has 13 retail branches in some of Jeddah’s most visited shopping malls in short period of time. Their products are liked by all age groups, children, youth and senior citizens because they use fruit based ice cream which is categorized best ice cream available these days. One of another great feature of their ice cream is less use of butter-fat and sugar, Freshi claims they are using 50% less sugar than other ice cream brands available in local market.

Freshi Ice Sticks also featured on Jeddah’s online food directories including Sufrati.com, Jeddahfood.com, hellofood.com etc

Why I am telling you about Freshi Ice Sticks might be something very exciting for all of you specially Jeddah Photographers and that is a Photography Contest Freshi Ice Sticks has started recently. This contest aims more and more people visiting Freshi Ice Sticks branches and become aware of their product as well as take photos and become eligible to win an iPad Air. Freshi Ice Sticks requires photographers to take photos of children or adults holding their products e.g Ice Stick.

There are other prizes as well, top 10 photographs will win prizes,50 Ice Sticks treat for 2nd position holder and 25 Ice Sticks treat for 3rd best photo, while 4th to 10th positions will get 10 Ice Sticks each.

So what are you waiting for!

It is time for you to show your photography skills and take a best shot of Freshi Ice Sticks with a person, then submit your photo to Freshi Ice Sticks fan page on the facebook.

Below are some Terms and Conditions or procedure of participating in this photography contest.

Terms and Conditions of Photography Contest

1. Visit any Freshi Ice Sticks branch
2. Buy your favorite Ice Stick
3. Show your Photography skills and Take best shot
   1. Preffered – Picture of kids or adults holding Freshi’s Ice Stick
   2. Picture of Ice Sticks
   3. Picture of Display Freezer
   4. Picture of our shop
4. Send your picture to Freshi facebook page until 30th June 2014
5. A panel of judges will choose top 10 Photos
6. We will officially announce winners on 5 July 2014
7. Decision of Freshi Ice Sticks will be final

The following information has been provided by MOH Saudi Arabia about Corona Virus, its symptoms, Prevention, Treatments and vaccination information.

WHAT IS CORONA VIRUS?

It is a large group of viruses, which can affect both human and animals with cold related diseases.
Its intensity ranges from common cold to acute respiratory syndrome (Pneumonia).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Initial Symptoms

1. Coughing.
2. Fever (low to high grade).
3. Sneezing.
4. Sore throat (unable to swallow)

Severe:

5. Pneumonia.
6. Shortness of Breath.
7. Vomiting.
8. Diarrhea.

Advance Case:

1. Severe Pneumonia.
2. Renal (kidney) Failure.

HOW CORONA IS TRANSMITTED

1. Direct Contact with infected patient.
2. Droplets inhaled from patient’s cough and sneezing.
3. Contact with patient’s tool and then touching your nose mouth and eyes.

TREATMENT

1. No specific treatment as strain is unknown.
2. Supportive Treatment for fever cough, fever and other compliants.
3. NO VACCINE is available.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES for CORONA VIRUS

1. GOOD HAND HYGIENE BY CONSTANT WASHING.
2. AVOID DIRECT CONTACT OF NOSE AND EYES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
3. WEAR MASKS.
4. AVOID INFECTED PERSONS TOOLS AND BELONGINGS.
5. COVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH WHILE SNEEZING AND COUGHING WITH TISSUE.
6. PROPERLY DISPOSE OFF USED TISSUES IN TRASHCANS.
7. GENERAL GOOD HYGIENE HABITS.
8. WASH FRUITS, VEGETABLES WELL BEFORE CONSUMING.
9. KEEP HEALTHY LIFE STYLE AND DO REGULAR EXERCISE.
10. ABOVE ALL PRAY 5 TIMES A DAY.

Allah protect all of us from such incidents and diseases.

any inquiries contact 8002494444.

According to a report at Arab-news yesterday, the coronavirus which caused few dozens of deaths in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is actually originated from camel. However it could be originated from sources other than camels, said an expert.

A total of 72 people died by this deadly virus in last few weeks throughout the kingdom. There are more than 200 people infected as well who are under treatment in various hospitals and medical centers.

Dr. Tariq Ahmed Madani of the King Abdulaziz University Hospital Saudi Arabia, said a research paper on the discovery of the virus would be published in a specialized scientific magazine soon.

Middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) transmits by camels or direct contact with an influenced patient via sneezing or coughing, or touching something that an infected person has touched. This make it one of the worst virus ever discovered in the Kingdom.

For more info visit Arabnews website.

Driving License in Saudi Arabia comes in multiple duration, (2 years, 5 years, 10 years). All of them having different license fee which is explained below. If you don’t have a saudi driving license and you are looking for one, Read this Step by Step Guide How to Make Driving License in Saudi Arabia. Also if your Car Registration is expired you may read it here How to Renew Car Registration in Saudi Arabia.

How to renew your driving license in Saudi Arabia

1. Pay Driving License Fee

Depending on the type of your driving license, Pay the fee using a Bank account of your own or any of your friends. Normally the driving license fee is 40 SR per year for a private license of small car. So in-case you want to renew it following is the fee structure.

1. 2 Years = 80 Saudi Riyals
2. 5 Years = 200 Saudi Riyals
3. 10 Years = 400 Saudi Riyals

I suggest you to do the payment by yourself or if you want any agents to do it for you, they might charge up-to 50 SR for nothing. Driving license fee can be paid from any bank account either SABB, NCB, Riyadh Bank or Al-Rajhi. Keep the payment receipt with your file as well.

 2. Fill up Re-newel Form

Download this form Issue / Renew Driving License Form and fill it in Arabic. Attach 2 personal photographs (4in x 6in) with white background and attach them with the form.

3. Complete the file

Complete your file by adding following.

1. Receipt of bank payment.
2. Copy of your Iqama
3. Your original Driving License (expired)

4. Submit your file at Moroor

Confirm nearest Moroor office (from your friend or colleague or any local resident) and submit your file to get renewed license. They might ask you for an eye test and will guide you to the place where you can complete this test. Once you get a report of your eye test, visit them back and they will print your license within 5-10 minutes.

Here is a list of green companies in Saudi Arabia. This list is complied by Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah at their website. Below is the attached PDF file. This list might be quite useful for Job seekers to try their luck for a better job in Saudi Arabia. As per Saudi Govt laws only green colored companies are suitable for expatriates to do jobs. In case an expat worker who is working in Red Category or Yellow Category company he might transfer his sponsorship into a Green Category company.

List-green-companies