Of tough times

Recession seems to drive people to desparation. Not one country in the world can claim to have escaped the current downturn. Saudi Arabia is no exception, though the degree of recession is not as bad as some neighboring countries.

I have been frequently getting requests from people asking whether I could arrange a job for them in Saudi Arabia. No, these requests are not from the not-so-educated, but from professionals who would otherwise have normally picked and chosen their jobs. Apart from the fact that I am not an employment agent, this just left me wondering the extent to which people would go to somehow get "some job" in Saudi Arabia. People tend to think that this is a land of milk and honey. Far from it.

Expatriates planning to work in Saudi Arabia must remember something. Unless the economy is booming, there wouldn't be enough jobs and even if there are, they wouldn't be paying as much as one would normally expect. Afterall, if your employer doesn't make money, how do you expect him to pay you? True, there is no income tax in this country, so what?. There is a misconception that just because there is no tax, life is really easy here. Nothing can be farther from truth.

When I first arrived in the kingdom more than a decade ago, it still wasn't that bad. People used to keep their cars unlocked with the engines running and go into shops to get a can of Pepsi. No one was bothered about the safety of the cars or about the valuables kept inside them. Burglary was extremely rare and one could hardly see any beggars at traffic lights. Malls used to be packed with people. Ramadan was a time when people regularly changed their furniture, even though they were almost new. Expats used to hunt second hand markets only to get their hands on these near-new pieces! Companies were generous in their pay and bonus and truly, this was indeed paradise.

Times are tough and how they change people within a span of 10 years! Employment has become scarce, and a growing local population yearning for more , wouldn't settle for anything less than the best. Plum managerial jobs occupied by expats have all vanished. Labor offices have their hands full with complaints by expats of unpaid / delayed salaries. Saudization, or replacing expats with Saudis, is the in-thing here. Sporadic attacks on expats are definitely there, and though they are not common, the very fact that they do occur once in a while definitely unnerves the expat community. So where do we go from here?

I do not want to paint a pessimistic picture though. All said and done, Saudi Arabia is still the best place where one can save money in the Middle East, for the simple reason that there aren't just many outlets where you can spend as compared to, say the UAE. Huge cities are being planned. New Universities are coming up. Grand plans have been drawn to give a boost to the economy. It would take a while before these bear fruit, but until then one must have perseverance. If you have the right skills, the opportunities are still there, but the days are long gone when people without qualifications and experience could simply walk in and get "some job". If you have the right skills and experience, you have a chance otherwise you are out. It's that simple.

Let's just hope that we quickly get out of this recession. After all, tough times do not last, tough people do!

Education in Saudi Arabia

I have been getting periodic requests from potential expatriates planning to work in Saudi Arabia about educational facilities in the kingdom, both in primnary / secondary levels and in under graduate levels.

I had briefly described in one of my earlier posts (click here) about schooling facilities in the kingdom. Schools in Saudi Arabia can be broadly classified into two categories. The first one serves only Saudi / Arab children while the other is meant for expatriate children, more popularly known as "international" schools.




International schools can once again be broadly classified into two - those which serve primarily the citizens of their respective countries and those which are 'truly' international, i.e., they do not mind admitting children of any nationality.

Before I go into the details, a word of caution for potential expatriates. If you are planning to bring your family into the kingdom, make sure that you sign a contract in which the educational expenses are covered by your employer. Education IS expensive in the kingdom and it would put a big hole in your pocket if you fail to take care of this important point.

First, a word about the country-wise "international" schools which cater primarily to the citizens of their respective countries. For example, we have schools run for Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, etc., and have typical names such as "International xxxx School". The curriculum followed in these schools is exactly what is followed back home in their respective countries. For those expats who do not want to lose continuity and who would like to ensure that their kids get a smooth re-admission once they return to their native countries, joining their kids in their respective country's school makes sense.

There are also other schools which are truly multi-national and multi-cultural. The students as well as the teachers come from almost every part of the world. Some of these schools charge exhorbitantly and it is very uncommon to find expats paying the fees themselves. The kids in these schools are invariably company-sponsored ones and the syllabi followed here conform to western standards. All schools come under the strict purview of the Ministry of Education of the Saudi Government and there is an "observer" to monitor the activities of each of these schools. Since last year, Arabic has been made as one of the compulsory subjects in all expat schools due to statutory restrictions, but passing in Arabic is just a formality and is not taken too seriously by the schools themselves.

It is quite common for expats to send their kids back home for higher studies once they complete Grade 10. There is no denial of the fact that as the kids keep growing up, the standard of education imparted is nowhere near what is taught back home. To give their kids a fair chance of writing competitive examinations, it makes more sense to send them back home when they cross Grade 10. Of course there are kids who continue upto Grade 12 but then this seems to be the limit. There are two reasons for this.

When the child completes 12 years of schooling, his or her age is typically 17 years. Once the child reaches, he is supposed to get a separate iqama. Any male above 18 years is considered as a potential employment-seeker and hence can no longer be under his father's iqama. Parents usually make the painful decision of sending their children back home to pursue their higher education when it comes to this stage.

Talking of higher education, the opportunities for children of expats are very limited and whatever is available is prohibitively expensive. Also, the various courses and options available back home are, sadly, missing here unlike neighbouring GCC countries like Bahrain or the UAE. Universities such as KAUST promise to provide the latest hi-tech education, particularly in Science, but being a relatively new University it would take a while before it gets fully established. Since there is no subsidy for expats, education here is also extremely expensive.

Most expats working in Saudi Arabia, who are forced to be away from their families just because they want their kids to have a better education back home, are in an unenviable position. The emotional and psychological problems faced by these expats can simply not be compensated. But the other pain is the financial one. Every year they have to pay for the air tickets of their families to the kingdom, just to ensure that their names are still in their iqamas. It is no wonder that after a certain stage, expats consider seriously shifting back home or to some other country where opportunity for higher education is available for their kids.

Let us just hope that things change for the better and Saudi Arabia too offers the same educational opportunities in higher education, as in the rest of GCC.

The law and reality of your contract

Expatriates working in Saudi Arabia are in an unenviable situation. All of us have fixed term contracts which we sign before taking up an assignment in the kingdom. We just assume that once the contract is extended, we have another term of stay in the kingdom.

I have mentioned in the past the importance of going through your contract terms and conditions very carefully before signing it. What protects you once you land here is only the contract and nothing else. Note that all the important things which matter to the expatriate, your job title, family visa, end of service benefits, virtually all of your benefits and obligations of your sponsor, are all based on your contract.

My attention was drawn to an interesting article in today's Arab News. This is a question by one of the readers to a lawyer about the status of his contract. The question relates to a "time bomb clause" in the contract by which the employer can terminate the contract at any point of time by giving a month's notice despite a contract to the contrary. The reply given by the lawyer is 100% correct and I have no reason to dispute it, given that the learned lawyer is a well-respected one in his profession. What I would like to focus in today's post is what is NOT mentioned in the reply.

For those of us expatriates who have continued to stay beyond the "initial" contract which was signed after entering the kingdom for the first time, you must be careful on what you sign while extending your contract. Clever employers use the word "extension of contract" rather than just "contract". Expatriates working in Saudi Arabia must be aware of their rights and obligations while extending their contract with the above words. What this means in simple language is explained below.

When you first arrive in the kingdom on a contract, this becomes the "mother" contract. Now let's say you signed a 2-year contract. At the end of the 2nd year, both you and your employer want to renew this for another 2 years, either on the same terms or on mutually agreed upon terms and conditions. In case the new contract says that it is an "extension of contract", your employer has every right to terminate you with just a simple one-month notice. All is not lost. You too have an equal right to terminate the contract with the same notice period. It doesn't matter if you have a 2-year contract extension. What this, in effect, means is that the employer is not obliged to give you your complete end of service benefits and other dues until the "end" of your contract, i.e., until the 2-year period in the renewed contract is completed. This is the difference between a "contract" and an "extension of contract".

For example, this is my 12th year of stay in the kingdom. After the "mother" contract of the first 2 years, the contract with my employer has always been an "extension of contract". My employer chose not to sign a fresh contract, but rather just "extend" the existing contract. Of course, it was by mutual consent. So, every two years I sign a contract extension for another 2 years. I am under no kind of illusion that I would stay in the kingdom for atleast 2 more years. Every day I come to work, I know that I have a notice period of 30 more days on either side, even though I have a 2-year contract. I am quite happy with this arrangement because I am not bound to work for the complete 2-year period in the extended contract and I can just quit if I get a better job by giving a month's notice, just as how my employer can also fire me by giving a month's notice. So, all is fair in love and war, as they say.

After all, the only thing certain in Saudi Arabia is uncertainty! Hope this post is an eye-opener for fellow expats.

Tips for expats during Ramadan

I would like to begin this post with my hearty Ramadan greetings to all fellow-expatriates. This post may be useful for newly-arrived expatriates working in Saudi Arabia and also for those who are planning to arrive soon.

Ramadan is a month in Islamic calendar in which Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk. This is considered a holy month by Muslims in which they are required to refrain from eating, smoking or drinking from sunrise to sunset. The dates of Ramadan keep moving by about 10 days each year. The elderly, sick, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people who are travelling are exempt from fasting.

For first-timers and new comers, particularly non-Muslims, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Never ever eat or drink in public or in front of your Muslim colleagues / friends. Not only is it severely punishable by law, it also goes without saying that it is morally binding on you not to do so. Most work places have designated separate areas for non-Muslims where you can eat or drink within closed doors and your Muslim colleagues would avoid such places. Make sure you spray some air freshener in the area once you have finished your food, to curb any smell which may emanate. Respect the sentiments of your fasting colleagues and you would get back the same from them.

One of the most dangerous time to drive is about 30 minutes prior to dusk. This is the time when some people drive like crazy and it is quite common to see cars jumping the red light. They somehow want to reach home to be in time to break their fast. Whenever possible, please avoid driving during this time for your own safety.

Expatriates requiring liaisoning work with Government agencies must be prepared for delays. For example, if your iqama gets processed in 30 days during normal times, there would be more delay during Ramadan. So, you should be well-prepared for such delays. I would also advise expatriates to book your flights well in advance, if you are going to travel home, particularly during the last one week of Ramadan. All flights would go packed with travellers going home for Eid holidays. Advance booking would ensure that you get your seats on the flight and also not put a hole in your pocket.

The normal working hours for Muslims is 6 hours and for non-Muslims is 8 hours during Ramadan. You would find that the entire city would come to life at night. Most of the shops open around 8.30 pm and stay open until the wee hours of morning.

The last 10 days of Ramadan is really a sight to see. All supermarkets would be jam packed, people would be shopping excitedly, packing their trolleys with all kinds of stuff as though there would be no food available the next day! But this is again, part of the fun. Road-side eateries would spring up and you shouldn't be surprised to see people offering you fruit juice packets at gasoleine stations just before the sun sets. This is also a great time to get some really cheap stuff in the second hand markets. Most Saudis dispose off almost brand-new items during this time, and you could strike a good bargain. This is particularly applicable for those who are just setting up their families and want to buy some good furniture.

Have a nice time and may this festive season usher in good times for all fellow-expatriates!

A word about the Contact Form

After my decision to introduce paid consultancy services for those who require personalized consultancy, a lot of readers have been requesting information on this. So I decided to write a separate post about it. My friend and renowned software / VA expert, Mrs. Deepa Govind, had helped me set up the form (click here to view it) in this blog. For those who are yet to get familiar with it, here are the steps.



When you click on the link given here, you would get a form which is self-explantory. For basic queries, I charge a nominal amount of $5. This is to segregate spam from genuine requests and also to put a value for the time and effort I put in.

Once you have filled in the form, you would get an automated message saying that your request has been received. The next step for you is to actually do the payment. You need to have a Paypal account for paying me. If you do not have a Paypal account, please visit http://www.paypal.com/ and click on 'Sign up' link. The instructions given there are clear. Paypal (http://www.paypal.com/) is a secure site and there is no need for you to reveal your card details to me - Paypal assures complete security and secrecy for both the parties - you and me. Registration with Paypal is easy and is free of cost. You just need a credit card or a debit card for payment.

You may also wish to pay in Paypal through your bank account by opting for an e-cheque facility, if you are uncomfortable using your credit card or debit card on the net, But the downside with an e-cheque is that it takes about 10 working days for the money to be realized by Paypal. Payment is instantaneous if it is made through a credit card or a debit card. Whatever be the mode of your payment, once Paypal realizes the amount, I would be informed immediately and within 1 working day, I would reply to your email.

There is also a provision to track your query. Once you have submitted your query, you can always track its status. Simply type your email id in the 'Track your Query' box given on the top right hand side of this blog and you would know the status of your query.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to all of those readers who have used this new service and have promptly paid me. However, some of the readers fill in the form and then forget about the payment! To overcome this problem, an automated reminder would now arrive in your Inbox if you fill in the form and then forget to make the payment. Of course, you have a choice not to be reminded and this option is given to you while filling in the form.



Finally, I continue to get requests from some readers asking for free consultancy. Regretfully, I cannot entertain such requests due to acute pressure of work and time. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to all the readers for your support.

Until next time,