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First, of all, it is a good salary and you will save.  However, your saving estimate might be a bit high but still.

1) No.  Salaries are in paid in SAR only and in Saudi bank accounts.  There is WPS (Wage protection system) so the organizations have to comply with it.   In the past, there were exceptions but now, with all the regulation, less likelihood

2)

a) This is standard.  Nowadays, most people get a 1 year renewable contract. This is through the electronic system i.e. QIWA where it is renewed every year based on mutual consent.  I have been in Saudi since 2017 full time, at more than your salary, in top management and I have never had more than a 2 years contract.  Only 1 year since QIWA came out

b) No need for lawyer.  The electronic contract in QIWA is standard and as per Saudi labor law.  You cannot change it.  Also you need to understand, if they want you gone, you are gone.  This is not Europe where dismissals take forever and you get big payouts.  At most, after fighting in labor court, you will get the balance amount of the 1 year contract - no punitive damages.  In most cases, they don't fire and just don't renew your contract - so you get end of service and ticket back home.  That's it.  This is in line with labor law

c)  No employer will accept this.  This is not standard

d) Depends on your employer's policies.  In most cases, the allowances are calculated on the basis of "basic salary" i.e. percentage.  So if your salary goes up, allowances also increase

e) 30 calendar days is pretty standard.  Translates to 22 working days

f) You can't ensure anything.  Policies will be provided as per your employer's plan.  Senior people get VIP or VVIP plans which are quite good

g) Correct

h) The range varies but again speak to your employer.  As most will give you a lump sum for relocation which could be up to a maximum of 1-2 months salary

3) Compounds places are challenging.  No solution except to keep looking or be on wait lists

4) You can always ask.  But outside of multinationals, the answers you get will be lacking in many aspects

From your questions, it is clear that you don't fully know the cultural nuances and the way things go here.  I suggest to do some research on that.  This is a society that is based on respect, personal touch, ego massage etc etc...........it is not a straight forward professional work environment that would exist in the western world.  I have been in the region for more than a decade between Saudi, Bahrain and the UAE..........and I have seen a lot of people from the west struggle and / or fail when they land here..........just because they don't get the culture.  I am referring to Saudi as locals are in the majority here..........UAE is easier as expats are the overwhelming majority and cultural aspects are less of an issue.

@XTang

thanks for the very detailed and clear feedback, it is highly appreciated.

Indeed i wanted to clarify for myself all the questions that i had, now i know more or less the do's and don't and understand that i should focus on the overall package rather than the nitigrity of details.

Regardibg the number of holidays i meant to say 30 working days, but i suspect that this is not a blocking point compared to the others.

You also mention that i may have underestimated the costs? any particular thing?

Thanks again!

Many things depending on lifestyle.

*For example, if you eat out regularly and like good restaurants.  You might spend more. 

*Groceries for a family of 3 plus maid plus driver can be a lot more than 2500 as a lot of stuff is imported (Especially fresh produce).  For example, in Bahrain, for a similar family size (cheaper location) and not penny pinching, I spend around 10k SAR a month.

*Good quality clothes would be more expensive than Europe.

*If you sponsor maid and driver on your visa (the legal way), the costs will be pretty high.

*Schooling can be higher depending on number of kids and ages.  I have two kids who are older so obviously higher school fees and lots of fees for extra curricular activities.  Around 12K or so a month.

I maintain two residences, one for family in Bahrain and a compound apartment for me in Saudi.  Also we take at least two vacations a year.......business class etc.......and I save around 50K a month on average.  I am higher than you in salary but let's say that roughly, accounting for my higher spending (two residences but Bahrain being cheaper) habits, you should reaslitically be targeting around the same in savings.

Hi both,

My family moved out here in early March, my spouse is in the ballpark of a similar salary to that quoted by Wakka007.

Driving here seems dangerous and the local drivers seem impulsive - where has your experience/research suggested a driver could be hired? We would have space for the driver to stay as we have decided to move to a compound villa due to work-provided apartment (even though it is nice) feeling a bit hotel-like.

On the same lines, where could a live-in maid be hired, preferably filipino? Our interactions with filipino people have been fantastic.

@XTang

Hi,

I'm considering a job offer at KSA for a director-level position in IT with 70K SAR/month. My wife and children will remain in Europe, while I plan to live alone in Bahrain.

Looking at the posts above, I'm unsure if this salary is sufficient. Given the typical expenditure in KSA and Bahrain, how much would I expect to save?

Look it all depends on your lifestyle as I pointed out in my post.  And I suggest to read the posts carefully as most expenses listed there will not apply to you as a single guy in KSA e.g. you can't hire a maid as a single guy, no schooling etc etc.

@XTang

Hi,

My family moved out here, from UK, in early March, similar salary to that quoted by Wakka007.

Driving here seems dangerous and the local drivers seem impulsive - where has your experience/research suggested a driver could be hired? We would have space for the driver to stay as we have decided to move to a compound villa due to work-provided apartment (even though it is nice) feeling a bit hotel-like.

On the same lines, where could a live-in maid be hired, preferably filipino? Our interactions with filipino people have been fantastic.

Your posts have been very helpful and I would appreciate any advice.

You can hire both a driver and live-in maid.  However, the search for a reliable person may take time.  You can either go via the agencies route and bring a maid into the country through them - costly or look locally for someone whose employer is willing to transfer them.   There are expatriate groups with ads on them e.g. expatriates.com.

@XTang

I have discovered the app Raha, which promises Indonesian housemaid on 24 month contract without iqamah. That seems long especially since job contracts are a year. Prices are ok but with a 16000 +Riyal downpayment

I have also seen Baytoo-nanny - a website with housemaid profiles. Is this what you meant by agencies? What would be the typical fees involved?

Also, whichever route we take (whether agency or transfer) are there any potential pitfalls or problems we should watch out for?

TIA for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Kind Regards

Xinho

You are sourcing a house cleaning service (the first app) and not a live in maid.  Even if they give you one and she is not on your Iqama, be aware that is is illegal.

Pitfall is the cost and shady agencies that tell you not to put the housemaid on your Iqama.