Concerns about Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

With soaring temperatures and desert climate, the conditions in the Eastern Province are certainly much more harsh than those in Jeddah and Riyadh. As with the rest of the country, women's rights are restricted and you may find yourself experiencing quite a culture shock without the freedoms you have been used to back home. Movie theatres and alcohol are non-existent, and most entertainment and socialising is done within the confines of expat compounds. The Eastern Province is not for the fainthearted, but the lure of financial rewards for the short-term is often a drawcard. To read more about the Eastern Province, check out our Moving to Eastern Province page.

The Eastern Province is less strict than Riyadh & Jeddah and as a Western Expat you will live in a Western Compound and be able to dress as you do at home. I wrote the info on the Eastern Province for this site so if you have any questions send me an email. Connie

Looking to move to Dhahran with my family. My wife is.scared to death. We are looking into the risk of living in the Aramco compound. Any help in locating information would be helpful.

Unless you are hired by Aramco or a Joint Venture of Aramco you can't live in an Aramco community but do not be afraid. Will your company allow you to come for a familiarization visit prior to moving to Saudi? I have a relocating business that offers relocation services. Please email me at [email protected]

If you move to Saudi with a family then you will definitely need to live on a compound, which are expensive, so check whether your company provides the accommodation, or whether you just get a housing allowance. Compounds run at about SAR 80,000 to 120,000 depending on quality and size of apartment/villa. Also housing is in short supply so do not expect to turn up and immediately find somewhere. Some waiting lists run in excess of 6 months. Also you need to pay 1 years rent in advance. For the single guys, life can be a bit cheaper. Security outside of the compound is OK and I've been doing it for 3 years. 1 bedroom apartments suitable for western standards can be had for as little as SAR 4,000 per month (fully furnished and all inclusive). Below this you will only find sub-standard rooms.