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Is it hard to be a foreign woman in Saudia Arabia?

Posted in Saudi Arabia forum

My fiancé get a job offer in Riyadh so we will move to Saudia Arabia next year. How is it to be a woman there? I am affraid that I won't have as much liberty than in Switzerland there. I feel lost when I think that I will move there, maybe because I do not know anything from the middle east and nobody from there... Help me please! I will be really happy to receive advices, testimonials, contacts, etc!

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  • Ahmed Abu-najae

    posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    you can take off the abaya in the car or in the compound or in the closed place like resturant and coffe shop,but not in the market or in the street because all the people in the street will look to you and will talk about you and the guy will intrude u.

    about what kind of jobs you can do its depend on ur skills and ur education.

    and u r welcome :)

  • posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    So actually I won't have a lot of liberty... What happen if I don't wear the abaya? Can it be dangerous? And like if I am walking alone in the street can I have trouble with the autorities & the people? I mean for a woman there it is really a life? I mean I am quite independant and I can began "invisible" like that...
    What kind of jobs can a woman do there?
    Any feedback from woman living there? How do your friends & wifes feel there? Isn't it difficult?
    Thanks you guys for your help!

  • Ahmed Abu-najae

    posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    1-u must be married.

    2-u dont need to cover ur head,but u need to cover ur body with black wear its name =abaya=,its very beautiful wear and u will like it.

    3-u are in the same plant,u are not leaving to other plant u will find good people from all around the world,there is people from europ they have lived here for more than 20 years.

    4-bring ur a/c with u,the weather is very very very hot here in the summer but in the winter Riyadh is cold.

    Hopefully u enjoy in saudi arabia,good luck.

  • Dj a

    posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    hi
    Believe me, you willl be happy in saudia arabia Especially in jeddah City where is the sea and alot of things?

    you can Contact me on my e-mail if you want to now about any City in saudia arabia.
    [...]

  • Go to Abdur Rehman Andani's profile

    posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    I am from Pakistan and working here in Saudia since 2 years. I can understanding your situation very well and have idea about cultural differences. But I would encourage you that life for women here is very peaceful and with a lot of rest at home, like a queen but of course no liberty to move in social places without wearing Hijab (abaya) burqa. The Jeddah city where I am living is more liberal than Riyadh and there are so many western people are also living here and even in Riyadh as well. Please feel free to ask anyting you wish to. Best of luck.

  • J. Yousuf

    posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    Hey Monnet,,hope you doing good...take the trip to saudi arabia as an adventure to explore this cotroversial country..i advice you to advice your freind to stay on a western compound where Riyadh is rich of western compound..in the compound you will find women from your same culuture which will make the stay for you very comfortable..secondly and the most important you have to apply for a job when you move to arabia otherwise the time shall be very boring for you,,cause most women here spent thier time on sleeeeeeep...other thing in most district pf Riyadh you can move alone very free but for limit time ..there is gyminism club for ladies in diplomatic quarter and other places..Good luck

  • posted by  in Saudi Arabia forum 

    Thanks for your answer Ace!
    Well he get a job offer in an international company. We don't know yet in which district we will live as we don't really know the country. Any suggestion? :)
    As it will be my first time in a muslim country I don't know how it works. Will I be allowed to walk in the city without covering my head? And how is it perceived a western woman which is walking alone in the city, which is quite independant etc?
    And any woman around there who wants to share their experiences? :)

  • hi there

    posted by Deleted user in Saudi Arabia forum 

    HI there Monnet it dpends where did your husband get and offer and what are the offering you like where are you going to stay , and about the women here first you can have your own personal drier if you can afford it.. secondly shopping is what ive seen women do here aloottt and moreover it takes time to adjust in a new place and what kind of compnay you are gona have and freinds you make that makes alot of difference... and how is it to be a women there well if sum women answers dat much better or i cud ask some women here and give u a feedback, hope that helps..:)
    Regards
    Ace

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