Riyadh With A Thai.

[Desertexile]

Hello Folks

Has anyone worked or currently working in Riyadh with your Thai Mrs?

Cheers

[Spee]

Not sure if you already have experience there and are now thinking of bring your wife over, or if you have never been there. So here goes and apologies if any of this is old news.

I have worked there solo, but not with a spouse. It can be a lonely existence whether single or together.

I assume that you do mean wife, with documentation, and not girlfriend. Unmarried couples cannot cohabitate, by law.

I did find a couple of Thai restaurants near each other on the west side on the way out toward the embassy compounds. In all fairness, it's not anything like a social situation like your average Thai restaurant. Couples and families have to sit in separate rooms from single males. And they do stay open during prayer time, although they close the window blinds and lock the doors so you can't leave until prayer time is over.

On the plus side, lifestyles for women have changes drastically in recent years, as the religious police (muqtawa) have lost their influence. In general, women are allowed to dress and behave as permitted by their husbands, within the bounds of local decency customs of course. Women are still not allowed to drive, so you would have to drive her or accompany her in a company car with a driver.

I found myself lonely and looking for company a lot, although it is easy to socialize if staying within a western compound. If you and your wife are used to being together all the time and relying on each other for company, then I think you would do okay. If you are used to being separate during the day and pretty much doing your own things, she might get lonely.

On the plus side, once you have your iqama (Saudi residency permit) you are free to go to neighboring Gulf countries like Bahrain or UAE for holiday. The Gulf countries recognize the Saudi iqama for entry visa.

I would have to advise caution about going to work there with no guarantee of an iqama. I went there on a temporary visa and the company was supposed to sponsor me for the iqama, which can take several months to process. Until you get the iqama, you ability to leave from and return to the country may be restricted, depending on your entry visa.

Hope this helps.

[PattayaParent]

I have had friends working in Saudi with their Thai wives.

It is possible.

Edit: Locations were Riyadh, Yanbu, Jeddah.

[meom]

On the plus side, once you have your iqama (Saudi residency permit) you are free to go to neighboring Gulf countries like Bahrain or UAE for holiday. The Gulf countries recognize the Saudi iqama for entry visa.

This is not entirely correct. First of you need anyway your passport with a valid exit-reentry or multivisa for which you are dependent upon your employer. Then if you wish to enter neighboring countries without visa it depend the profession mentioned in your ikama, although if you're western you can enter most Gulf countries without visa based on your nationality and whatever profession is written in your ikama doesn't matter.

[Desertexile]

Thanks Folks

My Mrs and I have been in the sand for 7 years but nowhere quite as restrictive as Riyadh.

The Mrs is used to it but given the restrictions of Riyadh , getting on the right compound is key.

I just wondered if there were many Western/Thai couple there? I toyed with the idea of doing a rotation and the Mrs staying in Thailand but that's no way to live. As long as she can find some mates, then cool.

Cheers.

[meom]

Riyadh is a lot more restrictive than Khobar or Dhahran so how about a transfer to the eastern province?

[Desertexile]

Not a chance. The core business is in Riyadh! That said, if I was in Khobar, I'd live over the bridge. In fact, what the <deleted> am I thinking.....living in Riyadh. Oh <deleted>. Money is such a pain in the arse.

[PattayaParent]

Because of some excessive behaviour by the local muttawah in the foreign embassy quarters a few years back most of the more zealous ones were moved to Yanbu and Riyadh became a bit more relaxed.

Maybe that's changed over the years with the new King?

You could try the Riyadh Hash House Harriers where you'll meet people. There was also the Rugby Club but that was more a bachelors hang out. Assuming these places still exist?

Or try the Thai Embassy. On Wednesday (5 May) it's the King's Coronation Day so they may be having a private gathering at the Embassy where you can meet people.

[Desertexile]

Because of some excessive behaviour by the local muttawah in the foreign embassy quarters a few years back most of the more zealous ones were moved to Yanbu and Riyadh became a bit more relaxed.

Maybe that's changed over the years with the new King?

You could try the Riyadh Hash House Harriers where you'll meet people. There was also the Rugby Club but that was more a bachelors hang out. Assuming these places still exist?

Or try the Thai Embassy. On Wednesday (5 May) it's the King's Coronation Day so they may be having a private gathering at the Embassy where you can meet people.

Thanks for that.

[Spee]

Thanks for correcting me, Meom.

Because of some excessive behaviour by the local muttawah in the foreign embassy quarters a few years back most of the more zealous ones were moved to Yanbu and Riyadh became a bit more relaxed.

I was told several of the more zealous ones are now living in a hole in the desert, which in turn made the rest of them mellow out a bit.

I was also told that muqtawa have to be accommpanies by regular police.

As far as the King and his policies go, he more or less had to bend the hard rules quite a bit because of the massive growth in western countries. But make no mistake about it, Saudi is the home to M&M and they will always be the least tolerant Gulf nation because they have to keep up appearances for the rest of the Muslim world.

Personally, I didn't mind living in Riyadh. Yes I was treated like an infidel by many ... but certainly not all. Yes you have to go through each day minding your P's and Q's. The daily prayer rituals tended to disrupt the work day, but you have to respect people that are dedicated to worship likt that. Life in the western compound was nice, and got better once I got to know a lot of my neighbors. Prices in the food stores tended to be very reasonable and supplies were good and abundant.

I'd go back but I don't know if I would want to have my partner there. Might be a little different for neighboring countries, but women and girls are still third class citizens behind adult men and male children.

[hawthorne]

A new friend of ours who is Thai and she lives in Ryadh and she has her own website which tells about her trials and tribulations of living there. Granted she has only lived there a few months with her american husband. I will have to wait until tomorrow as I do not know the address will try and remember to post tomorrow.

I am american with a thai wife and we live on the eastern province. I have been here off and on since 1977. If you want IM me and I can hook my wife up with yours through email if you would like. The Thai women in country stick together like most other nationalities do. We moved from Abu Dhabi and my wife prefers it here if that helps. It is what you make of it like anywhere else. The thai women need to hve the ingredients for thier cooking. We have Carfour grocery stores and some specialty thai shops wil get you most of the things your wife needs for a happy home life. If you are lucky enough to have Lulu then she will be very happy. Not sure if they are in Ryadh yet though.

good luck

[thaibeachlovers]

Not sure if you already have experience there and are now thinking of bring your wife over, or if you have never been there. So here goes and apologies if any of this is old news.

I have worked there solo, but not with a spouse. It can be a lonely existence whether single or together.

I assume that you do mean wife, with documentation, and not girlfriend. Unmarried couples cannot cohabitate, by law.

I did find a couple of Thai restaurants near each other on the west side on the way out toward the embassy compounds. In all fairness, it's not anything like a social situation like your average Thai restaurant. Couples and families have to sit in separate rooms from single males. And they do stay open during prayer time, although they close the window blinds and lock the doors so you can't leave until prayer time is over.

On the plus side, lifestyles for women have changes drastically in recent years, as the religious police (muqtawa) have lost their influence. In general, women are allowed to dress and behave as permitted by their husbands, within the bounds of local decency customs of course. Women are still not allowed to drive, so you would have to drive her or accompany her in a company car with a driver.

I found myself lonely and looking for company a lot, although it is easy to socialize if staying within a western compound. If you and your wife are used to being together all the time and relying on each other for company, then I think you would do okay. If you are used to being separate during the day and pretty much doing your own things, she might get lonely.

On the plus side, once you have your iqama (Saudi residency permit) you are free to go to neighboring Gulf countries like Bahrain or UAE for holiday. The Gulf countries recognize the Saudi iqama for entry visa.

I would have to advise caution about going to work there with no guarantee of an iqama. I went there on a temporary visa and the company was supposed to sponsor me for the iqama, which can take several months to process. Until you get the iqama, you ability to leave from and return to the country may be restricted, depending on your entry visa.

Hope this helps.

Interesting to hear that the mutawa have lost influence. Those *&&^%%^^& were hated even by moderate Saudis and were out of control when I was there in the early 90's. Apparently the King allowed them open rein after the Gulf war, as they were not allowed to harrass female soldiers during.

If I were to say what I really think about them, I'd probably get banned!