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Hi Pricilla,

To give you a honest response. Keep an open mind. Saudi i a rather interesting place, a place to meet not only foreigners but rather engaging with the locals. They really lovely people that's if you show respect and decency to their culture believes and values, just like any other people.

It's really simple, respect their culture, be fluid cause everything change in like 5 minutes. If you can do this you're be a happy camper in this gem.

Peace

Actually, women can be in the safest place to be in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Some people thought that to be a woman in this country is treated as a second class citizen, but that is absolutely incorrect since women here are treated very special.  Women workers are escorted or they will go out in the market by the group being given the service vehicle of course with a driver.  Their (women workers) shopping is scheduled accordingly it means safety.

If one of the expatriate women workers do have relatives family status wise, then she (the worker) will be able to request permission from the company, hospital or even the family (for the shagala) that she's working to be with the family status relatives in that regard, if there is any function in the esteraha, then she could enjoy the occasion.

Having some current changes in the Kingdom, probably an expat woman worker in KSA can perhaps drive already and that is an additional freedom for women workers.

Expat women who are working in KSA can enjoy their stay in this country depending on her interest or hobbies are and if she will utilize these hobbies staying in KSA can be very interesting and joyful.

In the meantime, since if we speak of women expats working in KSA, specifically to single out the Filipino women, in general Filipinos who will leave to work abroad, we are all given a seminar called Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) where in we were given reviews and oriented about the hosting country; its culture, tradition and religion.  The Do's and the Don'ts are emphasized in that seminar, not to mention that we all undergone Psychological Test - which are designed to be "an objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior". The term sample of behavior refers to an individual's performance on tasks that have usually been prescribed beforehand.  The test can also determine if the individual or a worker is suitable or qualified to work abroad since leaving the family is crucial and is very difficult to handle as soon as the worker reached a strange land, strange means here is a country quite new to the contract worker.

Yet though people do undergone seminars or orientations, still some negative or predicaments happen which is beyond our control.

Women having strong determination, goals, spirit and moral values are the ones who surpass the trials or homesickness from the hosting country where she works.

Women who works abroad particularly in KSA must give priority in saving more money because that is what any contract worker must do; at the end of the day (or as per contract is completed) she or they can bring home the bacon so to speak meaning she's a winner.

To give my neutral perspective, there are good elements as well as some not so good elements to being a woman in Saudi Arabia.

The good elements have been mentioned by the previous poster i.e. general respect and deference while going about their lives.  However,  I disagree with the insinuation that this is a perfect situation for them.  All that respect does not negate the fact that they do not have the same freedom as men to conduct their lives the way they want to.  I can give many examples using the "wali" concept and even little things like being able to try on clothes before you buy them but I don't want to make the discussion unnecessarily heated.

Being allowed to drive is a good step but it is only the first one.  There is still a way to go.

You can save money for the future you can also find assestant everywhere more than any other culture you can get married easy if you want you can find apartments these days by less than 300 dollars a month you can also find people like group cultures but if you have children don't take them to private school because schooling in Saudi like cost of medical school in Japan

Also if you are in a city like jeddah there are many activities you can make it for women or public one of them is the WWE

First if you have a chance in another country, then do not come to here.
   Positive aspects is that  no difference in treating expat male or expat female, as both will suffer the same.
   You can be lucky to have a good social network around you, but they will let you feel daily how miserable life they are living.
Do not worry about resources (books, ...) , you will loose interest in all of that within a year and care about just having a sleep.
Wish you a nice trip and stylish living style, and you are more than welcome to KSA, you can call me for any assistance.

Can get married easily? What do you mean by that?

Hi- I left three years ago, then returned for three months and left again now.
Very interesting country and I loved it , but teaching was tough.

Hi everybody,
Although I'm not a woman but easily I can give an overview of an expat woman.
As a general statement living alone is very bad feeling, so if you are living alone there's minimum limit of sadness you need to deal with regardless of the place where you live.
As a single woman I don't recommend to be living outside a compound as it will not be safe for her not to mention how lonely she will feel.

I'd strongly recommend to live in a compound where the security in very high standard and to gather with others easily, also recreation and other services like supermarket and beuity center are easily accessible, and transportation services from the compound to main shopping centers generally provided in most of the compounds.

In Saudi I have met some few ladies who are living as singles outside compounds, but most of them are living in groups and working in the same place, most probably their transportation is company provided.

There are some topics in this regard just google it and I hope you will find too many articles talking about this subject.

Good luck

If you visit albaha city world wide premium honey you can find it there

Hi

Saudi is very safe for a woman
As you can go anywhere and there is no restrictions for that
Just call if any thing is required
***

I am trying to get a job even service crew in saudi Arabia. May I know how is the service crew job in KSA

Hi Fatima
Are you still looking for a job?
May you drop me a message to check whether you can work with us.
Thanks
Osama

Hello Fatima, @Osama, If you are looking for a job or offering a job, please post an ad in the appropriate section here : jobs in Saudi Arabia.

Please note that the initial topic here is about "Life as a female expat in Saudi Arabia.

Thank you,
Christine