that will be greart if i can have marry ann mail address, coz am just new in jeddah & like to meet with women expats who've been here for long time to share knowledge & info.
thanks
Ghada

Hi Mary Ann

My wife and I are considering moving to Jeddah and wanted some advice, please. It would be useful for us to know what the monthly rent would be for a decent (4 star standard) 3 bedroom apartment in or near the Al Andalus district - compound as well as non-compound. One of the companies that I am speaking to suggested a housing allowance of US$10,000 = SAR37,000 per year. Your thoughts please. Many thanks.

Best wishes

Ali

Hello Mary Ann;
Thanks for sharing your experience and insights.
I currently live in Weston Florida and my husband is considering relocating to Jeddah, the proposal is already in and if all goes well we should be there by August.
I have two kids, a 15 year old boy going to 10th grade and a 12 year old girl going to 8th grade...we also have a dog.
I would appreciate if you could answer my questions below:

1. What are the top notch American high and middle schools in Jeddah?

2. Are there any special requirements to take our dog there? How are dogs treated there? Are there Vets in the region?

3. My son is a very good swimmer, currently the Florida Gold Coast champion for his age bracket and he will need a pool to practice, have you heard anything about competitive swimming in Jeddah?

4. What are the top 3 " best " compounds in the area and how much would a 3 /4 bedroom villa go for?

Sorry for all the questions and your help and support is greatly appreciated.

Best Regards;
Bianca

Hi Marry Ann,

Can I take your very brief interview, preferably over phones, for my upcoming story on American Expats for the Saudi Gazette. My email: mnjawed@gmail.com (Mobile: 0542012681). Thanks.

@ Ali Butt
37,000 SR is too low at this time. even a normal 4 bedroom apartment cost around 25 - 30 K, which is only equal to no star. and unfurnished. Maybe just a new building.

@Bianca
Q:1. What are the top notch American high and middle schools in Jeddah?
There are many schools in Jeddah which are of very high caliber. American Intl. School, Jeddah Prep & Grammar, British Intl. School are the best.

Q:2. Are there any special requirements to take our dog there? How are dogs treated there? Are there Vets in the region?
Dog is permitted everywhere, except the public places like restaurants, hospitals and likewise.
There are several Vets around.

Q:3. My son is a very good swimmer, currently the Florida Gold Coast champion for his age bracket and he will need a pool to practice, have you heard anything about competitive swimming in Jeddah?
Jeddah has many many swimming clubs, competitions take place very often. Scuba diving is also there, and many people are taking part in it these days.

Q:4. What are the top 3 " best " compounds in the area and how much would a 3 /4 bedroom villa go for?
Arabian Homes
Sharbatly Village
Mura Bustan
Basateen
Nada Village
list goes on n on...

Feel free to ask anything about jeddah. Have been here as an expat for past 20 years.
simplysk@live.com

I feel that one of the best blogs can be found at: 'americanbedu.com' It is a well-written, intelligent post by a former American diplomat married to a Saudi. In her blog, she discusses many topics which answer a vast array of questions and misconceptions about the country, its people, the culture, and Islam--the religion. If you are thinking of moving to Saudi Arabia, or you just have a curious interest in it, please read her current and past posts. If you are thinking of marrying a Saudi, you should try to read all of her posts...especially the ones about being married to a Saudi and living in Saudi Arabia before taking the plunge. There are many Saudi traditions and customs that you should be aware of before having children with a Saudi man---especially in case of a divorce/death of your husband, or in the rare case that he decides to take another wife. If you are a Christian, like I was when I married my husband, you should learn everything you can about Islam. Chances are, you will eventually convert, and you will have a better understanding of your husband's culture which is run by the laws of Islam.

Hi - have you heard anything about living in Rabigh? We are considering a job there. Any news would be greatly appreciated.

What is life like for American females, My soul mate is now living in Saudi Arabia can you tell me what will it be like for me if we got married and desided to live there

Nice story, my name is S and I'm from Romania, married with a saudi and living in Jeddah..what can i say , i like reading stories about expat married with saudi :)
I don't live inside a compound but i heard it's better living inside one ...anyway jeddah is a nice city , i love it ...May God bless you all

hi,

My partner is thinking of taking a job in jeddah, which i find great as i feel like living in a different country and learning its culture.
If just read all of your comments, but i still have 2 questions open.
we are not married jet, i guess that would be a problem. Would we have to marry before moving to jeddah? and about the dress requirements i understand to go covered along the streets, but what about the beaches? and the pools? i remember having seen in barcelona last summer a woman wearing her hijab going swimming! would this also count for us?

thank you so much for all the other information given.

saludos stephanie

Hello,

My husband and I are considering a job offer in Jeddah and I wonder whether the housing allowance offered to us is adequate to live a decent life in Saudi. Where can I get names of compounds? do you suggest an apartment in the city rather than a compound? Where can I get an idea of living expenses(rentals) in Saudi, so that we can make an educated decision? I lived in Saudi in the 1980's in Al Mutlaq compound, is it still open? Thanks so much for your help, Cecilia

Hallo all,

Hope you are doing all fine. I just came accross to this very interesting website. I have an option by my amanager to go to Jeddah in March / April next year and would like to get some information about the organizational things, cost of living and what to you in your free time. Perhaps you all can give me some pieces of advice. I think that my girl-friend - we are not marrierd - can not come with me. Is this correct? :-(

Best wishes from Munich,
Stefan

Ho Steffi,

I just came accross to your comment. I am also thinking about to reloacte in Jeddah and have an equal problem: I am also not married. What about my girlfriend? Can we come with me? Best wishes, Stefan

HI Stefan,

My boyfriend has asked me to marry him to make life easier. His company though told him there is the possibility of visiting him without being married with a special visa, but i could only be over for a week or so.

best regards steffi

hi.
i live in jeddah with my husband and childern for 1 year,i am so bored and want to ask about activites that i can do there,,,,,?????/thanks

I have livied in Abu Dhabi, UAE and the Emirates is oustanding. With the economic down-turn many people from Dubi have emerged in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the captial of the UAE. It is an oustanding place to live. Shopping is the entertainment of everyone. The beaches are outstanding and clean! While, the beaches are seperate for women and families the experince is great. I have found that shopping for food-to be well above the standards in the US. Arabs have a better diet and the food is above par. I can find British, South African and American name brands at all LuLu's (A giant Walmart's with better standards of goods and very clean)

I have been offered a post in Saudi-and I very well may take this position. I find life in the Middle East to be very secure-(I spent a year in South Korea-Clinton's visit to North Korea was viewed as an couragous step to secure Americans)

While my heart is in Abu Dhabi-my heart and life can be anywhere if you make the choice to adapt and respect the culture of the region you are in.

Kind Regards, Mary

Where can I find a lady piano tutor in Jeddah? There are keyboard tutors, but piano tutors are not available. Could you suggest? Thanq.
Bensar

I am an American woman who has received a job offer in Jeddah. I am a Muslim and will be traveling there alone. Will I be able to experience Jeddah, travel around the city, etc alone and hopefully with other woman that I meet there. Are there other Muslim expats from America living there? I am from a small town and hope to be able to navigate around the city.

Is it easy to set up internet and phone service?

Thanks in advance,

Hanaa

Yes, life in jeddah is very comfortable for single women unlike in Riyadh where the authorities are rather strict.
All technology facilities are available throughout the Kingdom.
Many Muslim expats live across all the big cities in KSA.
You should find it extremely comfy here.
fazli

Hi i am british muslim considering to move to jeddah due to my husbands job .. can you tell me a little about jeddah ..everyone tells me its a very strict country is there much to do for the women, is it easy to make friends is there some kind of social club/group you can join to make friends if so how do you find out about this, whats like on a compound like, are there gyms available you can go to, can you give me any useful contact numbers for any groups you can join.. people tell me life is depressing in jeddah is that true ???? is it a place where you can adapt easily ??

thanks in advance
abbey

Hi Bianca
Did you go? Did you take your dog? My husband is currently considering a career move to Jeddah but we have 3 dogs and we're not sure about taking them. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Wendy

hi every one
i have seen allots of people planing to move to jeddah and worried about accommodations and life expencess

will jeddah is one of the best places to live in ksa plus khubar and dammam as well
am algerian and i live in saudi arabia since 77
well this is some information hope it will help

compound's is very nice place to live - more freedom and you can find most of what u want inside - but its over secured
average rent in this compound's based on the location and how good its
but 95% of this compound are not with high quality and rooms are small matching more the europians and chines or japanies style who are used to stay in small houses
studio or 01 bed room flat average 35,000 s.r. to 65,000 s.r. per year -
02 bed room flat or duplex between 50,000 to 90,000
03 bed room or 04 bedrooms between 65,000 to 140,000
you can pay it every quarter as well

mostly fully furnished

but if u are looking for normal house or apartmetn whcih is it much bettter in the quality but all are un furnished - u can go for al hamra area or alandalu or rawda

this area are very nice and easy u can get nice flat
avarage rent in this area 2 or 3 bed rooms 20,000 to 35,000 s.r. per year

04 bedrooms 25,000 to 40,000 s.r.

and u can get up to 7 bed rooms apartment
=
the rest of this like easily u can buy or get new car all what u need letter for employer plus copy of electricity u can get an altima nissan or camry or caprice or lumia with monthly payment average 1450 , to 3000 depend on how many year u would like to pay for it
petrol is very cheap alsmo 65 halala per L almost 18 cent $

man can go for swim or fishing - women cant swim in public beach but there is many private beach's - but still women can go for fishing normally

women should cover her body the scarf not thats much required but she can ware mini and go out its part of there culture - well we can say the same thing was there 4 years in usa and europ just they love to keep it and we do respect that

regarding the coffee shops there is many and more than u can imagine but sexes are separated - family section and men only section but still men can got with thier family into family section

shopping here is very cheap cloth - electronics - cosmetics furniture - tax free
pepsi or coca cola canes cost 1.5 riyal
1 l of milk around 4 to 5 riyal
mc donalds meal between 15 to 20 riyal - most of fast food within same average
mostly if u have 4 or 400 riayl you can nice meal

women also not allow to drive but any way who want to drive in jeddah too much trafic and people here really driving crazy some times

no cinema or theater onldy DVD or CDs Or satellite
and for pet people here love pets but you have to make sure that pets are allow where you stay and many places you can walk your dog but its too much hot so better keep it at house if it not familiar with weather but during winter yes but of course you cant take your pets in the malls or super market its not allowed at all
also you cant take it in taxi allots of taxi driver scared of dogs but you well be lucky if one accept that
very easy in jeddah to make relations people here too friendly
its nice place to save and make money
also easy to travel to any where cuz the air ticket became cheap in the last 3 years for ex - some destinations in Europe price start with 200 euro- dubai starting from 300 euro - lebanon or cairo starting from 200 euro - so it is easy to go and spend week end in any place but make sure that you have re-exit entry visa ( called kharoj we awda ) multiple other wise each time you have to apply for one
phone called and internet very reasonable sim card you can get mostly from any where and 2 euro credit can give u call up to 12 minutes to united kingdom or France

hope that this information meet your questions and contact me if you need more information
sorry if there is any spelling mistakes

Hello S.... u...... h......a

Are you living in saudi arabia now? do you have email. i'm gabriella from romania too