Does any one know about living in Riadh ??

I am currently working in Riyadh and going to move to Doha soon. I am also Egyptian with my family. the life style here is different...but don't worry, it will be better if you live in a compound. At least in Riyadh you can visit Mekkah and Madinah as much as you like. plus you have access to all GCC as in Qatar. I agree with all the above positive things about Riyadh. there is nice Club located in the Deplomatic Quarter with good facilities, it is far a little bit but still OK.

few negative things but depends on how you can manage it:

1. No enough schools in Riyadh with qualified staff. 2. Traffic is nightmare.

I was in Saudi before. Everything is there in Saudi about what you are looking for. Life is little difficult for bachelor over there. You can go for shoping alone by taxi. You can ride in a taxi. You can go alone by taxi but you must seat back side not beside the driver. If you wanna take any man with you then he must be your hubby/son/father/brother(not cousin). Always you have to wear abhaya covering your head. Covering face is not mmendatory but ladies covering. As you are muslim, you will feel comfortable wherever you will go. Hotel, restaurant, bank every places there is seperate ladies section available. Weather is little dry then Doha. In weekend you can go to Makkah for Umrah.

QL is not a place to show smartness. You said what you know. But what you know that is wrong. A wrong info make someone cofused.

I really appreciate all of your replies, specially Saeedkan and swine flu (you are too kind for that name !!!) Anyway>>we still have time to think it over ! I love Doha and I hate to leave it.Anyway ,thanks a million !

To Swine flue - i say, what i know. Don't try to be smart.

women are still not allowed to drive in Riyadh :)

I am fine. What about you?

don't provide wrong information to someone if you don't know please. Hazems Mom got scared after getting information from you.......lol

is it true that women are already allowed to drive in Saudi?

I lived in Riyadh until just recently and I am a western women - you can walk alone, you don't need your husband with u to go shopping - maybe years ago but not now. There are plenty of muslim women out without their husbands.

You don;t have to cover your head - unless u already do. Just make sure u carry a scarf as sometimes as women we do get asked to cover up - you will have to wear an abaya though.

If u do go out with a man - he must be a relative. You don't have to eat behind curtains in restaurants - that is your choice - but u must eat in the family section.

I loved Riyadh and I wld go back tomorrow. Shopping is fabulous compared to Doha - 90% off sales - amazing , and sooo much variety compared to here.

Eating out is so cheap also and loads of variety to choose from.

Hope this helps.

where exactly in Riyadh? as Riyadh is too big... if it's in the city...well it's good, the same as doha except for the weather, there's no humid in Riyadh City.

But if you are going to live in Riyadh provinces such as wadi dawaser, ha-ir (near riyadh jail) or etc ...you'll find farms and fish ponds :)

You gave me a alittle light at the end of the tunnel !thamks

Weather is very dry - no humidity. Not as hot as Doha. winters are colder, but not much.

Food / resttaurants offer more variety and much cheaper.

Ladies can't drive, but can take taxis.

Better choice of schools.

Sports are available at the RYSA (Riyadh Youth Sports Association) run by volunteers at the American School. Kids can play Soccer, Basketball and Softball.

I really appreciate your opinions. I thought the same to myself, but I needed someone else to asure me . But what about sports for kids??I bring my sons to Aspire here, and I enjoy watching them .I guess no similar atmosphere would be available there in Riadh, right ???

Very hot. Very strict. No holding hands. No uncovered head for you. No bars, no clubs. In the restauratn you will be eating behaind the curtains in the family section. You won't be allowed to go shoping without man. And make sure that man is your relative.

I would return there only if i would be offered 1 000 000 per month. And no less.

Good luck

I have heard of punishable restrictions over there.I mean they are very much strict about covering heads and not walking alone without a male member.

Although I have heard that no defered quality goods are available over there.They have still low cost of living and good quality of life.But with restrictions...