Why dont saudis get what expats get? and your opinon on expats who badmouth saudi?
Hello. I am hoping not to be misunderstood by this, or to offend anyone. But I just dont think this is fair! How come when the expats come here they get to live in luxury? They live for free in the BEST most lavish compounds, free cars, free phones, free gas, free private schooling, free travel tickets, free medical at the best hospitals, all they basically pay for is clothes and food? But why dont they do this for the saudis? I have my kids in a preschool in a compound and I have started wondering this. It's not fair! Or at least give the saudis the same level of education these expats have so that they can have these jobs too! Why does the average saudi today have to struggle to pay rent? put his kids in school? pay utilities? pay hospitals? if you want a free hospital you have to go to one that is going to make you wait 6 months for an appointment! I just think its sad that the average saudi like my husband and my friends shusbands are finding it almost impossible to buy a house when the expats come and live for free, then take all the money and send it to their countries. I'm not talking bad of expats, most my friends are expats. I just think it's unfair saudis dont get that. My husband works for the govt and risks his life for the country every morning he goes to work. But what I really hate are the expats who are ungrateful. Who break the rules, complain about saudi, make fun of the saudis, mutawas, and culture. Dont bite the hand that feeds you. An expat in aramco was complaining about the noise the RSAF makes every day. I understand complaining, but she was going too far. Calling them stupid, rude, saying she was going to "complain". I said my GOD...you are very ungrateful. Those pilots are risking their lives daily practising to save YOUR ASS if their is ever an attack. You should be happy to hear them. Ive also heard women making fun of mutawas and even islam. To all the expats who hate saudi so much, and hate saudi people, Please remember that you would be jobless and broke and maybe homeless if it wasnt for saudi arabia. thank you everyone for your responses. well to me when a company pays for everything for you, I consider it free. And I do know of many expats who do get free cars, phones, gas, etc. All I am saying is that I wish the saudis would be offered at least some of the same, or at least offered the education in decent schools for free. And I dont mean scholarships I mean from KG and up. Yes there are free saudi schools, but have you ever been in one!?!!?!? You would be SHOCKED and most of them should be condemned. And I would like to add I am in no way complaining about my husbands work, I am in fact extremely proud of him, however I do think he should be given more credit by the government for all he does like other countries do with their air force. We do have free hospitals but again, have you BEEN in one? Thank you very much for your much appriciated answer. I know that yes, expats work very hard. But so do the saudis and I just wish they could also have some of these privelages. thank you h. No sadly it is not the same here. and I did not know that about expats, thank you for telling me. Please do not misunderstand me people, I love expats and am one in a way, (other than the ones who say mean things about the country and its locals). I am not saying I wish expats didnt get these things, I am saying I wish it was mandatory for the companies to provide these things for saudis they hire too. elephant shoes, have you compared your salary at aramco to that of a saudi's? Even if he does get extra months in pay it still isnt the same as an american/brit's. Im not referring to the saudis who have been there YEARS and are about to retire.. and thank you elephant shoes for the appriciation! his job terrifies me personally but the uniform is definately a perk. Again people....NOT getting my QUESTION....!!!! My question WAS I dont think it is fair that the saudi's do not have the perks that the expats DO have. Even a saudi must move from one area to another and miss his family. Even Saudi kids have to relocate. Even a saudi who is QUALIFIED ENOUGH for a job should be offered all those things too. And if the money that put food on my kids table was coming from another country, even Isreal, I would be appriciative. I know not all expats make bad comments. But you would not believe the comments I HAVE heard and my negative feelings are towards THEM. AGAIN- TO CLARIFY- I'm not saying NO to expats. I'm saying give the QUALIFIED saudi's the same!
Saudi Arabia - 12 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Hi. First of all no expat is getting any thing free here. Every expat works really hard to earn. THey had worked hard to get the right education and left their home lands to work and survive. Dont forget that they are away from their families and all that , so expats are the one who are suffering. There are many expats like me who working so hard to earn little. We all risk lives for some body, every morning i get to work after passing huge traffic which is also risk because anything can happen. You should be proud of your husband that he is serving his country and you shouldnt be complaining. The people who are making fun of others shouldnt be doing this, but it has nothing to do with whether they are expats or whatever. Anybody can make fun of anybody which is wrong. Please remember that million of Saudis have businesses because of expats in this country. Unfortunately Saudis dont realize that expats are part of success and developement of this country. I have been to UK and british friends told me that they are very thank full for expats especially Indians and Pakistanis who work hard and running their hospitals, schools and other businesses. Please consider our efforts in this country. Well if you are talking about western expats then may be your are right that its unfair.
2 :
We don't live in luxury and I hardly think the compounds are lavish. We don't get free cars, phones, gas and we do actually pay rent. The Saudis I know get free education, as well, all the way through University. Once a year we get money to travel home. I think it might have something to do with residency laws, but I'm not sure. The Saudis I know also get free medical care and that includes extended family members. For every 12 months of pay an expat gets, the Saudis get 14-16 months (at Aramco) they also receive a housing allowance to help pay for the purchase of their homes. So really it goes both ways. We all get perks. As far as people complaining,well it's part of human nature. Anyone living in culture that is unfamiliar to them is going to complain about how things are different from what they are used to. As far as the noise from the planes, if I don't hear them flying I think something is wrong! I am glad they are doing their jobs and I appreciate and thank them for it!
3 :
ONCE, I was in a festival called "Almohamadiyyah 1st Arabian Horse festival" there were many western expats .. when the owners names have been called - those expats were makin' jokes about the names- One of them said "abdulaziz steals everything" they thought we don't understand But that word made me sad very much . that word made me think too much about our "respect" to them
4 :
Salams sis, I wanted to email you but that is not possible. I understand how you feel, I too felt the same way before. When I was in Singapore, I see all the expats living the high life and getting paid so much. While we Singaporeans had to slog and work for longer hours and make much lesser than them. Now that my husband got a job in Dubai, we somehow received the same 'package' as any other expats. I think its to compensate us, for leaving the comforts of our own homes/ country and work in a foreign land. Alhamdulillah, we are thankful that we are here in Dubai and so much of our daily expenses are taken care by the company. Although, I must add, wherever you may be, you have to respect the people, culture n religion of others. May Allah bless your family, sister.
5 :
Very interesting and new to me. I always thought that KSA has the same structure regarding the foreign workforce than the UAE (or almost). Some UAE citizen, especially Govt. employers, employees in higher positions and family with more than 3 kids will mostly receive a free villa. I know that both countries provide free education (for citizen) and free health care. As a plus, citizen will be send aboard if proper medical care can not be provided and the Govt. will pay all expenses for the patient and his/her company. Also students aboard will be provided with a scholarship. Mostly expats will receive a "salary package" incl. rent, furnishing allowance and transportation. Please be aware, that most expats leave their home and sometimes family members behind. Do you think a professional with a good job at home will pay rent twice? Buy furnisher twice (and this mostly just for a couple years)? A Westerner mostly will go home for major surgery. Do you know what this costs? An expat is not covered financially when loosing his/her job and has to leave the country. An expat will not receive any retirement money or pension in Saudi. An expat is not covered falling ill and not be able to work any more. An expat is not able to receive any social benefits. Please take into consideration, that for all the mentioned cases an expat who thinks in the long run needs to save money to be covered for the unexpected and the end of service. An other aspect is that you have to convince experts to go to a foreign country for work, especially if an expat is not coming from a country like India, Pakistan, Asia etc, where people are desperate for jobs. To complain lays in the human nature. What do you think how often I hear that Arabs wear dresses and are gay when greeting each other. How often is the Abaya called a tent and the men "towle heads". Just ignore it. edit@N M: I found an article you may find interesting: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/515749-expats-to-blame-for-saudi-unemployment?ln=en Also read the comments:))
6 :
Think about it: Is it really all expats that get all this? I dont think so...It is a minority in certain professions and with very good work experience that get these payments. The reason they give them all this money is as an initiative for them to move over here. Why would a whole family of say a pilot trainer agree to move to KSA,without a good financial initiative? You think it is easy for children to relocate? For the wife to leave behind all her family and move here raising children alone? If such people were not needed, they would not be hired. The amount of high salaries-since the 80's has fallen a lot and the amount of expats in general is reduced ( I mean the really high paid ones). In addition, how many of these expats really enjoy living in the compounds? What is so special about them? The villas are average sized - typical european and US sizes-and there is a common pool. They live isolated from the rest of the community, like in a cage with high walls,,,,not to be seen! What a nice feeling....Do you think that this is ideal? I do not believe that these high salaries should be mandatory for anyone! These are temporary salaries covering some needs.
7 :
Most expats in Saudi Arabia are from the Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Shri Lanka. And they get paid far less than the Saudis get paid. A relatively small number of westerners from Europe and other countries get free housing and other benefits that might be better than most Saudis have. Because that's what it takes to attract workers from these countries. And for one reason or another these workers cannot be easily replaced with Saudi workers. Many Saudi women for example cannot work night shifts or be on call for emergencies. And that makes many foreign female workers in Saudi hospitals irreplaceable with Saudi workers. And due to family responsibilities, Saudi workers in other types of employment quite often don't work as much as the foreign workers work, even when their work responsibilities are exactly the same. They either come late for work, or they leave early, or they take a lot more sick leave than the foreign workers take. Which often leads to resentment among foreign workers who have to pick up the slack and work twice as hard, when the Saudi workers are absent from their work. And of course, many westerners resent the Mutawas who try to impose Saudi culture and values on them. Because such imposition is seen among westerners as a violation of human rights. Most western countries have rules and laws that at least on paper guarantee a lot more religious and cultural freedom than what is allowed in Saudi Arabia. And for many westerners, coming to Saudi Arabia is a big cultural shock. Because they are not used to such lack of freedom and so many restrictions on their culture and religion.
8 :
i would be happy if i weak up one day and find Saudi Arabia is expats-free.
9 :
I understand you Sister, But I am also an Expat and living in KSA, I am at managerial position and we also have many Saudi's working in my company. The difference between expat and the Saudi's are; I have to work long hours after duty time. (without overtime) I have to take responsibility of every thing in the company. I don't get any reward if I do something beneficial to the company. I have to pay the damages if a Saudi's make mistake under my supervision. Saudi's come late and leave early. Its impossible to run normal daily tasks of company if given to Saudi's. They don't take or feel any responsibility to work. They waste company resources and believe its meant for them. I have to keep a standby expat beside every Saudi to function normally. Well there are many more things, but I will like to say only one thing. If Saudi's were capable to do things themselves, Expats won't be needed. I am sorry sister if you feel any offense, but this is my experience.
10 :
I hear you punjabi! My husband was moved to KSA to take over a major project for his company and when we were moving everyone told us how family friendly KSA was. Guess what? ever since we have come here we hardly get to see him bcos he has to cover up for his Saudi colleagues... in his company saudization is not complete and hence things according to him are not as bad as they could have been! I know several other men on our compound who complain how difficult it is to get Saudis to work and frankly listening to them it seems to me astonishing that they have jobs at all! However Saudization has been shoved down every manager's throat and there is no choice. I am sorry to say this but if Saudis were so capable to take care of their own country you wouldnt need expats. You guys have much to learn from the smarter and worldy wise Emiratis, who have been so successful in their emiratization drive simply bcos their people are ready to work and have realised to live in this world they need to get real. In the west the KSA is known as a hardship posting and myhusband for exampe would never have come here, exciting project or not, if we hadnt gotten a good accomodation in a good compound and schooling and medical insurance as perks. Please know that back in the Uk both of these things are free for us anyway. Compare this to the fact that everyone is dying to go to the UAE and so hence the days of big salary packages for westeners is very much past there!
11 :
I can see all sides of the argument. My husband is Saudi, and I'm American, and I'm sure if I were to get a job I would make more money than him. we have similar degrees, so it wouldn't be about education, it would be about nationality. I do wish we can have some of the perks that the expats get in his company. But at the same time, I feel grateful that he has such a good job. It's a stable job. It's secure. They very rarely fire anyone. We have free healthcare. My husband will get retirement from the company, and of course he contributes to GOSI. But, the expats who are permanent employees also get retirement from the company or at least a very large end of service benefit. I honestly think we're better off with his 'Saudi' salary than we would be if we were living in the US, still on one income. He doesn't pay any taxes here, and he always gets raises and extra pay sometimes and he can get some overtime. I think there are some expats who are ungrateful for what they have and are not here for a cultural experience. But, for the most part, I've found the expats to be friendly. @ h - Saudis are eligible to apply for an interest free home loan from the government, but they won't get the money for at least like 20 years from when they apply because too many people want the loan and not everyone pays it back.
12 :
i'm an expat & ya i agree with yur point. i believe that alwayz experience, talent , qualifiction & hardwork should b counted .but we generally c taht the priority is given to which country the employee belongs to. NOT ALL EXPATS R GETTING FAIR MONEY DEAR. we asians neverthless of our talent,dedication & hardwork get very very very less pay when compare to employees frm other countries. u all know which countries i'm talking 'bout. i'm not complaining. just keeping my point that all expats r not treated the same.this country has given me a lot & i luv this country & dont wanna leave it.nomatter what.
