Housing and Recreation
For Westerners there are two types of residences; many live on large resort-like 4500 sq. ft compounds where there are no restrictions on dress. Life inside the compound is like being back in the States or Western Europe. Many compounds have small convenience stores, libraries, gyms, several swimming pools, beauty shops, recreation centers, and other amenities. Some compounds have villas with their own swimming pools along with the large community pools dotting the compounds.
There are several large shopping malls which are very close to Western malls in layout and selection. There are many restaurants to choose from, some local varieties but many Western chains such as McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kenny Roger’s Roasters, Pizza Hut, and others.
Gold jewelry can usually be purchased from the Gold Souks at lower than the spot price of gold. This is due to the imported cheap labor. Branded watches, jewelry, and electronics are usually much cheaper than in Europe or the US.
Residential Rents
Rentals for residential accommodation can vary immensely. Employee accommodation is usually the least expensive but the annual rental for senior management accommodation would likely exceed US$40,000 for a three bedroom furnished villa in a residential compound. Conde Traveller
Utilities
For Westerners there are two types of residences; many live on large resort-like 4500 sq. ft compounds where there are no restrictions on dress. Life inside the compound is like being back in the States or Western Europe. Many compounds have small convenience stores, libraries, gyms, several swimming pools, beauty shops, recreation centers, and other amenities. Some compounds have villas with their own swimming pools along with the large community pools dotting the compounds.
There are several large shopping malls which are very close to Western malls in layout and selection. There are many restaurants to choose from, some local varieties but many Western chains such as McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kenny Roger’s Roasters, Pizza Hut, and others.
Gold jewelry can usually be purchased from the Gold Souks at lower than the spot price of gold. This is due to the imported cheap labor. Branded watches, jewelry, and electronics are usually much cheaper than in Europe or the US.
Residential Rents
Rentals for residential accommodation can vary immensely. Employee accommodation is usually the least expensive but the annual rental for senior management accommodation would likely exceed US$40,000 for a three bedroom furnished villa in a residential compound. Conde Traveller
Utilities
| Electricity: | SAR0.10 [US$0.26] per KwH for industrial use SAR0.05 [US$0.013] per KwH for a minimum up to 2,000 KwH for residential use, rising over eight bands in accordance with consumption. | |
| Water: | Rising from SAR0.10 [US$0.027] over four further bands to a maximum of SAR6.00 [US$1.6] per cubic meter. | |
© 2008 KPMG Al Fozan & Al Sadhan, a Saudi Arabian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved.
