Things to buy and consider before move to KSA

There is a small selection of camping, hiking, etc gear here. There is a Coleman store on King Khalid street with a small amount of camping gear. Saco World in Dhahran Mall has some gear. Timberland has a small selection of hiking boots and clothes.

If you want certain gear, bring it with you.

We brought all our camping gear and bought hiking gear here and UK and US.
Glad we brought our easy to put up tent. I do not know if those are available here now, haven't needed to look for one.

Yes, bring your general tools. We are glad we brought ours and we use them all the time.

All the kingdom except Aramco compounds are 220/240V. Aramco compounds were originally built 110/120V, Aramco is in the process of very slowly making the houses dual voltage and will one day in the distant future phase out 110/120V, but not for many years. If you get a house with only 110/120V wiring, you can call maintenance and get a couple of 220V plugs put in for your use. Dryers are 220V just as in the U.S.

if you are coming from the USA then bring your medicine. tylenol, triaminic, pepto bismol, mylanta, etc. the medicine her is different and to be honest do not buy medicine her. i would buy many of the things you mentioned including years supply of light bulbs, 110v. the 110v light bulbs her are becoming scarce and if you find some, it is low quality and will not last. the houses are not 100% dual voltage, meaning 220v and 110v. so if you are bringing sea shipment then fill it up. the stuff you will not use can be easily sold. bring bicycles as the ones her are expensive and low quality.

you should check with your relocation advisor but i don't think you can do that, it is either cash in lieu or shipment no partial options.

I think ZSB missed the kitchen sink :shock: :lol:

SACO do some great homeware stuff here, Sun & Sand sports is probably the best for hiking gear, all the major fashion brands are here, there are plenty of medicinal equivalents, plenty of stores (big & small) for electrical goods

If you like a certain type of 110 light bulbs, such as 3-way or night light bulbs, I recommend you bring a lot. Selection and supplies here are not steady. We carefully filled a plastic stoe tote with a large assortment of bulbs, and not a one was broken upon arrival. It's been a great resource for us. We stock up when we see 110/120 bulbs here now, just like we stock up on other things that have supply shortages, like dry cat food. You quickly adjust to life as a hoarder here, once you figure out which items appear randomly or with irregularity in stores. With 110 import ban issues coming and going both in the news and in enforcement or lack thereof, I think it's wise to bring whatever extra parts you think you might need until you're out on repat to shop again.

antemareundae,

Hi! Not sure if this is still a concern ... My family lives in RT and we've bought Gaviscon from one of the local pharmacies in town (Rahima).

Here is an update of the US payroll shipping policy:

I will be on family status, with my wife and son following within 90 days. So we'll have 2 separate shipments, employee and family. I can choose to ship or take cash in lieu for either, both, or neither. Each of the shipments will include 2 e-boxes for the adults, and one e-box for our son. I will also have the option to convert any non-used surface shipment weight allowance to e-boxes. I don't know the conversion or limits, but that's great to know that it's an option. Still the case that if you take cash in lieu for either, you also forfeit the e-box portion.

I'll get more details soon when I get in contact with the logistics people.