What do I bring with me? A few people's perspectives...

2018 NOTE:  ALL HOUSES WILL BE 220V ELECTRIC, VOLTAGE CONVERSIONS ARE GOING ON TO MAKE ALL ARAMCO HOUSES 220V.  IF YOU ARE COMING FROM THE USA, PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN BUY MOST EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.  So as you read these lists disregard information about bringing over 110/120V appliances.  When you arrive, you could possibly be assigned a home that is not converted yet.  But they are working on the houses.  Unlikely, but should you receive a home that is only 120V, maintenance will come i stall 220V poutlets for you, until your house goes through the conversion.   Many computers, laptops, phones and other small appliances are dual voltage and you would just need a plug adapter.
NOTE:  110/120V items are being confiscated by customs if found.  This does not include dual voltage items.


Written June 8, 2013 - from UK:
Bring with you about 6 months supply of your favourite;
toothpaste, shampoos, bubble bath (cant find Radox here at all, its all shower stuff) Paxo stuffing (or just the sage, everything else is available herb wise).
written June 5, 2013:
Following is a list which I gathered from the forum and also in discussions with some other folks at KSA. Please note this is just my personal opinion and everyone will have a different list/opinions. Please feel free to add or provide your feed back if I missed items which will be really good to have in KSA. Many thanks in advance:
Electronics
• Laptop
• Ice dispenser (optional)
• Gae door opener (single door)
• GPS
• Microwave (Fill inside with all your spices)
• Get Vonage or Magic Jack
• Clean air purifier
• Vacuum Cleaner (Steam and Regular)
• Wifi Internet Radio
• Get VPN in USA
• Cordless Phones
• Wall Clock
• Alarm Clock for bedroom
• Flatscreen can easily be purchased at KSA
Clothing:
• Socks, underwear and underpants for the whole family (for one year supply at least)
• Belts, shoes, pants
• Long sleeves shirts for the ladies
• Bathing suits, jeans, pants, shorts, and tops
• Buy Abaya for wife (supposedly the one in KSA is heavy, per orientation one can find cotton one which is light online in USA)
• As water quality is not that great, the clothes life is usually shorten.
Bedroom:
• Bed Sheets
• Bedroom curtains
• Pillows
• Lamps
• Decoration pieces
Kitchen:
• Blender/food processor
• Microwave
• Sandwich maker
• Coffee Maker
• Can opener
• Toaster
• Skillets
• Chopping board
• Stoe Containers
• Knives
• Peeler
• Water filter (tap and shower)
o Brita filters from costco
o Undersink reverse osmosis system
• Lots of snacks (eg. cereal is quite expensive in KSA $10-15)
• Other kitchen stuff (optional)
• Kitchen Towels
• Dishwasher softner
Home:
• Weighing scale
• Bring supply of cleaning products
• Dining room light fixtures
• Small Chest for storing goodies
• Bedroom furniture, lamps and supply of light bulbs
• Fans for bedrooms
• Home Décor (supposedly its expensive in KSA)
• Space-saver bags (Bath Bed & Beyond)
• Small safe
• Medicines (Tums, Aspirin, Children medicine, nighttime, Nyquil and Dayquil, Halls cough drops, visine, anything you use for daily basis) Cold and cough medicine
• Q-tips and gloss
• Foil
• Thermometer
• Iron
• Air Freshener
• Outdoor welcome mats
• Hanging Clocks
• Iron (iron stand is provided at KSA)
• Ds (d rods are available at KSA Ikea)
• Bulbs
Bathroom:
• Shower heads which are filtered
• Duvet
• Towels
• Shower Curtains
• Shampoo (favorite)
• Deodorant (favorite)
• Culligan filters and showerhead
• Other decoration stuff

Kids (following is for K4):
• Kids books and movies
• Toys
• Car seat (boaster)
• Movies or video games
• Backpack (2)
• Insulated lunch bag (2)
• Wet Wipes
• Ziploc bags (1 gallon size)
• Ziploc bags (1 quart size)
• 1 box Mr. Sketch WASHABLE markers, 12 count
• Hand Sanitizer (girls)
• 1 package small paper plates (boys)
• 1 roll Bounty paper towels
Other (Optional):
• Lot of check books
• Gas Grill
• Bicycles
• Golf gear
• Racket ball
• Tennis rackets
• Swimming floats for kids
• Scuba Gear
• Stuff for Patio

Label Your Items:
Labels to mark your shipment... Go to Office Depot, or Office Max and get the Avery removable stickers. They work great and peel right off. Name, Saudi Aramco, badge number (if known) and compound, KSA.
Things to do before leaving:
- Have $1000-2000 cash (Preferably few hundred SRA). You can get better rates in KSA compare to USA.
- Get an unlock cell phone
- Program international number of your credit card to make sure you can call if any problems +area code -Number
- Find routing number, IBAN number, and account number etc of all banks.
- Let your recruiter know how many boxes you will be travelling with.
- Get the contact information of the school registrar and find out what documents are needed.
- Get your Kid tested for TB (valid of 12 months) and needed for first grade plus. Not required for K4.
- Get an App called IPray and tweek the settings for Dhahran
- Things you don’t want to lose put them in the suit cases

Create a binder with the following (Organize it in a binder)
o Multiple copies of passport
o Multiple pictures
o School Transcripts
o Marriage Certificate
o Birth Certificate
o Etc
Thing to know at Dhahran:
- Cell phone at Commissary (100SR for phone and 100SR for loading it)
- 03 to dial landline
- 05 when calling cell phone to cell phone
- 939 for everything you need around the house
- Check with payroll to make sure they have the right banking information
- Get Saudi DSL
- Get Aramex account for shipping (when in Saudi)
- Wifi DSL router is provided by housing in Dhahran
- Flat screen TV’s can be purchased at Dhahran
- IKEA items are more expensive than in USA IKEA
- After getting Iqama, you will receive multiple exit/re-entry visa valid for one year