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Post by GroveWanderer on Jul 14, 2013 8:34:25 GMT
As mentioned before, the camp is never 100% full, there is always some spare capacity, though there is probably less now, than there has been in a long, long time.
I know several people who left Dhahran for good, in the last couple of months - and there are bound to be others that I don't know. As their houses are renovated and made ready for new occupants, there will be people moving into them.
I see houses being renovated near where I live and from time to time there are still houses available on the bid list.
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Post by fios on Jul 16, 2013 3:15:36 GMT
Hi, we will be moving to Saudi next month and our relocation advisor just informed us that we will be moving to the new compound. I guess most of the new hires will be housed in this new compound.
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Post by danielw on Jul 16, 2013 3:31:55 GMT
Are all houses furnished like those in the picture? If so I might consider of not shipping my own from US.
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Post by danielw on Jul 16, 2013 3:52:56 GMT
I am gong to move to KSA soon, we were intially told to live in DH compound, but today my relocator told me we have to live in Rakah compound because DH is full. I have some questions want to be clarified:
1. my daughter is 11 years old, she will go to 6 grade, so she will go to DH school by bus. are all kids supposed to take their lunch with them? I guess for the one hour lunch time they won't have time to come home for lunch.
2. are the matresses new? if they are used ones, we would like to bring our own.
3. I guess if we want to live in DH we would have to be on the waiting list. My relocator told me there are new constructions in DH, how long, or how sooner my family can have a house in DH compound?
4. Is TV from US works in the compound? I read some info about it, but there seems no definite or clear answer about it, do I have to have a converter for US TV to work there? If US TV not work there I would not bring it in KSA, and rather buy one from local.
5. How often is the bus go to shopping mall? Does bus operate after school so my wife can take kids to the DH main compound for some activities?
Thanks in advance
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Jul 16, 2013 20:43:44 GMT
We too are leaving next month. But so far my relo advisor hasn't told us anything about Rakkah. And I don't want to ask! I guess no news is good news.
But honestly the Rakkah housing looks good! They look bigger and much more updated than Dhahran. That's probably a reasonable trade-off vs. living in Dhahran.
How far is Rakkah from Dhahran?
Is there a commuting allowance?
Is Rakkah located in a decent neighborhood in Khobar? Is it close to the shops, restaurants, etc.?
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Post by llfarms on Jul 17, 2013 0:24:01 GMT
Thats what we were told at our orientation last week. It also has sweet water through the compound and the kids will bussed to DHA for school.
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Post by azraeil on Jul 17, 2013 5:54:42 GMT
revive,
I personally think that the Dhahran compound are a 1000 times better than the Rakah compound. Yes, the units are better but your Dhahran units would have been refurbished before you arrive and it will be like new as well. Nothing beats living in a 5 mile radius compound as compared to a 90 acre compound. Nothing beats having the kids coming home for lunch and having lunch together as a family.
Just my own personal opinion though.
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Jul 17, 2013 15:23:14 GMT
So the compound is located by the shore. Does it have beach access? Google Maps |
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zsb
Advanced Member
Posts: 59
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Post by zsb on Jul 17, 2013 15:40:11 GMT
No beach access due to shallow water. Some other things about the compound:
- fully furnished house with no furniture rent
- no car gae
- small open patio
- buses will run to the main camp once every hour. Schedule may change depending on the usage.
- sweet water throughout the compound
- medical service at the compound will be emergency/first aid only. For other medical treatment will be referred to DHA compound.
- similar facilities as all other compound
- kids from grade 1-9 will be sent to DHA for schooling
- free TV package for 60 channels
- free hi speed Internet. Max speed 20 Mbps
- one restaurant and one snack bar
- both 110 and 220 V provided at each house
- free gardening
- green community with recycling implemented
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Post by nomads4life on Jul 19, 2013 19:30:59 GMT
I just had orientation on Wednesday and I learned there is no fenced in/private yard which is definitely a con if you have kids. Other than that, Rakkah sounds really nice.
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Post by vpainter on Jul 19, 2013 20:20:04 GMT
danielw, yes all the houses are furnished like this.
1) According to the meeting I attended, Aramco says they will be serving lunch to kids coming from Rakkah. That being said, things have been changing constantly since that meeting. She may have to bring a lunch or she could eat at the snack bar next to the school, like kids from DHA do who stay for club meetings during lunchtime.
2) Yes, the mattresses are new
3) After 2 years you can get on the bid list and bid on houses in DHA.
4) Rakkah compound houses all have TV's in the living rooms. If you were to bring a TV from the U.S. you would possibly need to get a satellite service and your U.S. TV would work. The TV without their box is PAL, not NTSC. You may need a TV converter to attach a second U.S. TV to the Aramco provided service. We won't know until someone who lives there lets us all know.
5) Shopping buses will run in the morning and in the evening Sat - Thurs daily just as in DHA. On Fri they run in the evening, nothing is open in the am.
Shuttle buses run between Rakkah and DHA every hour from 6am to 10pm.
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Post by vpainter on Jul 19, 2013 20:31:51 GMT
azraeil, New hires are not getting a choice at this time.
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Post by vpainter on Jul 19, 2013 20:33:03 GMT
revive, I asked that question about the beach being so close. At this time there is no access to the beach. The DHA beach will be the beach for Rakkah at this time.
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Post by Herewego on Jul 20, 2013 14:28:45 GMT
I just wanted to clarify one point. While you can bid for a new house after two years the reality is that you WILL be stuck in your original house at least five years and probably closer than 8-10. The exceptions to this seem to be the smaller two bedroom homes. But if you are a family with kids count on a decade before you have enough points to actually win a bid.
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Post by azraeil on Jul 21, 2013 5:17:32 GMT
Herewego,
Correct. The only way I know of people being able to"win" a bid is by paying for the pool (which cost upwards of SAR80K)
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