Information about Rakkah Compound

Although everything is new when you come, just as a few people have said, you will like having your own sheets. The blankets provided work, but are fuzzy if they are the same ones we received years ago. I personally like my own pillow.

ARAMCO does not and never has provided small kitchen appliances. Although there is a small selection of them here, I recommend you bring what you want.

Everyone should read under the Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Group from all the posters who have posted about what to bring. These are recent new hire opinions. Take what applies to you and ignore the rest. There are two discussion topics there, there has been a lot of opinion on this subject. They are applicable no matter which compound you live in.

I know everyone is fearful about living in Rakkah, that is only natural, it is an unknown and new. I do encoue all of you to come with an open mind, this compound is unique in that Aramco is very open to working with the residents on what they want on their compound. Come prepared to get involved and make your new home what you want it to be. Initiate, take charge, find a co-chairman if you don't want to do it yourself.

Rakkah as with all the Aramco compounds have families who once school was out, have left the kingdom. That is why you only see employees. Summer and especially Ramadan is a tough time to come to the kingdom because so many people leave out, especially families. Once school starts the families will return and the compound will be and feel more populated.

Take the initiative to get out of the house and meet your neighbors. Go to recreation, tell them you want a community get together function, if they are not already happening.

Rakkah will be what the residents make it. If there is nothing but negative atudes that live there, that is what the compound will be. One person can make a difference. Be that person!

There are enough negatives in everyone of the communities, if that is what you want to dwell on, you will find something to make you unhappy. So you could, and there are some that do, live in DHA and are completely unhappy. Everyone here has moved away from home and their families with few exceptions of those who have family here, you did not move to a place like back home. You have moved to a different place that can be an adventure of positives if you are willing to look for them.

Every new employee and every new family must decide if they have come here to make a life in a new and different part of the world, or if they have come wanting home and never finding anything they want to like here because it is too different, it is not what they expected, they want it to be more like home. It is a choice to be happy here. It is not hard to be happy here with the right atude.

ARAMCO is what it is, take it or leave it, but do not just bash it, if you are not happy here and have no inclination to go out and find happiness, then this move was not for you, go home. This is the Saudi's country and they may do what ever they want to in their country.
ARAMCO becomes your home, it is not your home back home.

When you come: 1) There will be things that look like what is back home and it will be like what is back home. 2). There will be things that look like back home, but you will find it is nothing like back home. 3). There will be things totally different from back home and are totally unfamiliar.

How you are able to respond to these differences will determine if you can find happiness here.

If you cannot embrace change, you shouldn't come. This place is different from anywhere you have ever lived, including other Middle Eastern countries. That does not mean bad, it means it is different.

I wish you all the happiness that many before you have found living in KSA and working for Aramco. Culture shock is a very real experience you will find yourself in. Take a trip to Bahrain or Dubai or Doha and get away for a weekend when you start feeling closed in. That little get away will help and you will return able to go about life again until you need to get out again. This is totally normal, take your small breaks from the culture, you do eventually get used to it and the need for those breaks become much further apart. Enjoy researching and planning your vacations, the world is open to you. Enjoy!

nxpat...I am pretty sure vpainter's post was addressed to everyone generally rather than targeting you....

Now that we have a lot more clarity on what Rakkah is all about, people can make an informed decision whether the value proposition for them still holds or not

While some people fear to live in rakkah some other people dream to live there. My chance is too low but I still can dream !!!

I don't think there are any dog parks here on Rakkah. There is some grass in between the housing rows, and there are streets in between the front of the homes. I saw a nice-looking trail outside the golf course on The big Dhahran camp. if you eventually drive, maybe you could sometimes bring your dogs there when the season has nice temperatures. If you take the dog off compound, you'd want to be careful of strays.

There aren't horse stables on Rakkah compound, but there might be one locally. Also main camp has the hobby farm.

Just to confirm, is TV provided in Rakah upon arrival?

Hi
I am interesting to know if there is laundry and dry cleaning service inside the compound .
Thanks

Hi VPainter, I was told that I may be reside in Al Rakah and wondering ifg I could get picture ofa house for a family of three with G15 - global payroll. Thank you. John