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Post by azraeil on Apr 29, 2014 7:44:45 GMT
2016 is not likely. It probably could be done but highly unlikely based on the serious labor shortage the Kingdom has at the moment.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Apr 29, 2014 8:13:03 GMT
There are various rumours (some on this forum already - but none confirmed yet to my knowledge) that the company is considering leasing a second local compound along the lines of Ar-Rakah.
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Post by Oilcowboy on Apr 30, 2014 19:36:44 GMT
The global payroll manual makes it clear that US payroll (american citizens) get priority for DHA housing as stated in one of the previous posts. Nobody has yet been able to provide a reasonable explanation for this.
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Post by David_and_Nita on Apr 30, 2014 23:12:31 GMT
I believe it is tax-related
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Post by tewtami on May 23, 2014 1:11:28 GMT
We are expecting our visa to be issued first wk of June 2014. We are wondering when will be our camp assignment be confirmed. My offer letter states we will be in ABQ but my relocation advisor said ABQ is full. Will this affect our mobilization to KSA? Thanks
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Post by vpainter on May 24, 2014 18:27:54 GMT
Families are still being assigned to ABQ and Rakah.
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Post by goatlast on Jun 3, 2014 20:30:02 GMT
As I was expecting, I have been assigned for a house in Abqaiq (hr told me so as I'm Global Payroll)
so I opt to live off camp in Al Khobar where I used to live earlier.
hopefully it is right choice, and no bad consequences.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Jun 4, 2014 7:59:28 GMT
One consequence would be that if you have children and they will be living with you, they will not be eligible to attend the Aramco school. Whether you consider that to be a bad consequence or not, I couldn't say.
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Post by goatlast on Jun 4, 2014 17:26:31 GMT
thanks GrooveWanderer for your input, actually I am sad that I will not live in the camp.
but as I lived in Al khobar before for 3 years and I got familiar with the life here, I find it will be difficult for me to live in Abqaiq and commute every day.
you are right currently I am facing a big challenge to find a school for my kids, as I rang the British International School and there is no places for my kids also there is no waiting list for next September enrolment.
So currently I am looking for any local international school. on the hope that I will be able to enrol them next year (2015).
I tried with my HR to relocate me to Al rakah but he said that can not happen because I am a global payroll. or that what I understood.
wish me luck please.
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Post by O&GEngg on Jun 4, 2014 17:47:28 GMT
best of luck goatlast!
This is the first that I've heard that Global Payroll employees aren't able to live in Rakah. This would make Rakah a (predominantly) US Payroll only community I suppose...other than the few people on Global Payroll that were placed there up to this point. Interesting.
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Post by dtromp on Jun 4, 2014 18:23:41 GMT
From other posts, it does seem like there are many nationalities in Rakah. I certainly hope so; one of the reasons my family and I are excited about working for Aramco is living among other cultures/nationalities.
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Post by infquery on Jun 4, 2014 18:53:55 GMT
My humble understanding (sorry, I bring my owm spoon) is that, with main camp full beyond imagination, those with priority in main camp (US payroll, high GC's...) are priority in Rakkah now. My relo told me Us payroll and GC14+ any payroll. Along with this number of children plays a part I was told (don't know exactly the impact, sorry for that). When Rakkah was lease (and completely empty) families of employees GC11 to 13 different payrolls were allocated there. When started to fill up, and with a lot of other people coming and the problem with the US regarding taxes, and Dhahran still occupied to the roof, they were forced to changed the policy and priority was given to US and big GC. So is correct, there are many countries right now, but for the ones coming, it will depend on where the GC14+ are from
I asked for the possibility to be allocated in Rakkah (actually that was the 'negotiation' I attempted with no success), because my wife was told her chances to get a job living far away from main camp were close to -1 (she is a O&G engineer, simulation), this is probably not true, but she felt it was a high risk to take, and when Rakkak was no, she decided to stay.
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Post by goatlast on Jun 5, 2014 17:25:57 GMT
I totaly agrer with infquery
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Post by vpainter on Jun 5, 2014 17:44:33 GMT
Actually in the meeting I attended prior to Rakah first opening, it was for U.S./Canadians and GC15+ other nationalities. The GC was then lowered because housing is needed for everyone and everyone was going to Rakah. Then the company found out that the U.S. IRS would not recognize the leased property as Aramco Property and U.S. citizens needed to be moved from Rakah. That os taking place, but there just isn't enough housing available, so U.S. passport holders are still being assigned to Rakah.
Infquery, if your wife wanted to work and could get on in DHA, then she would commute to work on the bus just like many other employees are having to do.
At this time there are many nationalities in Rakah and many nationalities are still being assigned there.
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Post by infquery on Jun 5, 2014 18:28:30 GMT
Hi vpainter
Thanks for the note, I'm learning here more than in college, I'm sure we all are (lol)
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