Voltage

Now that I settled here I can answer.

One general observation first: all the wall sockets are specific to the Rakah camp, which is a former US-army compound, and for plugin in any device, special adapters are required (from 110V to US-110V plugs, or from 220V to European-type plugs. In the beginning, you can buy adapters (not provided) in the minimarket on camp, which is very convenient.

The kitchen and adjacent laundry room are pre-equipped each with two superposed 220 V-sockets, but only in the kitchen is there a table under the socket; the one in the laundry is practically not usable, unless you want to connect your own front-loading washing machine for example, although appliances are provided.

I strongly recommend to take with you in your checked luggage a european multisocket adapter in order to be able to plug-in easily various 220V devices. In the beginning I needed to reload mobile phones, electric teeth brush, iPad...

Not to be ignored, your labtop will probably have a multi-voltage loader and in my case I realized I can plug it to the 110 V socket; I am using it for the time being on the table of the american kitchen.

Then you call the maintenance, and they will change some plugs from 110 to 220 V for you, one at the ground floor and one at the first floor.
This is something you can organize already on your arrival day, and probably the next day it will already be done.
They will change for you two circuits; in my case I asked fro 220V voltage in the living room and in the study. The circuit for the living room comprises also the entrance and the guest bathroom. The circuit for the study also encompasses the adjacent children bedroom and separate bathroom.
If you want to have the master bathroom equipped with 220V, then it will also comprise the adjacent bathroom.

Hope it clarifies...

All compounds have houses as they come available. New hires are assigned to all Aramco housing compounds and leased properties depending on availability at the time of their arrival.

220 V wall socket:



110V wall socket:



Adapters for 110 & 220V:



All devices sold in KSA have this type of plugs:



Electronics devices have typically 100-240V compatibility.
Example with iPad, Smartphone, 2 labtops and loudspeaker connected to 110V power supply:



Other 220V devices MUST be connected to 220V power supply.
Here an example with clock, microwave, water kettle and mixer robot:

Here an update.
You can anyway transform any residual 110V wall socket with a tension converter.

This model IC500 sells for 350 SAR (ca. 100 USD) at Sako World (Mall of Dhahran); you will find it also at Extra, or possibly in some specialized shops with indian or phillipino keepers.
Then you can connect whatever 220V devices you want.
In the back it has also dual 220 and 110 outputs.
You have two wall sockets on top of each other, but you can only use one, since as soon as you plug in an adapter, the second one is partly covered and not usable any more, therefore the many extensions.
I have moved some of the kitchen equipments because it became crouded on the other side.
Since I got the living room + entry hall + guest bathroom and the first floor landing + adjacent bedroom & bathroom converted by the maintenance to 220V, and since I have one 220V supply in the kitchen and washing room, I can complement with a few more of these converters and have 220 V everywhere in the house (master bedroom + bathroom, second kid bedroom + bathroom, maid room).