dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Jul 8, 2014 7:53:08 GMT
Good morning everyone, Recently i was informed from the internet regarding the bad situation currently exists on Iraq. Is that true that Saudi Arabia has decided to move 30,000 troops along its border with Iraq, who have been ordered to take "all necessary measures" to protect the border!!! (  ) The border of Saudi Arabia and Iraq is approximately 800 Km long. According to the Saudi official news agency, King Abdullah has ordered to take every measure to protect against "terrorist threats". (!!!) Can anyone verify this news as it is extremely important for safety and if it is true how dangerous would be for KSA and for all citizens, locals and expats ones who currently live there with their families or for the newcomers as well??? I am very concerned with this! |
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Post by vpainter on Jul 8, 2014 8:34:04 GMT
Yes, KSA has moved troops up to the border. KSA is very proactive about protecting the country and its citizens from terrorists and does a good job doing so.
The question is are the residents in the Aramco cmmunities concerned about this movement.
I will answer first for our family. No, we are not concerned about it at all and actually do not even think about it. Yes, we do read the newspaper and hear the new about it.
We have been here 14 years. We were here before 9-11 and for the second gulf war.
Are there some people here who are concerned? Yes, there are a few. I think some of them are nervous and worry back home about everything also.
We have a large friend base and none of them are concerned either. Have we talked about it, yes. But it has not caused us to be anxious or worry.
Our family, as many families here, is quite comfortable going off camp and into the local communities. We go into town every week and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week.
We have never felt threatened or uncomfortable about being here.
Yes, the media is scary, but the media needs to make news that helps their ratings and situations are many times sensationalized.
Many young families are living here. They are doing so and are enjoying life.
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Post by UmmRiyam on Jul 8, 2014 13:35:53 GMT
agree 100% with vpainter!
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Post by Vimto on Jul 9, 2014 3:43:14 GMT
this is not a question any of us can answer. the past doesn't mean we are immune as things could escalate in a different way. as an expat, you should be ready to move on a short notice and always have cash handy.
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Post by vpainter on Jul 10, 2014 11:46:31 GMT
That is true. Expats in many countries have to always be prepared to leave at short notice should a situation arise.
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dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Jul 10, 2014 12:34:47 GMT
vpainter,
you mean to resign yourself and just through away your whole life?
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Post by vpainter on Jul 10, 2014 12:47:29 GMT
Good Grief, NO.
I am just saying it is just common sense that if you are in a foreign land, you would be ready to leave should something happen. If you are in the US and something happens, people are evacuated all the time. They may come back to their house standing or they may not.
Do you live resigned where you are? If a tornado or hurricane or other disaster came and you were evacuated would you feel you threw your whole life away? If your whole house was demolished you definitely would lose everything.
I would say there has been more people in America having to leave their homes because of circumstances beyond their control and they've lost everything, than there has been in KSA in the 14 years I have been here and have not been evacuated once.
Dimk, Aramco may not be for you if you are going to think like that. It is not for everyone.
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Post by goutam on Jul 10, 2014 15:35:02 GMT
Hi vpainter,
Thanks for your useful information! As I'm also in process of recoating to KSA very shortly, so, I am curious to know whether you will be allowed to resume the work after everything cools down (in case you are not resigning and go)? I do agree future can't be predicted and one should not think too deep as well. At the same time I request you to think new-employee's feelings. I solicit your valuable response.
Goutam
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dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Jul 11, 2014 6:40:09 GMT
Vpainter, thank you for your comments. i would say i feel more relieved right now.i have never been to a situation like that you described and thats why i am a little bit anxious. In general i am a person who tries to keep a positive nature into things, and of course it does not mean that aramco is not a right place for me, i really feel excited i am going to work for such a big company and ....."Dream Big" is my new slogan  |
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Post by vpainter on Jul 12, 2014 6:42:18 GMT
Goutam,
You would only be allowed to leave if Aramco determined you could leave as an employee. Those employees who left on their own because of the first gulf war were not allowed to return.
Families were allowed to leave during that time, but not employees. Some families left, some stayed.
Aramco is not in business to put you or your family in danger. They do everything they can to protect those who work for them. No where on earth is there a 100% guarantee of safety or that nothing will happen to harm you or your family. But Aramco and the government take security seriously and they do a good job keeping all their work and residential sites and their country safe.
For me personally, I know is in control in KSA, just as He is in your home country. Each person must decide if living in KSA and working for Aramco is something good for their family. It is different than where you will come from. Some will do well here and others have trouble adjusting to the differences.
Different does not equate to bad, it is just different.
Some people tolerate the differences, some people embrace the differences. While some go back home very quickly because they can not make the adjustments needed to live and work here. Some stay and are just negative for the length of their stay. Many are mostly happy and enjoy all the opportunities they have while living and working here.
I cannot say how your experience will be. Ours has mostly been good, but as anywhere there are frustrating times as well. Taking a weekend trip to Bahrain or Dubai or Doha, etc helps you get away and you come back ready to go again.
The media is scary, but until you have lived here, you will not understand that most of us who are here are not anxious about our safety. Once my parents visited us, they were no longer concerned about us living here. People who are coming to KSA get a lot of comments about: are you crazy moving to KSA? but once here and if the family will visit, their concerns are usually lessened and the parents and siblings of the wife and employee enjoy returning to visit again and again if they can.
I can only tell you as one who was in your shoes at one time and was nervous over coming to KSA (having never lived outside of the US previously) that it is fine living here: You do not need to be anxious about coming and bringing your family to live here. Hope this helps, LOL! It didn't help me until after I arrived and learned first hand it was true, but I was nervous of the unknown, not anxiety stricken. Safe travels!
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Post by GroveWanderer on Jul 12, 2014 7:06:20 GMT
Speaking on a purely personal basis, I would say that every major life decision (and even some more minor ones) involves doing a risk/benefit ysis. At this moment IMHO, the situation in Iraq is still only a potential risk to KSA. As yet, I have not seen any evidence that it poses a direct threat to the kingdom. Things could change and it is certainly something that deserves keeping an eye on. As vpainter says, you need to be prepared for the possibility of various threats, no matter where you live in the world.
I certainly feel a lot more comfortable with my level of personal safety here now than I did when living in London in the 1970's, for example.
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Jul 14, 2014 5:03:16 GMT
I am personally not concerned but continue monitoring the situation closely.
I strongly believe the KSA northern borders are secure and practically impenetrable to the ISIS:
- The northern borders are heavily fortified with barriers & batteries
- KSA has a strong & modern air force, which is something the ISIS lacks
- KSA is center of the Islamic world. ISIS would think twice before attacking KSA
- USA, as a key KSA ally, will never let Kuwait and especially KSA to fall into ISIS
Personally, I'm more worried about the potential terrorist threat inside KSA, which may be incited by both the Iraq and the Gaza crises. There is no genuine threat as of now, but it would be wise to closely watch the situation.
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Suz
Member
Posts: 44
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Post by Suz on Jul 26, 2014 16:26:55 GMT
As the days have gone on and things seem to have progressed (for lack of better term) do you still think the way that you do? Things are relatively safe, etc.
We are steadily looking for work in KSA and even got a call from a recruiter last week. Prior to all of this developing, I would have gone in a heartbeat. Maybe not initially, but after speaking with so locals and reading online, I learned how safe it is! After some changes in the region...I'm questioning things. By nature, I'm not a risk taker and think things through carefully...always. Sometimes a positive...other times a negative. ; )
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Post by vpainter on Jul 26, 2014 22:11:34 GMT
We think the same as we did before. Safer here than in a major city in the U.S.
No place on earth is your safety guaranteed, so no one can promise that you will be safe here and nothing will happen to you.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Jul 27, 2014 12:39:59 GMT
If we're still talking about the situation in Iraq then unless there's something I've missed, I'm not aware of any significant new developments since the beginning of this thread, that materially alter the situation.
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