Post by Nemo on Aug 29, 2014 22:18:48 GMT
I am going to share my arrival and first week experience in this forum in exchange for all the info I was provided with during the long relocation process.
I departed from home with my family (including 2 small kids of 3.5 and 2 years), 10 dish barrels, 11 pieces of luggage and 2 car seats to be checked in. I managed to plan a very smooth trip to the airport and to have a porter waiting for us over there (yes there is porter service in our small Airport, door 5, ask for my friend Cee, the "no worry" man). The porter was very helpful, we decided to wrap every piece of luggage and dish barrel and then proceed to check in, we got at the airport with plenty of time to do all that and to have a nice rack of ribs at Montana's as a farewell!
All the flights were on time, we arrive at the airport in Dammam and there was a brand new Aramco lounge before immigration, an Aramco rep is waiting for people, checking names and ask the new arrivals and families to sit and wait and then we were directed to an immigration line that was only processing Aramco new comers. It was very quick, let's say 20 minutes. Then we ha to collect the 23 pieces of luggages with the help of 3 porters and we went to the Aramco office to give our passports, get the copies, and receive temporary yellow id cards. A co worker from my department was waiting for me (that was a very nice detail). We only had a minor issue with the amount of luggage we brought and the fact that we had only 1 taxi assigned (I had requested my relo advisor for more than 1 taxi due to the luggage volume but she had to miss work the whole week before my travel day so my request was not processed timely). We managed to have another taxi for the luggage and we got a lift with my co worker.
This place was a big surprise for me, the Tower by itself is as nice as it looks in pictures, luxury is a good word to describe it. The city by itself was a great surprise, I had very low expectations and wow! it is way more than what I had in mind.
First week at work was slow, just going through what my boss calls the arab bureaucracy, certainly a lot of paperwork that will put you to go to so many places and it is then when you realize you are working for a monster organization, but hey, remember you are already in payroll, so they will pay your time to do paperwork, not that bad deal after all.
For iqama, etc just don't worry and follow the dotted line that will be given to you during orientation. Make sure all your info is correct. Bring with you all the school records for your kids and immunization records as for some reason the school didn't happen to receive the updates I sent to my relo advisor.
Life in the tower is nice, we are very close to everything and after we can get a car it will be easier. The residents association is very helpful so please sign up to the cooperative first thing after arrival so you could have access to a lot of info available here.
I gotta go to sleep, but I am open to answer any question you might have.
I departed from home with my family (including 2 small kids of 3.5 and 2 years), 10 dish barrels, 11 pieces of luggage and 2 car seats to be checked in. I managed to plan a very smooth trip to the airport and to have a porter waiting for us over there (yes there is porter service in our small Airport, door 5, ask for my friend Cee, the "no worry" man). The porter was very helpful, we decided to wrap every piece of luggage and dish barrel and then proceed to check in, we got at the airport with plenty of time to do all that and to have a nice rack of ribs at Montana's as a farewell!
All the flights were on time, we arrive at the airport in Dammam and there was a brand new Aramco lounge before immigration, an Aramco rep is waiting for people, checking names and ask the new arrivals and families to sit and wait and then we were directed to an immigration line that was only processing Aramco new comers. It was very quick, let's say 20 minutes. Then we ha to collect the 23 pieces of luggages with the help of 3 porters and we went to the Aramco office to give our passports, get the copies, and receive temporary yellow id cards. A co worker from my department was waiting for me (that was a very nice detail). We only had a minor issue with the amount of luggage we brought and the fact that we had only 1 taxi assigned (I had requested my relo advisor for more than 1 taxi due to the luggage volume but she had to miss work the whole week before my travel day so my request was not processed timely). We managed to have another taxi for the luggage and we got a lift with my co worker.
This place was a big surprise for me, the Tower by itself is as nice as it looks in pictures, luxury is a good word to describe it. The city by itself was a great surprise, I had very low expectations and wow! it is way more than what I had in mind.
First week at work was slow, just going through what my boss calls the arab bureaucracy, certainly a lot of paperwork that will put you to go to so many places and it is then when you realize you are working for a monster organization, but hey, remember you are already in payroll, so they will pay your time to do paperwork, not that bad deal after all.
For iqama, etc just don't worry and follow the dotted line that will be given to you during orientation. Make sure all your info is correct. Bring with you all the school records for your kids and immunization records as for some reason the school didn't happen to receive the updates I sent to my relo advisor.
Life in the tower is nice, we are very close to everything and after we can get a car it will be easier. The residents association is very helpful so please sign up to the cooperative first thing after arrival so you could have access to a lot of info available here.
I gotta go to sleep, but I am open to answer any question you might have.
We're scheduled to arrive on Sept. 22th.
