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Post by Famwelnl on Jun 8, 2015 8:46:19 GMT
Dear all,
I have found a lot information on this forum, thank you! My husband just received an offer last week, and we are about to send the offer back with all the required documents. We are from the Netherlands and I am looking for some specific information regarding Jazan. My husband will be working as a supervisor in Jazan, which means that the first period he will work remote, and after the plant opens we will live there. Now I am wondering if we can decide where we live in the meantime, as we are not housed on a Aramco camp? I have done some research for an international school (we have 2 boys of 3 and 4 years old) and it seems that the ISG in Jubail has space for coming academic year. We would like to settle over there if possible or maybe even in Jeddah as the commute from Jeddah to Jazan is much shorter. Anyone in the same position?
Besides I am also wondering if there are any Dutch people / families working for Aramco? And if anyone is teaching Dutch? I am planning to homeschool the Dutch language, but I am not sure how and what the best method is.
Thank you!
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Post by ieav on Jun 9, 2015 9:53:27 GMT
o Famwelnl,
I have also been hired for the Jazan refinery and me and my family will arrive to Dhahran on 27 July. I have asked about Jazan before and received little answer. I'm happy to tell you what I know so far.
Jazan refinery is under construction and based on what I've read (Middle East Economic Digest) its still on the early stages. As there is no permanent housing in Jazan, employees are supposed to commute every week from Dhahran to Jazan on a Sunday morning, stay 4 nights in temporary, on-site accommodation and come back to their families on Thursday afternoon to stay for the (Saudi) weekend (Friday, Saay). Since this situation involves commuting and family separation, there will be some additional allowances such as Remote Location and Commuting allowance.
We also won't live in the Dhahran camp or any Aramco leased compounds because they're all full. We will be given the Rental Assitance Allowance (which I find generous) and the freedom to choose our own accommodation. Naturally, with such allowance I'm expecting to find a nice accommodation in an intl. compound rather than just renting an apartment/house in the city.
I also strongly considered staying in Jeddah. After a long research, I found out several shortcomings, first of all is that Jeddah has far fewer international compounds than Khobar. I did not find any compound with availability, only loooong waiting lists. Second is that, even if the commute is shorter, its more problematic: from Dhahran, the travel is on an Aramco plane, while from Jeddah, there is no Aramco flight yet and the commute would have to be on commercial airlines (limited flights/seats and you may have to pay for your own flight each time). In the future, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) might be a good option, as very soon there will be high speed train to the Jeddah airport (Haramain railway), housing is being already built there and its more an international community. Jeddah new airport is also in an advance state and there also plans for a new airport in Jazan.
However, after all that research, my relocation advisor has finally told me that I'd start in Dhahran for 1 - 1.5 years before my work starts in Jazan. I expect it could be well more than that, given the big challenges of the Jazan project. For housing to be available in Jazan, I expect that it will take even longer.
Now, we are looking for compounds in Khobar and some of them look really nice. You may have already read that living out-camp has another challenges, specially schooling for children.
Before making any plans, make sure about the initial work location. I'll try to write more information once I join in August.
Finally, we are not Dutch, but always open to learn new languages and cultures!
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Post by Famwelnl on Jun 14, 2015 19:36:29 GMT
Thank you for all the useful information! We don't really know where our initial location will be. During the interview they told us that we will start in Daharan. However I searched the net for schools in Daharan/ Khobar, but everything was full. I found an American (ISG) school in Jubail, but in Jubail there are much fewer compounds. So now I am a bit stuck, also because I have so little information to work with. I don't know yet when we will be there and where we will be in the beginning.
I also received some little information regarding Jazan, they told us that it would take at least a few years to build community over there. Furthermore, we were also told that the initial working location will be decided upon arrival. When Jazan starts operating, my husband will commute in the same cycle as you are (4 days in Jazan on the refinery and 2,5 days at home). I hope that we will receive some more information on the orientation.
Do you also have children? How did you sort it out with schools?
We'll keep in touch!
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Post by durlan on Jun 15, 2015 6:23:59 GMT
Thanks @iaev for the detailed reply.
I am also accepted a position with the Jazan project and I am currently undergoing contingencies etc. Don't know how long it shall take.
I am really concerned about the housing and mostly schooling arrangements in Khobar. I wonder if relocation to Jazan after 1~1.5 years is applicable to me or not (Inspection Department) and what are the plans for building Aramco housing facilities in Jazan.
Please advise if you get some updates on this issue once you join.
Thanks
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Post by Famwelnl on Jun 23, 2015 14:57:56 GMT
Meanwhile we are in the process of getting the degrees and the marital certificate attested. We haven't heard back (yet) what the initial working place will be. We have found a school in Jubail, and discussed it with or relocation advisor. She thinks that it will be possible to live in Jubail, if my husband will work in Khobar or Daharan. In Khobar I found out that Zamil and Arabian Village offer kindergarten on the compound. I can't seem to find anything on the quality of the schools. However I think it would be ok if it's for a few months. I hope that we will be there in the new year (like January) so I can submit my children to all the schools in Khobar/Daharan and let them take the assessments in March. My children are 3 and 4 years old, so they need to go to kindergarten 1 and kindergarten 2 next year. My preference would be the American system, as I assume that we will be moved to Jazan eventually and we will live there on the Aramco compound and they will attend the Aramco schools.
@ Durlan, how old are your children? And where are you in the process?
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Post by GroveWanderer on Jun 24, 2015 11:57:05 GMT
Up to now, I have not heard of any plans to build an Aramco compound in Jazan. Have you received some indication that they are planning to build one?
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rft
Member
Posts: 27
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Post by rft on Jun 24, 2015 16:45:42 GMT
I've heard that an aramco community and industrial city will be built around the Jazzan Refinery, much like RT. But I'm sure any work on the housing community will not start until after the refinery is commissioned and operational.
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Post by Famwelnl on Jun 25, 2015 18:54:55 GMT
I also received information that they are building community. I asked (just before accepting the offer), when this will be finished. We were told that realistically it will take a few years to complete the community. Meanwhile my husband will commute, and is Jazan considered to be a remote location.
I also asked if we will be housed there, however I didn't receive a confirmation (yet) upon that. However I assume, as my husband will already be working there, that we will live within the community (maybe naïve). Moreover because in the Jazan area there doesn't seem to be an other option, as there are no compounds or international schools in that area.
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Post by durlan on Jun 27, 2015 8:08:18 GMT
FamwelnlI am pretty much done with all the formalities like BI, Attestations and even Visa Medical. Next step is to submit my passport for Visa Stamping (Visa block is available). So I guess it would be another 3 months or so when I move to KSA. I am from Pakistan currently residing in UAE. I have two kids, elder one is 5.5 years old who needs to enroll in Grade-I in the upcoming session. The younger one shall join the Kindergaton-I in next session. I would be looking for American Curriculum school in Khobar area.
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Post by ieav on Jun 29, 2015 9:37:22 GMT
Famwelnl, I sent you a PM. Have a great day
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Post by Famwelnl on Jun 29, 2015 17:26:47 GMT
Thank you for all the information! We are now in the hassle of getting everything sorted.. But we're getting there. ieav, thank you for your PM. I will ask the moderators, if I can have permission to answer. If I understand correctly it will take an x amount of posts or time before you get the privilege to send pm's. |
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Post by durlan on Jul 1, 2015 11:18:39 GMT
GC12 on EASTERN PAYROLL is eligible for Remote Area Allowance and Overtime payment or not if he is assigned to JAZAN project?
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Post by durlan on Jul 3, 2015 19:03:54 GMT
I wish i could get a reply to my above question ^^^^.
A few extra bucks will surely help me place my family in better circumstances while I am away working in Jazan.
Fingers crossed!!!
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Post by Famwelnl on Jul 6, 2015 9:21:39 GMT
@ Durlan, I don't know anything about Eastern Payroll. We accepted the offer upon Global payroll. Sorry can't help you.
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Post by triplecrown on Jul 18, 2015 19:29:24 GMT
Hi!
Recently I was offered a position for the Jazan Power Plant as Console Operator and currently in the process of background screen checks, certificate attestations, and etc.
Though I am having second thoughts of coming over due primarily to security concerns particularly in the Kingdom's border (Najran and Jazan Area).
Can anybody enlighten me regarding the current situation? By the way I am working here in the UAE.
Thanks!
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