Offer and life in Dhahran

1. No, but you need to be out of the UK for one full tax year (so if you leave 10 April, you need to do nearly 2 years out of UK). If you rent your UK property, that ys taxable, but you still get your tax free allowance.

2. We were offered in USD (which the SAR is tied to). We were paid in 2 currencies - we kept what we needed straight into a local account, and got the rest straight back to the uk. There used to be a currency exchange guarantee, but think it's been watered down since we left.

3. Dont know. We came over at a time when camp accomadation was scarce, and lived off camp. I'd guess 3. Bigger rooms, American in feel.

4. Your call. We went British (off camp, see above). It was fine, but if you are used to Private English, you will be left flat.

5 No. Except very briefly when applying for visas etc. Yes, exit Visa required to leave KSA. We got multiexit visas, which last 3 months or 12 months. Bizarrely renewing every 3 months was cheeper, but we just went for annual to remove applications.

6. Yours, yes. Your dependants, no.

7. Youd need to check current policy.

8. We were there 5 years, with primary school aged kids. It can be a great life, and we saved lots. It can also be a difficult place to live, and living away comes with its own plusses and stresses, wherever you are. Only go if both you and your wife are onboard with an adventure and both want to make it work.