Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2022 17:58:20 GMT
I would like to ask, If a Western expat did not like the offered housing (due to size or condition) and wanted to live outside Aramco compound, does Aramco give them the Housing allowance? and how much? You won’t get that as an option. It’s like it or lump it. |
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Post by mcake on Oct 9, 2022 19:26:14 GMT
I would like to ask, If a Western expat did not like the offered housing (due to size or condition) and wanted to live outside Aramco compound, does Aramco give them the Housing allowance? and how much? I was told that I will not get housing allowance if I refuse the offered housing. |
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Post by BlueStaff on Oct 10, 2022 2:55:12 GMT
Housing allowance is only available where there is no suitable Aramco housing available. The GI was changed to state this about 5 years ago.
Either you take what you get or you pay for it out of your own pocket.
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Aly1128
Newbie
Posts: 7
Job Status: Accepted Aramco Job
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Post by Aly1128 on Oct 10, 2022 18:36:04 GMT
Thank you all
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arcticengineer
Senior Member
Posts: 180
Job Status: Accepted Aramco Job
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Post by arcticengineer on Oct 14, 2022 5:08:04 GMT
I would like to ask, If a Western expat did not like the offered housing (due to size or condition) and wanted to live outside Aramco compound, does Aramco give them the Housing allowance? and how much? Just realize you will be living in a developing country. Have reasonable to low expectations in regards to housing. If you are looking for a more Western type lifestyle in the Middle East, look for jobs in Dubai, not Saudi. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2022 6:13:49 GMT
I would like to ask, If a Western expat did not like the offered housing (due to size or condition) and wanted to live outside Aramco compound, does Aramco give them the Housing allowance? and how much? Just realize you will be living in a developing country. Have reasonable to low expectations in regards to housing. If you are looking for a more Western type lifestyle in the Middle East, look, for jobs in Dubai, not Saudi. Exactly, the sooner one sets these kind of expectations internally, the easier it is to adapt and ‘just get on with it’. Aramco housing is what it is. You can move after 2 years, BUT that will be nigh on impossible as you’ll only have 250-300 housing points… You’ll be competing with offers in the 800 range, from locals with 20 years of points and/or Wasta that enable them to jump the queue. |
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Oct 14, 2022 13:20:29 GMT
I must admit, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how my home (town house in the hills) has changed as I’ve decorated and the provided stuff has left. The bathrooms and kitchen are dated and most have no natural light but the houses have flow, decent layout, good sized rooms, plenty of stoe and are very basic white walls and light floor tiles, the ubiquitous tea coloured carpet upstairs apart, so easy to put your own style on. I wouldn’t buy it or put it in my top ten but it’s absolutely no way close to the worst employer provided house we’ve had - i got poisoned in one and another had a gas supply that turned out to be a hosepipe that was siphoning off from the US embassy 😂 . Maintenance are prompt and really want to get it right, safety is taken seriously. And it’s cheap as chips.
And I say this with kindness, genuinely, best to lose the concept of “western expat” as in it meaning anything will be be different for you. It won’t help you settle in, can be a huge barrier to accepting the differences.
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Post by BlueStaff on Oct 15, 2022 13:56:38 GMT
I would hardly call Saudi Arabia a developing country. Sure some places have their "rustic charm" - but there are places equally as "devoloping" in the US, The UK and elsewhere.
Really with that sort of racist atude why are you there?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2022 8:45:08 GMT
I would hardly call Saudi Arabia a developing country. Sure some places have their "rustic charm" - but there are places equally as "devoloping" in the US, The UK and elsewhere. Really with that sort of racist atude why are you there? The IMF, OCD and others state Saudi Arabia as a developing country. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I don't think the post was being racist, merely stating one needs to adjust their views to get the most out of living here! |
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Oct 16, 2022 12:36:58 GMT
Just realize you will be living in a developing country. Have reasonable to low expectations in regards to housing. If you are looking for a more Western type lifestyle in the Middle East, look, for jobs in Dubai, not Saudi. Exactly, the sooner one sets these kind of expectations internally, the easier it is to adapt and ‘just get on with it’. Aramco housing is what it is. You can move after 2 years, BUT that will be nigh on impossible as you’ll only have 250-300 housing points… You’ll be competing with offers in the 800 range, from locals with 20 years of points and/or Wasta that enable them to jump the queue. What is WASTA, please? |
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jrs
Senior Member
Posts: 379
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Post by jrs on Oct 16, 2022 13:06:42 GMT
“Wasta or wāsita (Arabic: واسِطة, romanized: wāsiṭah) is an Arabic word that loosely translates into nepotism, 'clout' or 'who you know'.” - Wikipedia
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Oct 17, 2022 6:07:50 GMT
“Wasta or wāsita (Arabic: واسِطة, romanized: wāsiṭah) is an Arabic word that loosely translates into nepotism, 'clout' or 'who you know'.” - Wikipedia Thank you! I’ve heard the word but not seen it written. I honestly thought it was an acronym there, couldn’t figure it out 😆 |
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Post by dhaalum on Oct 24, 2022 20:03:47 GMT
I would like to ask, If a Western expat did not like the offered housing (due to size or condition) and wanted to live outside Aramco compound, does Aramco give them the Housing allowance? and how much? Only if non-US payroll, and I'm not sure if it applies for your first housing assignment on arrival. I don't know the amount since I'm an American. |
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Aly1128
Newbie
Posts: 7
Job Status: Accepted Aramco Job
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Post by Aly1128 on Nov 3, 2022 13:38:16 GMT
I would like to ask, If a Western expat did not like the offered housing (due to size or condition) and wanted to live outside Aramco compound, does Aramco give them the Housing allowance? and how much? No. Based on my own experience within the past 2 months. Thanks, would you elaborate more why you wanted to live outside too, I am scheduled to arrive to Dhahran next month ! |
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jrs
Senior Member
Posts: 379
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Post by jrs on Nov 9, 2022 8:12:20 GMT
Although dated, I find most of the houses livable, maintained, and very functional. Yes, you may be able to get a more modern and nicer house on another western compound in nearby Khobar or Dammam, but it will be much more expensive than the highly subsidized housing Aramco provides. However, IMO the biggest negative living outside Dhahran will be missing the community, convivence and social aspect of being in Dhahran.
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