Questions about Life in Dhahran

Automobiles/Transportation/Driving:
1. As far as I've heard and know, any car imported must have a clear le. You could possibly call the Saudi Embassy in Houston and find out more.
2. No, golf cars are not allowed to be used for personal use in DHA. The other compounds can because their smaller.
3. Yes, women can drive on any of the Aramco compounds: DHA, RT, ABQ, UDH with the driver's license from your home country or an international driver's license.
4. There are buses who take employees to different job sites.
5. Yes, new hires do get a loan for new cars with some dealers. You will need to have your iqama. There are also some good used cars/SUV's on the Aramco Classifieds which you will be able to access once you are here.
6. Yes, you can own two cars.
Schools/Education:
1. Yes, there is a preschool in Dhahran. There are some private preschools who take 3 years old, sort of like a Mother's Day Out program, these are located in ladies' homes.
2. You can sign your kids up for swim lessons through recreation. (I do not know if this is seasonal) There are private swim teachers especially during the summer.
Clothing/Shopping:
1. We have two commissaries in Dhahran. The large one has a coffee bar, bakery, Saudi dessert counter, deli with meats, cheese, olives, some cheeses, salads, and fresh meat/some seafood; a nut counter and phone counter, magazines (some censored), and the rest like a medium grocery store in the U.S. with some U.S. products and other International foods, with some imported and local produce. The smaller commissary has a coffee bar, Cinnabon and a pharmacy and a smaller version of the larger commissary. There are several local grocery stores: Tamimi and LuLu's are favorites (large - feel like ones in the U.S.), plus Panda and "Farm 5" Stores.
We've brought in microwave mac n cheese, baked beans, some cereals, face moisturizer, some vitamins (there is a GNC here and some are available, some are expensive)
You can pretty much find what you need. You learn to stock up on items that seem to come and go, and you find out what you need to bring in the next time you go out of kingdom.
2. Online shopping - uh - can work or not work, no guarantees, many times insurance doesn't work coming here. Over 10+ years, we've had one order that did not ever come. We ordered again and it arrived, but we paid twice. DHL can arrive in 3 days to 2 weeks. USPS Global International Envelope and boxes can arrive in 10 - 15 days usually, but we had one arrive in 3 months, because U.S. customs took it, then Saudi customs took it - wasn't anything in it, but mail and a book. We did receive it all. But again, that was only once.
Communications:
1. Don't know the up/download speed, but others have posted theirs in the forum. We pay $49/month for DSL. Some homes have fiber optic available in DHA, not all.
2. Skype works, Vonage works, other broadbands work.
3. Cell phones and the iphones are all unlocked and available here, just make sure you're getting the real thing, fakes are available here also. Friends have these phones, I don't, so can't tell you cost.
4. We use Vonage, others use Skpe, others use other broadbands.
5. TV stations are U.S. and other European and international stations. Some U.S. programming is live during the night and then shows again our next day. Some series are a year or two behind. Some people set up a Sling Box in the U.S. and watch U.S. cable TV over the internet through the Sling Box. Information on Satellite TV service is available on arrival in the Community Services Office and you'll be shown where that office is.
Movies at the theater are 6 months to a year old, but new releases can be seen in Bahrain.
Household Goods:
1. Yes you can ship all your household goods up to your weight allowance. That will be paid for by Aramco, any over weight is on you. Read the relocation guide and then email me regarding anything you have questions on. The book is a little outdated, some things listed can be brought in. vpainter29@yahoo.com
2. Yes, up to a stated weight. Your shipping allowance should be stated in your offer. Aramco does not pay for stoe of household goods in the U.S., but it is a tax deduction for citizens living overseas.
Housing:
1. An employee with spouse and 1 child will receive a 2 bedroom townhouse. There are 6 different models of these homes. One will be assigned to you upon arrival, you can bid for a different house after you've been here 3 years, if you want to change. The bidding process can be long and frustrating with it being dependent upon a point system, but most people who want to move, eventually do.
This townhouse will have 2 bedrooms, LR, DR, kitchen, some have a breakfast area, some models have a study. Bathrooms are either 2 full or 2 1/2 baths. A one car gae and a driveway. People with 2 cars park one in the gae, one in the driveway. Or if they've built in the gae for another room or collect lots of stuff - park one in the driveway and one in the street. Or do what we did and lay paving squares next to the driveway to extend it for two cars. Usually there is a store room in the gae or off the gae.
2. Some pictures are in the forum.
3. 120V is in all the homes in DHA, with a 220v plug for the dryer area. Some homes have 220v plugs in the kitchen. We've been sent an email letter stating that the homes will be changed to 220v, but it is going to happen over about 10 years.
Extracurricular Activities:
1. Yes, there is an active scuba club and PADI instructors and a NAUI instructor are in camp. There are diving trips during the year.
2. Play groups, pools, neighborhood playgrounds - some ballet and gymnastics for little ones, I've heard about, don't have little ones.
Clothing:
1. No, just wear loose clothing: pants or long skirt and a long blouse that covers elbows and hips. Although, some people have come in with short sleeves and capris. You are met and taken to the Aramco office inside the airport, you'll have someone from your work group pick you and your family up and take you to your house. Usually they'll pick you up and take you to work after a day of rest.
2. Women can wear any clothes they wore back home on camp. Shorts are definitely ok. We have one building on camp - Al Majama that asks for conservative clothing to be worn inside. It is where the post office and Community Services office, and other offices are located. Women do go there in their sleeveless blouses and knee length shorts. Shorter shorts are seen around camp.
3. There is a Women's Exchange Group that has some clothing. But Dhahran Mall is just outside Dhahran Compound and there are women's, men's, and children's clothing available there and also Rashid Mall and the Souq area and other stores. There are usually no try-on rooms. You make your purchase, go to the public restroom where there are some try-on rooms and then return or exchange it if you don't like it or it doesn't fit. Many people just buy their clothes when they go home on vacation, or go to Bahrain or other countries.
Other:
1. If you'll send me her contact info in a private (PM) message, I'll pass it on to someone with hopes they'll contact her. No guarantees for anyone else.
2. The employees mother/father, brothers/sisters and in-laws and their kids can come and receive 5 year visitor visas at this time (visitor visa's change whenever). Length of stay at one time, I'm not sure. The spouse's same family members can get a single entry/exit visitor visa good for 3 to 6 months - have heard on occasion someone getting a multi entry/exit for wife's family, but mostly I've heard not.

Hope this helps.

bless as you make this decision.

Vpainter pretty much covered it all except for one recent change. DHL no longer imports into KSA with the Aramco discount. There are services who do import however (Aramex, etc).

For cars, you must have the le. I do know of a few people who had outstanding credit, good relations with their bank, and were able to get the le from the bank while still under financing. As long as you have that le and the car is within 5 years old you should be ok.

Good luck!

Contact info sent two 2 ladies. I hope they contact you.

I have a couple of friends who use the slingbox. They are happy with it. Although, on occasion they need someone back in the states to reset it. Turn it off and back on. They have a DVr here and record their favorite programs to watch during our day time and at their leisure.