Post by Aurora Borealis on Oct 8, 2012 17:38:25 GMT
I am a new arrival at Dhahran in the Exploration and Engineering Department. I just wish to share my view point from my personal experiences for new hires looking or preparing to comeing to Saudi Aramco for the first time...
• Do not arrive during a holiday periods or a holiday week if avoidable.
• Strong recommendation/Suggestion: Employee member to come first as soon as possible post visa issue, family to remain behind in the comfort of their country and home. Family members to depart and join employee member just before 90 days visa period expires. Even if it is not the 80-90 days, a few weeks lead time for the employee member in Saudi will help greatly before family comes.
• Do not bring your family with you, it is difficult and frustrating enough for a single individual to arrive and jump through all the initial startup hoops to get the freedom to do things locally. Save your family the frustration and anxiety, allow them when they arrive to enjoy the transition with limited frustration, the culture shock is enough for them to handle.
• Make sure that you apply for your families visit at the same time as yours. There is a 90 day window from the time visas are issued to expiry. It will make the visa process a lot smoother for all if visas are obtained at the same time of employee then applying when you arrive at Aramco later.
• Be prepared to have limited transportation (only local buses service, or the charity of local Aramcons) for the first 2-4 weeks till you receive your residency card, which then allows you to obtain your Saudi driver’s license, which allows you to rent/hire a car from the many firms off camp (the exception is if you have a GCC driver’s license or an international driver’s license permit - Budget Car Hire/Rental). The on camp rental companies do not have sufficient cars if any for new arrives. (It really helps to have transportation with family).
• Do not expect your e-box to arrive with you or anytime shortly after your arrival. You will be required to complete paperwork locally (Saudi) to have the e-box approved for shipping which is provided during your new hire orientation. Expect your e-box to arrive 10-14 days after your arrive via air shipment. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your family members pack essential items in it that you may have forgotten or you find required during your first week in Saudi.
• Receive approval from your line manager before you depart to return back within 90 days for a short duration to help your family pack and to bring them with you. Line managers are generally very accommo......... with this issue.
• Money: Bring at least 3000-5000 SAR with you. You can cash cheques from North American Banks locally, but do not dependent on that. Be prepared to rely on your Visa/MasterCard for large purchases in the first few weeks. There is no wage advance here, so you will not be able to depend on that. Payroll cut off is ~ 19th of every month for submission of paperwork; salaries are paid into accounts approximately last Tuesday of every month.
• All paperwork which has been submitted to your hiring coordinator, make sure you bring a copy of it. Do not rely or assume that paperwork has been submitted, take all your submitted paperwork and verify with each department that they have the correct information.
• When you arrive, have your department sponsor show you where the bus stop is to catch the bus, also ask him to explain how the bus schedule works (this is provided in your new home). Ask him to show you where the dining hall and commissary (there are 2 full size and 1 mini commissary) is on the map and if possible drive you to the physical location the same night you arrive. This will give you the option to catch the bus and obtain hot food or additional groceries as required immediately, especially if you come with your family or on a national holiday schedule.
• Communication: A landline and immediate access to international dialing will be available to all arrivals at their residences on arrival; therefore you can advise your family you are safe. Sim cards with individuals with unlocked cell phones (if you do not have an unlocked phone, go to your local store and buy a cheap one) can be obtained during working hours at the administration building from the 3 local providers (recommendation is Mobily or STC). Internet can also be obtained via these provided either in the form of mobile data or a 3/4G Wifi Home Router packages as soon as you arrive. Aramco internet will be several weeks off, so these options will help you get started till then and get you up and running.
• Traffic Rules: Be very careful, on camp you can not turn right on red light signals, but off camp you are allowed to turn right on red lights signals. With respect to STOP signs, no rolling stops on camp (stop and count to 3), otherwise the compound security will fine you. All traffic infractions are taken seriously on compound by you or your family members, it will affect your yearly merit increase and you will be given a speech by your department manager on the infraction.
• Process List/Guide: You will receive a list of items you will need to complete at your new hire orientation. This list will guide you through the items pre and post Iqama (residency card), it is very thorough, so do not worry about “how am I going to get through this” feeling.
I truly hope this helps some of you individual during your process...
Cheers
• Do not arrive during a holiday periods or a holiday week if avoidable.
• Strong recommendation/Suggestion: Employee member to come first as soon as possible post visa issue, family to remain behind in the comfort of their country and home. Family members to depart and join employee member just before 90 days visa period expires. Even if it is not the 80-90 days, a few weeks lead time for the employee member in Saudi will help greatly before family comes.
• Do not bring your family with you, it is difficult and frustrating enough for a single individual to arrive and jump through all the initial startup hoops to get the freedom to do things locally. Save your family the frustration and anxiety, allow them when they arrive to enjoy the transition with limited frustration, the culture shock is enough for them to handle.
• Make sure that you apply for your families visit at the same time as yours. There is a 90 day window from the time visas are issued to expiry. It will make the visa process a lot smoother for all if visas are obtained at the same time of employee then applying when you arrive at Aramco later.
• Be prepared to have limited transportation (only local buses service, or the charity of local Aramcons) for the first 2-4 weeks till you receive your residency card, which then allows you to obtain your Saudi driver’s license, which allows you to rent/hire a car from the many firms off camp (the exception is if you have a GCC driver’s license or an international driver’s license permit - Budget Car Hire/Rental). The on camp rental companies do not have sufficient cars if any for new arrives. (It really helps to have transportation with family).
• Do not expect your e-box to arrive with you or anytime shortly after your arrival. You will be required to complete paperwork locally (Saudi) to have the e-box approved for shipping which is provided during your new hire orientation. Expect your e-box to arrive 10-14 days after your arrive via air shipment. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your family members pack essential items in it that you may have forgotten or you find required during your first week in Saudi.
• Receive approval from your line manager before you depart to return back within 90 days for a short duration to help your family pack and to bring them with you. Line managers are generally very accommo......... with this issue.
• Money: Bring at least 3000-5000 SAR with you. You can cash cheques from North American Banks locally, but do not dependent on that. Be prepared to rely on your Visa/MasterCard for large purchases in the first few weeks. There is no wage advance here, so you will not be able to depend on that. Payroll cut off is ~ 19th of every month for submission of paperwork; salaries are paid into accounts approximately last Tuesday of every month.
• All paperwork which has been submitted to your hiring coordinator, make sure you bring a copy of it. Do not rely or assume that paperwork has been submitted, take all your submitted paperwork and verify with each department that they have the correct information.
• When you arrive, have your department sponsor show you where the bus stop is to catch the bus, also ask him to explain how the bus schedule works (this is provided in your new home). Ask him to show you where the dining hall and commissary (there are 2 full size and 1 mini commissary) is on the map and if possible drive you to the physical location the same night you arrive. This will give you the option to catch the bus and obtain hot food or additional groceries as required immediately, especially if you come with your family or on a national holiday schedule.
• Communication: A landline and immediate access to international dialing will be available to all arrivals at their residences on arrival; therefore you can advise your family you are safe. Sim cards with individuals with unlocked cell phones (if you do not have an unlocked phone, go to your local store and buy a cheap one) can be obtained during working hours at the administration building from the 3 local providers (recommendation is Mobily or STC). Internet can also be obtained via these provided either in the form of mobile data or a 3/4G Wifi Home Router packages as soon as you arrive. Aramco internet will be several weeks off, so these options will help you get started till then and get you up and running.
• Traffic Rules: Be very careful, on camp you can not turn right on red light signals, but off camp you are allowed to turn right on red lights signals. With respect to STOP signs, no rolling stops on camp (stop and count to 3), otherwise the compound security will fine you. All traffic infractions are taken seriously on compound by you or your family members, it will affect your yearly merit increase and you will be given a speech by your department manager on the infraction.
• Process List/Guide: You will receive a list of items you will need to complete at your new hire orientation. This list will guide you through the items pre and post Iqama (residency card), it is very thorough, so do not worry about “how am I going to get through this” feeling.
I truly hope this helps some of you individual during your process...
Cheers
