Sam,
I will be extremely sorry to see you go..... I will be back there on Friday so hope to attend your masalama.....
Midseal... send me a PM with your details and I might be able to find Capt G.
VH-cheerup.
Jeddah is VERY different to Riyadh, but your standard of life depends totally on where you live. If you decide to rent a road side apartment you will have a hard time meeting expats. I suggest that you find out what compound your company plans to base you in. If they are going to give you an allowance, let us know and we will find you some web addresses of compounds. The summer temperatures are around 45C, so forget walking to work!
Jeddah is what you make of it, in bygone years it was a paradise. These days expats are keeping their heads down and their number is rapidly dwindling. But i still feel safer there than in some European / US cities..
In the words that i was given on arrival..."if you like your job, you will love Jeddah"... but just make sure that you have a bag full of patience....
Mutt.