It all depends on how long you are going to be working in Saudi and how often you will be traveling back to the USA.
You can bring up to 10k back on your person without having to declare it.
Opening an account takes about 20 minutes these days with an Igama (work/residence visa). All the major banks have internet service.
A bank transfer from Saudi is cheap, like $7. BUT... the transfer company receiving it in the USA and your bank will also charge a fee. Usually about $15 or $20 a piece. For a high end total of $47.
You will not be able to beat the exchange rate given to you in the middle east for changing Saudi Riyals to USD.
I try to carry the cash or travelers checks back and store enough money in the bank to cover the bills state side.
There are money changers all over the place that will change your Riyals to $$. Some give better rates than the banks do. If you change at a bank in Saudi, you will need an account.
If you are working on an Igama (work/residence visa), I hope you are not out of the country when it expires because you won't be getting back in without paying huge fines and suffering huge headaches. A frozen bank account is the least of your worries at that point. The banks will send you a text message a month before they freeze your account.
Last edited by metro301; 27th Jul 2009 at 23:52.