Warnings Westerners in Saudi Arabia

[metro301]

Got this email from the Canadian Embassy today:

The Canadian Embassy has received reliable information that threats of
a terrorist nature may be in the final planning stages within the
Kingdom.

This information indicates the oil industry may be targeted as well as
compounds housing foreigners. Also, there may be possible threats
against westerners in public places. Canadian citizens are advised to avoid
public areas for the foreseeable future and ensure security measures
and procedures are in place to minimize any threat.

[6000PIC]

You really couldn`t pay me enough to live and work in that .....environment. What a shame with all those good VFR days.

[Earl]

There has been more severe warnings than this one Metro.
Sad thing is that they are most of the time correct.
Talk to some of the few remaining expats there and they will give you some good tips and information.

[MarDeFrance]

Saudi Arabia is in a big geographical scale. Good place to do biz and time building. The hazard is most likely to be in small towns
But in capital Riyadh or main city Jeddah it still peaceful. The only thing that the people dislike is seeing the ladies in indecent dress. But over all they are kind and friendly.

[MarDeFrance]

also see links

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=Riyadh

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=Riyadh

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=Riyadh

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=Riyadh

[Ray Darr]

OK, sort of a wind-up here, but...

Originally Posted by MarDeFrance

But in capital Riyadh or main city Jeddah it still peaceful.

Considering that various people have been murdered over the past few years - bombings; gunned down while sitting at a traffic light; compounds machine-gunned, etc. I guess compared to central Baghdad that could be "still peaceful" but it's not my cuppa...

Originally Posted by MarDeFrance

The only thing that the people dislike is seeing the ladies in indecent dress.

HUH???? Go to (any named country) and see women walking around dressed in summer-skirts, high heels, bikini-tops, etc...and NOBODY is stopping and staring, or bleeping their car horns, or making rude, sick suggestive comments, etc...BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED NORMAL in most places of the world. "Indecent"?? Bah.


Sadly, it seems these warnings the various Embassy's send out are well founded. "Enjoy your stay"

[Semaphore Sam]

I lived in Jeddah 27 years; left summer of '05. My last 3 years I spent various spells of up to a week doing standby in downtown Riyadh, (and one stretch of 45 straight days), out of a major hotel. We were told not to leave the hotel under any circs, except to go to work...that was not in the cards, as hotel food would have broken me, and I had to get internet access, and just had to GET OUT of that little box. When walking on the streets, I was given stares (that happened from the beginning, during the '70's) but no overt hostility. If one dressed conservatively, treated people with friendly respect, and prudently kept to openly public areas (no closed neighborhoods), there was never a problem. When the threats to Westerners became palpable, one varied the times of going out, the routes to internet cafes and local cafes...but one continued to go. With no exception, all local Saudis, and other Muslims (Yemenis, Indians, Egyptians, everyone) were even more friendly, and accomodating. I still have my neck, and wish I were back there. Saudi Arabia is a hauntingly interesting place to live and work, and the people, even those who would have cut my throat, fascinating...I'm still hypnotized.

[metro301]

Originally Posted by Ray Darr

OK, sort of a wind-up here, but...
Considering that various people have been murdered over the past few years - bombings; gunned down while sitting at a traffic light; compounds machine-gunned, etc. I guess compared to central Baghdad that could be "still peaceful" but it's not my cuppa...

Yes, there is a danger; however, having lived in the USA for several years the chances of getting shot or robbed in ------- (insert name of any large US city), are pretty much equal to Saudi in my opinion. One difference being is that here you get a warning from your embassy.

I have to agree with the statements of Semaphore Sam on this one.

[mutt]

and wish I were back there

They are extending contracts to 65, DM/RW and a few others are on special projects with salary as they await the ICAO ruling to come into effect... So why not come back??

Mutt.

[punkalouver]

Originally Posted by metro301

Yes, there is a danger; however, having lived in the USA for several years the chances of getting shot or robbed in ------- (insert name of any large US city), are pretty much equal to Saudi in my opinion. One difference being is that here you get a warning from your embassy.
I have to agree with the statements of Semaphore Sam on this one.

Except in the U.S. you are one of 300 million people who could be a target. In Saudi, you are one in however few expats there are over there and you probably stick out like a sore thumb. How many expats compounds are there. Now you know your odds if another one is to get hit.

[metro301]

Personally, I would love to see the statistics of violent acts per 1000 of population in say a city like New York or Chicago.

I just never bothered to look it up before, I would bet it is higher than acts of violence per 1000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia.

[punkalouver]

Perhaps, but it's pretty easy to avoid the bad areas in Chicago. How do you do that in Saudi?

[Fool 'n' Tameez]

By avoiding districts like Suwaidi in Riyadh?

[Desert Diner]

Basicaly it's come done to avoiding alot of places these days