I don't think we're talking about the same compound.
The only one that I'm aware of is a block of 8-10 6 floor duplex apartment buildings with a small pool in the middle of the buildings. Close to the airport.
Best of my knowledge that contract has been cancelled.
The trucks are probably shunting the furniture out now !
Or maybe continue to shunt it in for some other company.
This cancellation was in anticipation of a mass exodus to RUH with the 20/10 as bait... ��

Aha, I'm talking about the original Saudia City.

Hi Ya'll...
History repeats...my family (and many others) waited 3 years in Sharbotly Village, and various others scattered in apartments around Jeddah, for the 'original Saudia City' to open; when it finally happened, my daughter came home with the news from PCS ('81, or '82) from 2nd or 3rd grade (news not announced to us, but to students at the school; 2 days allowed for move). Hardest was, having made 2 5-gallon jugs of red finest, I chickened out and dumped them (after having drunk as much as possible at open bar party) to make move. I always regretted my cowardice, until I heard of old hand brit stopped by police a few years ago and jailed, having been caught transporting red in car in Jeddah. I think he was threatened with flogging and whipping, and was finally deported. Good luck to all; who knows, Riyadh might not be as bad as most think. I have no regrets about my 27 years in the Magic Kingdom, friends I made were...Magic! Sam

Mutt.
If that's in fact the case and you are right, then that's the best news for most of us yet.
Most of us are rotting in 3rd grade damp backpacker hotel rooms with numerous complains falling on deaf ears.
This has to be the biggest let down with Saudia so far and is going to defer many a potential captain joining their ranks.

I fear that the RUH compound will further deter many new joiners. Hopefully the pics making their way around the forums are not correct.

Last news I received from the office mentioned a Hotel instead of a compound. Pray to stay away from the amazing Makarem...
Metro301 : where did you find the pics ?

Fireball, internal whatsapp groups, sorry I can't share the actual photos. They were being passed around yesterday by guys that saw the place.

Alright ! Thanks for the reply anyway :)

I have seen the compound.
Compound is an open compound completely unfinished. Work in progress with an open ended completion date. Smack in the middle of nowhere. Need a car to get to the closest mall. Some international schools within a 10 km radius but the one I visited for my pre teen kid was full upuntil 2018 ....!!! :eek:
I have seen it personally but I can't post the pics.
So for all RUH based pilots, think long think hard.

Hi guys,
Is Saudia hiring any expat DECs for B787 now?
What are the requirements for B787 DEC?
Howz the salary and roster?
Are pilots given a choice to choose a base, or it's decided by the company?
Thanks a lot.

I didn't think that they hired for the 787 at all during the last year as it's a desirable fleet. As for base, effective 1st March, the new Riyadh pilot base will open with immense fanfare and even more immense chaos, I would hazard a guess that any new hires would go there without any choice.
The plus side of RUH is 10 days off per month, the downsides include no place to live (presently), no family and lower salary due to less flying.

Thanks a lot mutt. I have around 10,000 hours. 5600 jet (all on B737s, mostly on B738.)
What positions can I apply for at Saudia? (like B747 or B777 FO etc.) And what are the salaries for 777/ 747 FOs?
Also, is there any bond if they train on new type?

With those hours you need to stay away as you will be a permanent First Officer if you join SVA. I also believe that they have stopped all foreign recruitment as its also rumoured that they wont renew expat FO contracts due to overstaffing.
If you operate under FAR's, get yourself typed, claim half your hours as PIC, and apply in this part of the world as PIC.

Thanks mutt.

Really?! Is this practice legit?

If the person is asked for PIC time, then its legit if somewhat grey!

No listing for 787 jobs. Looks like everything else though

Need some sort of assistance from SV Forummers
My son who is A330 First Officer with SV has a 3-year contract is on one month leave in Feb but could not return to JED since his multiple entries visa has expired in Feb.
He has sent emails and personal messages to Chief Pilot and other relevant people but so far nobody has responded.
He is not sure what is his status now.
Appreciate it very much if some one could assist him
Thank you and regards
p.s. can contact me directly if reqd

Is there a valid reason that he did not renew his entry/ exit visa prior to his annual leave?

I've witnessed this and I don't think I've ever seen a successful return outcome unless you have serious wasta. Considering they are no longer renewing expat FO contracts, the best advice may be to start looking for employment while he is still current.

Best of luck.

He didn't check it, thus, no excuses for him though.
If SV were to terminate his contract, sure there would be an official letter of termination? And for him to settle a few things and get his stuffs from the hotel.
yeah, he is enquiring for jobs back home.

He can still come to KSA within 7 month from the visa expiry date, provided he has a valid Iqama. Requires some paper work from the sponsor's (Saudi Arabian Airlines) side. I don't think e-mail will help. It takes personal vists to certain Saudia offices to get the job done. The visitor's rank matters. Captain is prefered.

Americans / Brits given preferential treatment.
 

One thing for sure is shocking, to say the least here in Saudia.
The amount of extra leverage and open partiality that the US / British passport holder gets here in Saudia....!!!
It really is quite amazing.
I know of a US expat Captain whose multi entry expired literally on the 2nd day of his 40 day leave whilst in Jamaica. And he was back at work in KSA on the 41st day ! :* :sad:
Simply waltzed in. I know of another Egyptian who was terminated for much much less regarding the same visa issue.
Promotions, flying hours, housing, medical standards and general treatment. The Americans are always given unconditional preferential treatment. Whilst still being on the same contracts as all the other 100 or so nationalities.
It's a Lawsuit lawyers paradise here. And somebody's gonna sue real soon.
I assure you on that....:=
If you're not from the other side of the pond, reconsider your options.
This is the fine print that is never printed !!
But spoken of openly.
Like I said it's an advocate's paradise :cool:

Have a look at the latest A320 IP class, how many are Americans? Look at the big houses in Saudia city, how many were assigned to Americans in recent years?
Good luck with the court case.

LMFAO

Yeah.... KSA and frivolous lawsuits go hand in hand :ok::rolleyes: Good luck with that.

Having been here a fair amount of time, I have seen all nationalities terminated for cause. Americans and Canadians included. Maybe... It is the attitude you bring to the table.

Capts get 45 days and rarely take it altogether at once, so how well did you really "know of a US expat" ?

As a Saudi Airlines crew member, ( even NAS ) you have 6 days to come back to the kingdom if your visa has expired. ( provided you pay something like 1200 SAR at the immigration office when you arrive at the airport )
It happened a couple of times and there is an office at the airport that deals with this kind of issues. That's the way it is, and not only for Europeans or Americans.

"Having been here a fair amount of time, I have seen all nationalities terminated for cause. Americans and Canadians included. Maybe... It is the attitude you bring to the table"

Metro.
It's not always or even essentially a termination or a recruitment of a particular nationality that dictates preferential treatments.
Much lesser preferential evils can exist behind the garb and still affect ones daily life here. And they do !
Undeniably.

Top Gun, agreed, but your original post made it seem much more stratified than it actually is. KSA and SVA do have preferences as to who they invite to work, that is their right, we are not dealing with a secular western society. A little reading or research before hand would have brought all that to light.

Sadly, reading and / or research never seems to bring these grey areas in dark alleys to light.
Look what happened to my posting...:ouch:

What do you think happened to your posting ?

Hi all, is Saudi hiring Expat NTR FO's?

Hi any news about the 777-200 phase out freez , lots of back room chatter that they might be making a come back can any body confirm or dismiss this info and if true how will this effect hiring and upgrading .
For info all lateral movement from 777 to 787/330 has stopped .

772 to be initially phased out by March end.
Anybody's guess when now.
Lines are out with them flying all over. Also worth noting is that there are fewer MEL's on the 772's ( as against 6 months ago ).
A sign of retention I suppose...

It is a mandatory position, if he was sacked they will have an acting GM in place almost immediately. They would not have sacked un-prepared. I think this about the 7th or 8th GM I have seen.

Oh. I don't doubt for a minute a changing of the guard. My only point was that the office would be filled with someone else almost immediately.

VAMY, this is the way it always happens, I was actually surprised that the present guy got the position so I'm not surprised that he didn't last.
There will be a GM(A), but as you said he won't have the required approvals in SAP to approve anything.

New GM in place.

Let me correct that for you.... New GM(A) in place.

3 months waiting for New uniform issue. This is plain bull !!!!.

Isn't it ready? I flew with two first offices who got it already.