Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

@4spv+1mr7I3G4

Didn’t you get the memo? KSA is the leading digital eCONomy in the region and soon to be the world.

When the immigration system crashes there is a suitable backup and the borders are not closed for 12 hours. People are never left high and dry, those queues on the causeway are a fabrication.

Yellow slips printed on 1980s printers by bureaucrats is a thing of the past, you must surely be mistaken. It’s all seamless on ABSHER and works 100%, every time.

Exactly right. Only an inept company would bring in expats and make the visa payable. And don’t forget the hassle of getting it. Then be prepared for a visit to a bizarre house in some street in Dammam to get yellow slips for your family. It’s all BS that will leave you wondering why you bothered moving half way across the world to a 3rd world country.

You’re forgetting the 15% VAT on ALL products and services. It’s enormous considering prices are already really inflated in KSA. We’ve found it cheaper to do our major shopping in Bahrain (better choice of products anyway) and then bring them back.

You can purchase a year long exit visa for 2300SAR / ~600USD per head. If you have a family that’s quite an expense…but it will give you peace of mind. These are costs on top of the residence permit (iqama) which is another couple of thousand USD for a family (that you have to pay from your own pocket, thank you Aramco!)

Do consider costs keep going up each year, it’s KSA policy to make it more expensive for expats (see saudization), also if you’re out of kingdom and wish to renew its double $$$.

Aramco won’t highlight theses costs unless you ask explicitly. They are fooling people. A good firm would cover ALL visa costs. You have been warned!!!

Again to clarify and this is important, there is no taxes in Saudi however you need to pay, for visa and resident permit every year. Cheapest is single entry and the most expensive is multientry, I know families using only their single entry for repat travel and keep saving much as possible and other ones traveling all weekends to Bahrain for mental health, up to you.

Final exit visa is only when you quit or you are fired, two horrible months no one is prepared and when you realize that you never belong there.

If your visa is valid, not expired, you can leave at any time.

My advice, don’t do it. Too much downside not enough upside. Not least living in Saudi. I could never get used to needing an exit visa to leave the place. It’s a human right to be able to travel back to your citizen country unless you’ve broken some law. Just one of MANY limitations imposed by the regime.

I can confirm US payroll is dead.

Zero reason for an American to work here now.

If only ghm+1mr7I3G4 knew what they were talking about...

https://americas.aramco.com/en/who-we-are/about/our-parent-company-and-affiliates/aramco-shared-benefits-company

Public benefit info including details on various plans including info on programs based on hire date for US payroll employees.

There is no "US Payroll Package". New American hires get put into the Global package. No pension plan and no US health insurance. Also, good luck in staying till 60. If you aren't currently working, over 45, and have no decent prospects, then go ahead and apply, but expect to be low balled if they even get back to you at all. Also, if you are going to apply to Aramco, then make sure to apply everywhere else in the Middle East, as Aramco no longer pays a premium vs others. Finally, don't expect Aramco (or any job in the Middle East) to build your resume. Some former Aramco guys have found employment back in the USA, but not because of what they did at Aramco.

Someone seems to be putting the cart before the donkey.

Don't be too sure they are going to want you.

All will be presented in detail at the time of offer up to the last cent, including deductibles such as rent and taxes.

In the old days (20 years ago) you would give them your current salary and they would increase it by 25%. You could expect a 1-5% increase every year, and a GC bump would ad another 10-20%. Back them the GC bump would normally occur every 7 or so years for most expats, if they were luck. Now more like never. The Cola and the other one don't keep up with the extra costs. For US expats, the 100,000 tax deduction is worth about 35K of your taxes. Unfortunately the new saudi fees and taxes and duties pretty much will eat that up.

The only pro these days for accepting a job out there is not being able to find a job at home.

To be honest, this kind of info you can request to your relocation advisor directly and is safe for your records.

If you have time and someone can share with you the latest IR manual, there, you can find everything, however, could be change at any moment, nothing is granted or steady.