Life on the Dhahran compound

If you’re considering a move to the Aramco compound, here’s a heads-up on what you might be in for. Living here isn’t the glamorous experience some might expect:

One of the most unpleasant aspects is the constant smell of gas. It’s everywhere, and it’s not just annoying—it’s a health hazard. The infrastructure seems outdated and poorly maintained, contributing to the pervasive stench.

The housing on the compound is far from luxurious. Many of the homes are old, with a slum-like appearance. Expect outdated facilities and poorly maintained interiors. It’s a far cry from the modern, comfortable living spaces you might hope for.

There’s a noticeable divide between the local employees and expatriates. Locals have access to better amenities and accommodations, while expatriates are often left in subpar conditions. This divide creates a frustrating and uncomfortable living environment. Look at Jebel for example. Preference for nice homes is giving to Muslims.

The compound is overwhelmingly populated by locals, which can make expatriates feel like outsiders. The lack of diversity in the community can be isolating and makes it harder to build a sense of belonging.

There’s not much to do on the compound. The recreational activities are limited, and the options for entertainment and socializing are minimal. You might find yourself bored and disconnected from any vibrant social life.

The compound is home to a large number of labor workers who often behave in unsettling ways. Their presence can make expatriates feel uncomfortable and unsafe, adding to the overall negative living experience.

The infrastructure on the compound is substandard. Roads, facilities, and amenities are all in need of repair and modernization. The lack of innovation and upkeep makes everyday life more difficult and frustrating.

The entire setup feels stuck in the past. There’s a noticeable lack of innovation and effort to improve living conditions or adapt to modern standards. It’s as if the compound is frozen in time, and not in a good way.

Overall, living on the Aramco compound is far from the high-quality experience you might expect. Between the aging homes, poor infrastructure, and the uncomfortable social dynamics, it’s clear that the reality is a far cry from the idealized vision often portrayed.

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@bhdj+1ujFb8Nb
Nail on head. There’ a wealth of healthy insight on this forum and they can’t come to terms with there even being an issue. I know face means it all so things just cannot change. It’s why these kinds of cultures will NEVER innovate. Failure just isn’t allowed!!

Those in Thobes are made complete with their prepared tin foiled hat on head. Shared experiences here are met with denial and dismissal by them. They can't be reached.

Yes, maintenance has always been a problem, and it looks like things haven't changed much. I, for one, don't think it ever will. Be aware and take care in your every move, large or small. My largest fear was driving off camp but now my stateside location feels almost as dangerous.

It’s not cr-p and you are a paid up shill in the employ of PA.

Parks have been in disrepair for over 3 years, broken swings, smashed slides with lethal spikes that never get fixed. Aramcos response is to board them off. It has no ability to properly maintain anything because those in charge -are inept and cannot plan. Case in point, of the covers for every playground in the camp were destroyed earlier this year and not one has been fixed - so literally no outdoor play facilities for kids that can be used. They don’t tell that to new hires do they?

There are no dishwashers or washers for new hires because of no stock, Aramco goons can’t even order basic domestic appliances for its houses - staff have to do it themselves via Amazon. Utter incompetence. And yet by the AAA there are literally thousands of stoves, dishwashers and refrigerators dumped outside, left to rot. What a criminal waste of resources.

The only exception is the school which has good facilities and surprise, surprise is managed by expats who know how to run a school properly.

There’s been recent serious crimes on camp were are covered up by your goons, one was indecent as--ult. Every house I have been in has has a cockroach and ant problem, they literally live in the walls of the buildings. Ditto the AC systems which Aramco won’t even bother to clean, they contain highly dangerous of particle pollutants from the toxic local air.

But yes a gym was refurbished so well done. You omit the swimming pool in jebels that hospitalised a number of children and has been closed for over 6 months with no sign of reopening.

I guess you just have VERY low standards.

😂😂😂

Not a thobe… just not buying into a lot of the bullsh-t on this site. Sure there are some things wrong but so much of the stuff in the OP is just cr-p. Calling it out.

As I said. If you don’t like it. Head on home to your merry little place of origin.

😁

Tones have entered with their propaganda.

Some of this may be true but there is a lot here that is overly dramatic. True some of the accommodation is out dated but there is a major improvement program underway. This takes time and patience is required.

As for the workers behaving poorly no idea what that is about.

As far as recreation facilities being portly maintained this is actually rubbish. 3rd street gym has been fully refurbished and is truly excellent. The jebels gym is also very good. In addition the new midra gym is superb. Then there are multiple padel courts, running tracks etc all well maintained.

The OP and many of the replies just sm--k of bitterness. If you don’t like it. Go home. No one is making you stay

Seriously. ☺️

A quick grab summary here would be from Aramco life is;

Poor housing conditions. Walls, and ceilings falling in with only the bugs holding them together. I dread to think what was in the tap water.

Recreational facilities with poor upkeep. No guarantee of safety with kids being poisoned in the pool or getting cut off jagged tiles.

Nothing much to do in your spare time but eat and count down the days to go. When you get a little heavy, forget exercising outside because the air is heavily polluted. Forget the gyms as things are outdated or broken there. Tennis courts are left to decay.

Damaged people are everywhere. Machiavellianism is in everything and hidden in the false charms of local culture.

Mental health, specifically depression is rife. Everyone wants to leave, or has eyes on when enough is enough. Many are in deep denial. The trip to Bahrain is a quick fix solution, but that feeling returning back over over the bridge hits real hard. Those red and white bright lights of Bahrain to the darkness of Saudi is quite telling.

The school is principlally child minding, so expect a little education happening. Expect very little discipline, but understand kids are affected by all things too.

A lack of faith in the process people follow. A few times I didn't get paid and it never passed anyone mind it wasn't quite right. I was paid the following month. Often, I wasn't even paid on time as the contract outlined clearly.

One poster commented that only the best leave on their own free will. This is so true. You can't hang on knowing you're not really valued by the company, and especially as an expat these days. You really are just a number.

This is a unique and world leading form of on-shoring low cost employees to replace high cost employees. That’s what the PPTs say anyway. It’s zero sum. Pats on back.

Oh but wait, what happens if those cheaper employees lack the skills/experience of those more expensive ones that have now been fired, said nobody ever in the aramco project meeting.

Stories abound on dangerous conditions in housing and recreational facilities. In 2023, several children were hospitalised with breathing problems due to very excessive levels of chlorine released into the pool. Basically they were poisoned.

It's really a shame, because they have the power and money to do great things in the community.

So much is outdated. Several of the houses have AC units that are Frankensystems. The dates on them say 1977—1983, and they're just patched together with spare parts. The water smells like sulfur, if it's not black or brown, and parts of camp are famous for sewage leaks.

Recreational facilities have received poor investment for maintainence. People need activities to deal and process things!

The camp's pools appear to have had some savaging reviews here. Events included poisoning children in the pool, electric leads adrift in the pool, sharp pool tiles. This isn't fictional.

Whatever happened to the great swim team there? My kids swam there up to a year ago and loved it!

Now it looks like the guts and heart have been pulled out of it. If your kids are not happy, it does have a far reaching impact on everyone they surround.

Yep...smell, particulates in the air, overall air quality, lots of distant smokey fires, abundance of trash and litter, never drink the tap water....IMO all real and salient issues.

The info is out there. Warnings have been posted. Enter at your own risk.

Well aside from the ChatGPT feel of the post, I agree. It’s well known that the air is a toxic mix of dust and hydrocarbon pollutants. The water too is contaminated.

Those baseball facilities, empty, the sign of a bygone age. The empty tennis courts with broken coverings, the desolate squash courts, the pools under permanent renovation (when they are not poising kids that use it). The severed rope swings, the broken kids slides, the raw sewage and stench of toxic sulfur from the rigs 500 feet from the fence.

Very few self directed groups are left, each year it gets harder as fewer expats left are willing to participate, and locals and Muslim expats seldom contribute. It’s just a sign of the times.

But yet we have new app that allows you to book said facilities. Yet another facade from the aramco farce.

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Life on the Dhahran compound

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