Moving to Riyadh
The modern metropolis of Riyadh rises from the sultry heat of surrounding desert in a mirage of high rise towers and sprawling skyscrapers. Once a small oasis settled for its palm trees, dates and orchards the former fertile crescent of the Arabian heartland has matured to become Saudi Arabia’s capital and largest city, and home to its largest population of expats.
As the centre of power and the commercial hub of the nation, many expatriates have moved to Riyadh to pursue career paths and to climb the ladder of ambition. Current statistics even estimate that the Riyadh expat community makes up nearly forty percent of the city’s population.
Such a large foreign presence is certainly a reassuring factor for expats moving to Riyadh who may be wary of the glaring restrictions of Muslim law.
In 1975 the city took the liberty of constructing a fortified neighbourhood called the Diplomatic Quarter to host the expat Westerners and diplomats moving to Riyadh in response to the booming oil industry and the relocation of the nation’s ministries and embassies from Jeddah.
To date, this 1,600 acre compound sits serene and comfortable on the city’s western edge catering to the Western minds that have come to roost .The comparative wealth of residents has even managed to slightly subvert the stringent rules that dominate Riyadh, so it’s not completely unheard of for individuals within the area to be spotted showing a bit of skin – a welcome respite considering summer temperatures can skyrocket over 50 ⁰C (122 °F) and average at 45 ⁰C (113 °F).
The DQ, however, is not where most expats, Western or otherwise, live. The majority live in residential compounds, often owned by their employers, scattered about the northern and eastern suburbs. Downtown housing tends to be taken by lower-salaried employees, both Saudi and expat. The residential compounds, depending on both their ownership and the cultural makeup of their residents, may be more liberal in their policies than the general situation might suggest. Some compounds, for instance, permit men and women to swim in their pools at the same time; others might have separate days or hours for the two sexes to use the facilities.
Also as a result of the city’s firm grasp of regional travel and trade numerous financial, education, agricultural, cultural and technical social organizations have been formed for expat residents’ delight.
Still, despite the glitz and glamour of monstrous malls and futuristic architecture, Riyadh is still an Arab city in the heart of the Arab World. If the ancient mosques spotting and dotting the tree lined highways aren’t enough of a reminder, the strict adherence to Islamic moral and cultural code will certainly do the job.
As the centre of power and the commercial hub of the nation, many expatriates have moved to Riyadh to pursue career paths and to climb the ladder of ambition. Current statistics even estimate that the Riyadh expat community makes up nearly forty percent of the city’s population.
Such a large foreign presence is certainly a reassuring factor for expats moving to Riyadh who may be wary of the glaring restrictions of Muslim law.
In 1975 the city took the liberty of constructing a fortified neighbourhood called the Diplomatic Quarter to host the expat Westerners and diplomats moving to Riyadh in response to the booming oil industry and the relocation of the nation’s ministries and embassies from Jeddah.
To date, this 1,600 acre compound sits serene and comfortable on the city’s western edge catering to the Western minds that have come to roost .The comparative wealth of residents has even managed to slightly subvert the stringent rules that dominate Riyadh, so it’s not completely unheard of for individuals within the area to be spotted showing a bit of skin – a welcome respite considering summer temperatures can skyrocket over 50 ⁰C (122 °F) and average at 45 ⁰C (113 °F).
The DQ, however, is not where most expats, Western or otherwise, live. The majority live in residential compounds, often owned by their employers, scattered about the northern and eastern suburbs. Downtown housing tends to be taken by lower-salaried employees, both Saudi and expat. The residential compounds, depending on both their ownership and the cultural makeup of their residents, may be more liberal in their policies than the general situation might suggest. Some compounds, for instance, permit men and women to swim in their pools at the same time; others might have separate days or hours for the two sexes to use the facilities.
Also as a result of the city’s firm grasp of regional travel and trade numerous financial, education, agricultural, cultural and technical social organizations have been formed for expat residents’ delight.
Still, despite the glitz and glamour of monstrous malls and futuristic architecture, Riyadh is still an Arab city in the heart of the Arab World. If the ancient mosques spotting and dotting the tree lined highways aren’t enough of a reminder, the strict adherence to Islamic moral and cultural code will certainly do the job.
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