Travel to Saudi Arabia to backpack, study, intern, volunteer, work,

or live as a digital nomad, expat or emigrant?

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 Saudi Arabia

Intro

Backpacking and traveling in Saudi Arabia?

  • Saudi Arabia not an easy country for backpackers, but on the rise as a travel destination.
  • Features: historic cities, endless distances, colorful souks and strong influence of Islam (though more moderate than in earlier times).
  • City spotting: Damman, Dhee Ayn (Marble Village), Jabal Qarah, Khobar, Ryadh.
  • Activities spotting: visiting deserts and practicing desert sports (sand boarding for example), camel safaris, snorkeling, trekking, camping, visiting historical cities and cultural sites. 
  • Nature spotting: the Elephant Rock in Al Ula, the underwater world of the Farasan Islands and the many incredible deserts.
  • Animal spotting: Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, dromedary, Arabian wolf, sand cat, hoopoe, Arabian cobra, dugong, whale shark. 

Studying in Saudi Arabia?

  • Education in Saudi Arabia: The quality of education in Saudi Arabia has increased greatly in recent years, with several universities in the country highly rated on a global scale. 
  • Language: Arabic is the official language, but many programs are also offered in English, especially at the top universities. 
  • Studies: anything is possible! Especially studies in the field of science and technology are highly valued, but also business administration, medicine, engineering (also regarding petroleum and minerals). 
  • Study cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Medina. 
  • Language learning: it is usually not necessary to learn the language for study, but if you are going to study in Arabic you can go to universities, colleges, language institutes and private language schools. 

Internship in Saudi Arabia?

  • Internships: it is not easy to find an internship position. You have the best chance in the field of research at universities or at large companies. 
  • Internship cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran.
  • Characteristics: dynamic environment, formal with respect for hierarchy and authority, weekend on Friday and Saturday, strict dress code. 
  • Competencies: Arabic language, cultural awareness (essential!), good technical and research skills. 

Doing volunteer work in Saudi Arabia?

  • Temporary volunteering is hard to find. More general and part-time volunteering in community development, health care, education is possible though. 
  • Animal/nature projects: there are some nature organizations that work with part-time volunteers.  
  • Characteristics: virtually no options, strict visa regulations. 

Working in Saudi Arabia?

  • Jobs: temporary work is almost impossible to find without the right connections and sponsorship. For permanent work, there are opportunities, especially in oil & gas, IT, banking and international companies. It is difficult to find work though, especially for women. 
  • Work culture: mainly male, prepare for red tape, influence of religion strong in the workplace, weekend on Friday and Saturday.
  • Characteristics: strict little tolerant national legislation, requires a lot of adaptability, expats live separately so integrating is difficult. 

Working as a digital nomad in Saudi Arabia?

  • Saudi Arabia is not (yet) a very popular country for digital nomads, but the facilities are certainly there.
  • Favorite locations: Jeddah, Al Khobar, Damman.
  • Characteristics: large expat community, good facilities and cafes, strict conservative regulations (also regarding LGBT+), hard to get alcohol.   

Living in Saudi Arabia?

  • Expats: in many sectors there is a good mix between expats and local employees. If you learn Arabic and immerse yourself in the local culture, you are more likely to be included in society and your stay will be significantly more interesting.
  • Quality of life: quality of life depends on your ability to adapt. The laws and regulations are strict and punishments are high. There is also a lot less freedom regarding all kinds of aspects than in the Netherlands. Although the country is slowly becoming more progressive, it is more difficult especially for women and people from the LGBT+ community. Other than that, though, the facilities are good, the costs are not very high and the people are friendly. 
  • Culture: there are major differences between men and women, different social classes (especially with regard to foreigners) and strict conservative rules apply, although this has been easing somewhat in recent years. An important aspect is sharaf (honor), a central concept in the culture. Preserving one's own honor and that of one's family is one of the most important things for people in Saudi Arabia. 
  • Characteristics: the free Friday and working on Sunday, the temperature in summer, the strong influence of Islam and the royal family.
  • Health care: health care is good with modern facilities and broad medical services. Be sure to arrange your own (international) health insurance.

 

Supporting content

Saudi Arabia Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips

Saudi Arabia Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips

Content about Saudi Arabia on WorldSupporter

Saudi Arabia: Updates & Travel

Saudi Arabia: Updates & Travel

Travel in Saudi Arabia?

  • Saudi Arabia offers extraordinary contrasts where on the one hand you are confronted with the influence of Islam and on the other hand with increasing globalization in the form of shiny cafes and modern restaurants in the larger cities.
  • Through its oases and deserts on land, and the extraordinary underwater world of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia also has plenty to offer nature lovers.

Updates Saudi Arabia

  • More about Saudi Arabia, updates and contributions, see the link below.

 

 

Where to study in Saudi Arabia, do an internship, do volunteer work or look for a job in Saudi Arabia?

Where to study in Saudi Arabia, do an internship, do volunteer work or look for a job in Saudi Arabia?

Why study, do an internship, volunteer or work temporarily in Saudi Arabia?

  • Because there are many good universities and the country continuously invested in education.
  • Because you can find modern facilities and the latest technology. 
  • Because you can get to know the rich culture and traditions of Saudi Arabia better. 
  • Because you can improve your Arabic language skills. 
  • Because there are many scholarships you can apply to. 
  • Because you can gain industrial connections. 
  • Because you can gain in-depth knowledge in fields such as oil & gas, technology, engineering, medicine or business administration. 

What should you pay attention to?

  • That there are strict dress codes and codes of conduct, such as that unrelated men and women do not interact socially and use other entrances. 
  • That laws and regulations are strict and punishments are high. 
  • That men and women often live separately unless you are married. 
  • That it is clear that there are different social classes and this can take some getting used to. 

 

Why live in Saudi Arabia, why emigrate to Saudi Arabia or stay for a long time?

Why live in Saudi Arabia, why emigrate to Saudi Arabia or stay for a long time?

Why should you live in Saudi Arabia as an expat, emigrant or working nomad?

  • Because there is a large expat community and you can live cozily together in expat communities.
  • Because the salaries are high. 
  • Because there are many opportunities for professional growth. 
  • Because the infrastructure is good and the facilities are modern. 
  • Because you can enjoy a high standard of living. 
  • Because you can gain networking skills in an expat community. 
  • Because you can brush up on your Arabic.
  • Because you can learn a lot about honor, family ties and a religious society. 

What should you pay attention to?

  • That it takes considerable cultural adjustment if you want to blend in with the locals. 
  • That there is a conservative culture. 
  • That there are many religious rules. 
  • That, especially in the summer, it is very hot. 
  • That as a woman it is a little more difficult to integrate than as a man. 
 
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From language courses to gap year abroad, from work experience to volunteering abroad, from paid work to internship abroad, from mountaineering to diving and from backpacking to travel around the world

    What social activities can you do abroad?

    • Opportunities are found in the areas of helping, learning or studying. You can get involved to volunteer in a social project at a school in Africa, Asia or Latin America. You can get involved in nature, in a project with animals or cleaning the sea or beaches. Those who want to learn more can choose for example a language course in Latin America, Spain or South Africa.

    What work related activities can you do abroad?

    • If you want to gain work experience, and/or also earn money, go and work abroad. You can combine backpacking in Australia with temporary work. You can work on campsites in Europe or bush camps in Africa. You can pretty much go all over the world to work in the hospitality industry, hotels and hostels, in the healthcare sector or for example at a diving school.

    What sports activities to do abroad?

    • Have you ever thought of mountain biking, rafting (going down a wild river on a raft or rubber dinghy, climbing or canoeing), survival (which involves building rafts, climbing or canoeing), abseiling (descending a rock face while secured to ropes), zip-lining (whizzing down a cable), canyoning (starting at the top of a river and then climbing, swimming, diving down the bed) or caving (scrambling, wriggling and crawling through caves and crevices)?
    • Maybe you feel more comfortable on a bodyboard (on a half-wave surfboard, you surf the high waves lying down-with flippers), on a hang glider or while paragliding (with a parachute you float down a mountain or dune), hydrospeeding (on a bodyboard with flippers and a wetsuit on you go down a wild river via rapids) or Tiefschneeskiing (racing down through powder snow)?

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      Verlangen naar Mekka

      In het Tropenmuseum is momenteel een tijdelijke tentoonstelling te zien, genaamd Verlangen naar Mekka. In deze tentoonstelling wordt de bezoeker meegenomen op de hadj, de belangrijkste islamitische bedevaart waaraan elk jaar miljoenen mensen meedoen. Beleef de hadj aan de hand van onder an...

      Saudi Arabia: Updates & Travel
      • Travel in Saudi Arabia?
      • Updates Saudi Arabia
      • Travel in Saudi Arabia?

        • Saudi Arabia offers extraordinary contrasts where on the one hand you are confronted with the influence of Islam and on the other hand with increasing globalization in the form of shiny cafes...

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