Sign up for our popular newsletters.The better compounds are chockablock, with lengthy wait lists, and it is often difficult to find accommodation. Particularly for young families, Riyadh can offer a less frenetic and easier lifestyle than home, with all the creature comforts laid on.Western women are expected to wear abayahs whenever in public. Although odd at first, it has the advantage of hiding all matter of sins, from the ripped sweatpants on a jaunt to Harvey Nicks, or the odd extra pound. In addition, a four wheel drive is essential for trips to the desert, a favorite Riyadh past-time. Most Saudis share a strong collective identity shaped from tribal customs and the adherence to a strict Islamic code. The decision on which neighbourhood in Riyadh to choose is therefore out of most expats' hands. As most expats go to international schools and live in western compounds, it is entirely possible to live for years in the Kingdom, and never make a Saudi friend. Merely a village of mud huts huddled around fort barely hundred years ago, it is now a modern sprawling city of 5 million, gobbling up the surrounding desert with new housing schemes and economic developments. Many compounds come equipped with a range of facilities such as gyms, grocery stores, laundry facilities, cafés and shops.Al Nakheel is another popular expat neighbourhood in Riyadh. While the Quality of Life Index is constantly changing, these 9 cities have managed to stay. I don't wish to live in a compound and aim to live in my own rented apartment. 0 km. Wadi Hanifah . Elements are located inside the Four Seasons Hotel and offers one of the best Breakfast Buffet in Riyadh.
A sense of humor and adventure is a must, as is patience and flexibility. Don't panic if you can't or don't want to - a polite shrug of the shoulders and a brisk walk in the other direction usually does the trick.As the security situation improves, Westerners are increasingly looking to living in apartment buildings or villas outside the confines of compounds or the DQ. Conversely, this makes it very difficult to learn and practice Arabic, as one would in other countries.Easily identifiable by their short white thobes and long beards, their official name is `The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice', often abbreviated to `The Commission'. Western expats are actually far more likely to mingle and befriend expats from European and other Arab countries. The home of the Saudi Arabia's ruling family, the Al Sauds (and yes, the country is named after them), it is the most conservative and traditional of the Kingdom's major cities.They are primarily concerned with the local population, but it is a good idea for Western women to have a scarf at hand, as they often can't resist testing out their stock English phrase, `cover your head'. However, to avoid any disappointment shorts are not allowed in this place (for anyone). Life in Riyadh is very much governed by the prayer time schedule*. Five times a day, all shops close for prayer, and woe betide the unlucky shopper who has not carefully planned the day. And how much can I expect to pay for a 2 bed FURNISHED apartment/villa. Many thanks. Kunafa Aseel Al-Nablusih Riyadh – كنافة أصيل النابلسية .