Paying off Mortage by working in Saudi

climbgirl

WHA wrote:

You NEED to take professional advice before you commit to make sure that you will indeed be UK tax free. Many, many people have gone abroad to work and come back to face massive tax bills because they wrongly believed there was no UK tax liability. Get the timings right, and you are UK tax free, get it wrong, and you'll pay the price!

Can't reiterate this enough - get some professional advice on the tax situation or you might get stung. We can offer advice here but you'll get much more concrete advice on your particular situation from a tax professional.

Once you've checked that out, I'd say go for it! I've got so many friends who have had fantastic experiences working in the middle east. Sounds like a fantastic opportunity.

grumman

I worked in Saudi for 3 years in the early nineties, I went for the money.
You don't say if you are married/kids, this will make a difference. I have 3 kids (oh, and a wife) and these are my experiences.
1. I couldn't take my family with me, and only saw them 3 times a year for a couple of weeks at a time, so I ended up spending a lot of money in those 2 weeks trying to make up for lost time. (not much saving going on!). Also telephone calls to/from Saudi were hugely expensive (this was pre internet so, I have no boubt things will have changed).
2. Saudi is very restrictive, no pubs (obviously, though western componds make their own booze), cinemas, live western music etc.. Also as men and women are not allowed to speak to each other (unless they are related/married), resteraunts/fast food outlets etc have two entrances and areas to eat, one that is purely for men, the other for families (and women). Buses etc are also segregated, and certainly whilst I was there I did not see one Saudi womans face in the whole 3 years. Not until they got onto the BA flights back to Heathrow and changed into their jeans etc. Things may have changed, but I doubt it. When you walk round some places, its as if Women do not exist.
3. Immigration and customs checks are 100%, all your luggage will be inspected, DVDs/Tapes will be viewed (for any unecessary skin exposure, like womens arms/legs) and newspapers (Sun etc) will be confiscated, along with Bibles or Crucifixes etc. It can take an eternity to get into the country. ALL shops etc close during prayer times, so you have to get used to being kicked out for 15 mins every now and then.
4. Saudi is not the Dubai, it is a lot more conservative and you have to be prepared for the culture shock.
5. As for the TAX, I had to complete a full TAX YEAR out of the country, Apr5th to Apr4th. Some blokes who didn't stay for a full tax year (for some of the above reasons) had issues with the TAXMAN. If in doubt ask the Taxman.

These are my experiences, and whilst others may have different ones, or the country may have changed (I doubt it) I certainly would never go back. Money (despite this forum) is not everything, and you have to think very carefully what you are giving up in the UK (assuming you are working of course) against what you hope to gain. Saudi is very restrictive, and these days more dangerous for westerners. My wife and children visited me for a few weeks, and after the novelty of laying by a pool all day wore off, and the reality of not being able to go anywhere at all without me (women can't drive) she was desperate to go home. Her Abaya (black cloak, yes western women must wear them or get accosted/stared at/spat at or hit with a cane by the religious police) was dumped in the bin at Paris airport as soon as we landed.

Another thing to think about is when/if you leave Saudi, will you have a job in the UK to go back to? It's hard to apply for jobs from abroad (I know), and if you come back and have to support yourself whilst looking, your 'TAX free' savings will get eaten into, as you will not get any government support ( I didn't, but my family did) as you will have given your job up.

Obviously my experiences/location (southern Saudi) will be different from others, and whilst some hated it (me) some benefitted (mainly single guys with NO ties in the UK,who Holidayed in Bangkok/Australia), I do feel that the majority of Married people out there 'had' to say they enjoyed the lifestyle, because they were stuck out there with no chance of a (comparative ) job in the UK, and used to spending the money to compensate for the normal life they were missing back home. Don't just listen to the good comments about Saudi (there are not many in my opinion!), but you may decide I'm wrong, and have a go , if you do, good luck.