Saudi Arabia: What is the Fate of Non-Arab Doctors?

Many doctors who migrate to Saudi Arabia have little or no knowledge of what is waiting for them. This is especially true for doctors who come via family visa. Doctors who come via work visa are usually informed of the salary, the benefits and sometimes of the nature of the job. Those who pass through recruitment agencies know that they have to pay them (these agencies) a specific percentage of their salaries over a given period.

If you are a non-Arab doctor who is coming under the sponsorship of a relative, you should be aware of the obstacles waiting for you. This is especially hard for doctors who have not yet done their postgraduate studies, i.e., MBBS or MBChB holders. For specialists and consultants, the way could be smoother, as they are highly needed in most hospitals and clinics. If you are a specialist or consultant, you could be fortunate to find a hospital or clinic that is either willing to get you a visa, or pay for the transfer process (which is not easy as I heard, and it could take up to 6 months for this to be done).

So, MBBS/ MBChB holders, what lies ahead? If you have less than 2 years experience as a practitioner, you will be required to do an internship of at least 1 year at any government hospital. At the end of your internship you will get an internship certificate from each department that accepts to take you as a training resident. Bear in mind that some departments would reject your application for internship for one reason or the other. Most often, the reason is that they have reached the maximum of interns required for their department, and they would ask you to reapply later. It is necessary that you pass through the internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, and Emergency Departments. If possible, you could also do an internship at a Family Medicine Department. After this, you can apply to sit for the Saudi License Examination (SLE). You can get the application form as well as the list of requirements from the office of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties located at Al Ruwais District.

Learn more about the SLE and the books that can help you prepare for the exam by clicking here.

If your wish is to work as a general practitioner, passing the SLE, even with the highest score, is no guarantee that you will get a job in any hospital or clinic. Your application might be rejected because most of the clinics and hospitals usually want Egyptian, Indian, or Pakistani doctors. This is not because they are racist. No. They select physicians based on the nature of patients they get at their institutions. For example, many Indian patients want to be seen only by an Indian doctor or more specifically by an Indian doctor from Kerala. Hospitals and clinics might also turn you down because you do not speak Arabic, as more than 80% of the patients who show up at their facilities do not hear or speak English. Hiring a translator or finding a nurse to translate is not something that most of them are willing to do. And why would they do this, anyway?

If you are planning to continue postgraduate studies, good luck! The path is rough, but it is not impossible to make it. You should be very determined to continue till the end. To start with, certain specialties are reserved for Saudis only. If you wish to join the Saudi Board, you can choose internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery or gynaecology and obstetrics. If one of these is your first choice, then, masha'Allah, you are in for a good start. 

I know a few doctors and have heard of many others who, out of frustration, ended up teaching or doing non-clinical medical jobs. These are good positions with rewarding salaries in the range of 6000-7500 SAR (1600-2000 USD), but it can be pretty frustrating for doctors who have always dreamt of staying in clinical practice. Very good opportunities can be found at Bupa Arabia, AXA, the Islamic Development Bank, and many other private companies.

For doctors who are determined to continue their postgraduate studies and who do not wish to go through these difficult stages, my best advice is for you to stay in your home countries.

NB: This does not apply to doctors trained in the West.

Arabie Saoudite: Le Permit de Conduire Pour Les Femmes Après le 17 Juin?

Il était plus de dix heures quand mon époux m'a réveillée. Il dit: «Quelle est la date d'aujourdhui?" Je le regarda perplexe.» Puis il dit: «Dis donc! Tu as toujours parlé de ce sujet et aujourd'hui, tu as oublié?» C'est alors que je me suis souvenu que c'était le 17 Juin, le jour que les femmes sont censées commencer à conduire en Arabie Saoudite.


Je suis descendue du lit rapidement. Après un petit tour dans la salle de bain, je me suis précipitée hors de ma maison. Qu'est ce que je cherchais? Les femmes en train de conduire leurs voitures? Ou voulais-je conduire aussi? Un instant! Ce jour est censé être le jour que les femmes Saoudiennes vont réclamer leurs droits de conduire, n'est-ce pas? Qu'en est-il de nous, les femmes expatriées? Nous ne sommes pas venus pour enfreindre la loi en Arabie Saoudite. Pour l'instant nous attendons que les autorités disent que les femmes peuvent conduire.


Je regardais tout autour de moi et je pouvais voir beaucoup de voitures dans la rue. Tous les conducteurs étaient des hommes. Dommage! Peut-être qu'elles ne conduirons pas après tout, je me suis dit. Plus tard dans la soirée quand je suis sortie avec mon fils, de nombreuses familles se livraient à leurs activités normales. Toutes les voitures que j'avais vu dans les rues principales étaient conduites par les hommes, y compris celle dans laquelle nous étions assis, mon fils et moi.


J'étais sûre qu'aucune femme n'avait osée prendre le volant jusqu'à une heure tardive dans la nuit, quand mon époux trouva quelques articles sur internet. Il était tellement excité qu'il m'appela de venir lire les articles avec lui. Incroyable! Environ 40 femmes à travers le Royaume avaient conduit leur voiture. Tout comme moi, il était excité et ne pouvait pas s'empêcher de rire quand il lisait les phrases de l'époux d'une femme nommée Al-Qahtani qui avait conduit à Riyadh disant: «Ralentis, ne change pas de voie, tu vas trop rapidement. Elle est une bonne conductrice.»


Même après l'arrestation suivie de l’incarcération de Manal AlSharif, quelques braves femmes comme Maha Al-Qahtani, ont conduit dans la stricte ville de Riyadh. Ici à Djeddah, aucun de mes amis ou collègues n'a vu aucune femme conduire, mais sur Arab News on a parlé d'une femme qui a été arrêtée et escortée chez elle tandis que d'autres ont été simplement ignorées par la police.


N'avais-je pas entendu que les femmes qui vont oser prendre le volant ce jour seraient battues par leurs proches de sexe masculin? Hors, tous les iqals que j'avais vu le 17 Juin étaient tranquillement assis sur la tête de leurs propriétaires. Actuellement est-ce qu'une femme a été battue parce qu'elle avait osé conduire? Pas d'information non plus. Tout semble être normal en ce moment.


Est-ce que le 17Juin serait un départ pour les femmes conductrices en Arabie Saoudite? C'est la question qui persiste dans nos esprits. Nous allons observer ce qui se passera ensuite.

Saudi Arabia: Is June 17 the Beginning?

It was after 10 a.m when my husband woke me up. He said, "What is the date?" I looked at him puzzled. Then he said, "Come on. You've been talking about this and today you have forgotten?"  That was when I remembered that it was June 17, the day that women are supposed to start driving around cities in Saudi Arabia.

Very quickly, I jumped out of bed. I did one or two things in the bathroom, then rushed out of my home. What was I looking for? Women driving their cars? Or I wanted to drive too? Wait a minute! This is supposed to be Saudi women fighting for their rights, right? What about us expat women? We didn't come to break the law in Saudi Arabia, did we? We are just waiting for the moment that the authorities would say "Women can drive."

As I looked around, I could see many cars on the street. All male drivers. Gosh! Maybe it is not going to happen after all, I thought. Later in the evening, as I went out with my son, many families were going about their normal activities. All cars that I saw on the main streets were driven by men, including the one that my son and I were sitting in.

I was sure no woman had gotten behind the wheel until late at night when my husband found some articles online. He was so excited and he called me to read the articles with him. Oh my! About 40 women around the Kingdom had driven their cars. Just like me, he was excited and couldn't help laughing when he read lines talking about Maha Al-Qahtani's husband saying, "Slow down, don't change lanes, you are too fast. She is a good driver."

Even after the arrest of Manal AlSharif, some brave women out there like Maha Al-Qahtani, drove in the stricter Riyadh City. Here in Jeddah, none of my friends or colleagues reported seeing any woman driving, but Arab News mentioned a woman was caught and escorted home, while others were simply ignored by the police.

Didn't I hear women who dared drive had to be beaten by their male relatives? All the iqals that I saw on June 17 were calmly sitting on the men's heads. Did anyone get beaten because a woman sat behind the wheel? No reports too. Things seem to be normal right now.

Will June 17 be the beginning of women to start driving in Saudi Arabia? This is the question that lingers in our minds. We'll stay and watch what happens next.
 

Jeddah Shopping Centres: My Favourites

Shopping is one of our major activities in Saudi Arabia. Below, you would find a description of my favourite shopping centres in Jeddah.


Aziz Mall


It is one of the biggest malls in the region. Any fashion lover would certainly love its huge collection of clothing and accessories. The mall has over 170 shops including Starbucks, Geant supermarket and Aldo etc


Location: Prince Majed Street, Al Faysaleeyah


Opening hours
Saturday to Tuesday: 9:00am - 1:00am
Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00am - 2:00am
Friday: 12:30pm - 1:00am 


Corniche Commercial Centre


This is a place that I love, especially when I have tight budget to manage. You can get the best deals here; abaya, shoes, jewellery, bags, clothing, gold, watches and electronics. It is even reported to have the best gold shops in Jeddah. 
There is so much activity around this area that sometimes it makes me forget that I am in Saudi Arabia. I especially love to see the crowd, people eating in the open air and those going about their businesses. The only downside is traffic congestion especially in the evenings.


Red Sea Mall Jeddah 


This is another big mall that I love. It has a big water fountain reputed to be the “biggest indoor water fountain” in Saudi Arabia. I remember not being able to take my eyes off it the first time I saw it. This mall is said to have 18 entrances and 4,000 parking spaces. 


Location: On the western side of King Abdul Aziz Road, between the King Abdulaziz International Airport and the Red Sea coast.  


Mall of Arabia Jeddah 


Another giant. The shops have an amazing collection of clothing and accessories. If you are a fashion lover, it would be very hard to resist the temptation of emptying your wallet in its shops. This mall has 16 entrances and 3,000 parking spaces.  It has a  Hyperper Panda Supermarket and a snow rink. It has many stores such as Accesorize, Adidas, Burger King, Kudu, McDonald's, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Nine West, Mothercare, Timberland, Krispy Kreme, Lacoste, MAC Cosmetics, Puma, Samuel & Kevin, Starbucks, Swatch etc.


Location: On the eastern side of Medina Road and south of Makkah Road, near the King Abdulaziz International Airport. 
  
AlTahlia Shopping center


The first time that I visited this shopping centre, I was actually going to buy some books with a Saudi friend and her kids. I discovered that their stores had a luxurious collection of watches, bags and shoes. If you love designer products, then this place is just good for you.
Some shops that you would find are Swarovski, Laura Ashley, Tiffany and Co., Paris Gallery and much more.


Andalus Mall


This is one of the first malls that I visited on my arrival here. There wasn't a month that went by without me visiting this mall. Some of its main facilities are Hyper Panda Supermarket, Centrepoint and Movie Town. Its restaurant is usually crowded on weekends, making it extremely difficult to get a seat. Its entertainment area for kids is really amazing. It has a wide variety of games for kids of all ages. My son never seems to get tired whenever we go there.
You would find stores such as: Accessori, Nine West, Mango, Redtag, Citimax and more.


Location: King Abdul Aziz Square, Al Fayhaa, near King Abdul Aziz University. It is well known to most taxidrivers. All you need to say is "Al Andalus gareeb Al jama'aH," if you do not speak Arabic fluently.


Carrefour


I love to go this mall when I need a quiet place to spend with my family. It is usually not crowded, even on weekends, so there is no seat hunting in the cafes and restaurant. What really attracts me here is Dominos Pizza. They make the tastiest pizzas that I have ever had in my entire existence. Ok, Pizza Hut's are fabulous too. 
This mall has many interesting shops that sell kids' clothing. The entertainment area also has a wide variety of games which your kids would certainly love.


Location: Sulaimania Plaza


IKEA


Whenever I mention IKEA, one of the first things that most people say is "expensive." A connoiseur would say that the prices of their products are worth it. You would get long-lasting furniture of superior quality here. You can save a lot of money if you shop when they offer discounts. I discovered their restaurant only a few months ago. It is self-service and you would be amazed that you pay little for a good meal. You can save a lot here if you are eating out with a group of friends.


Location: Al Tahleyah street


Store opening hours
Saturday to Thursday: 10:00 - 24:00
Friday:17:00 - 24:00
Special opening hours in Ramadan and EID.


Farm Superstores


I love to visit this store especially when they have special offers. You would save a lot on groceries and some household items.


Location: Al Safa Area, Prince Muheb Street. It is adjacent to the famous Abdul Latif Jameel Hosptial. Most drivers would not miss it if you mention this hospital.

Les Centres Commerciaux de Djeddah : Mes favoris

Faire les boutiques c'est l'une de nos distractions principales en Arabie Saoudite. Je vous présente ici, mes centres commerciaux favoris à Djeddah .


Aziz Mall


C'est l'un des plus grands centres commerciaux dans la région. Les amoureux de la mode vont certainement aimer sa vaste collection de vêtements et d'accessoires. Ce centre commercial a plus de 170 magasins, dont Starbucks, Géant supermarché et Aldo etc


Emplacement : Rue Prince Majed, Al Faysaleeyah


Heures d'ouverture:
De samedi à mardi : 09h00-1h00
Mercredi et jeudi : 9h00-02h00
Vendredi : 12h30-1h00


Le Centre Commercial de Corniche 

C'est un autre centre commercial que j'aime visiter, surtout quand j'ai un budget serré à gérer. Vous pouvez obtenir les meilleures offres ici; abaya, chaussures, bijoux, sacs, vêtements, l'or, montres et les appareils électroniques. Ses boutiques sont l'une des meilleures dans la vente de l'or à Djeddah.
Il y a tant d'activités autour de cette zone que parfois ça me fait oublier que je suis en Arabie Saoudite. J'aime particulièrement voir la foule, les gens manger en plein air, et ceux qui sont engagés dans leurs activités. Le seul inconvénient c'est l'embouteillage surtout dans la soirée.


Red Sea Mall

C'est un grand centre commercial très intéressant que j'aime. Il est doté d'une grande fontaine d'eau réputée d'être la plus grande en Arabie Saoudite. Je me souviens que j'avais les yeux rivés sur elle la première fois je l'ai vue. Ce centre commercial a 18 entrées et 4,000 places de parking.


Emplacement : Sur le côté ouest de Tariq Malik Abdul Aziz, entre l'aéroport International de Malik Abdul Aziz  et la mer Rouge.


Mall of Arabia


Un autre géant. Ses magasins ont une étonnante collection de vêtements et d'accessoires. Si vous êtes un amoureux de la mode, ce serait très difficile de résister la tentation de vider votre portefeuille dans ses boutiques. Ce centre dispose de 16 entrées et 3,000 places de parking. Elle a un supermarché Hyper Panda et un patinoire. Vous verrez les boutiques telles que Puma, Accesorize, Adidas, Burger King, Kudu, McDonald, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Nine West, Mothercare, Timberland, Krispy Kreme, Lacoste, MAC Cosmetics, Samuel et Kevin, Starbucks, Swatch etc.


Le Centre commercial AlTahlia


La première fois que j'ai visité ce centre commercial, j'y allais juste pour acheter des livres avec une amie Saoudiene et ses enfants. J'ai découvert que ses boutiques avaient des collections de montres, sacs et chaussures de luxe. Si vous aimez les produits de marques, alors ce centre est bon pour vous. 
Ici, vous verrez les boutiques telles que Swarovski, Laura Ashley, Tiffany and Co., Paris Gallery et bien plus encore. 


Andalus Mall 


C'est l'un des premiers centres commerciaux que j'ai visité à mon arrivée à Djeddah. Chaque mois, je visitais ce centre commercial. Certains de ses principaux magazins sont le Supermarché Hyper panda, Centrepoint et Movie Town. Son restaurant est habituellement plein de monde le week-end, jusqu'au point où l'on a du mal a trouver un siège. Sa salle de jeux pour les enfants est vraiment superbe. Il y a une grande variété de jeux pour les enfants de tous les âges. Mon fils ne semble jamais se fatiguer quand on y va. 
Vous trouverez des boutiques telles que: Accessori, Nine West, Mango, RedTag, Citimax et plus. 


Emplacement: Place de Malik Abdul Aziz, Al Fayhaa, près de l'Université Malik Abdul Aziz. Il est bien connu par la plupart des chauffeurs de taxi. Il suffit de dire, ‹‹Al Andalus Gareeb Al Jama'a, si vous ne parlez pas couramment l'Arabe.›› 


Carrefour 


J'aime visiter ce centre commercial quand j'ai besoin de passer une soirée tranquille avec ma famille. Il n'est généralement pas encombré, même le week-end, et on y trouve de la place à s'asseoir facilement dans les restaurants et cafés. Ce qui m'attire vraiment ici c'est Dominos Pizza. Ils font les plus savoureuses pizzas que j'ai dégusté. Bon, les pizzas de Pizza Hut sont fabuleux aussi. 


Ce centre commercial a de nombreuses boutiques intéressantes qui vendent des vêtements pour enfants. La zone de divertissement a également une grande variété de jeux que vos enfants vont certainement aimer. 


Emplacement : Sulaimania (place) 

IKEA 


Chaque fois que je fais mention d'IKEA, l'une des premières choses que la plupart des gens disent, c'est «cher». Un expert, dira que le prix de leurs produits en valent la peine. Vous pouvez obtenir des meubles solides et de qualité supérieure à IKEA. Vous pouvez économiser beaucoup d'argent lorsque vous visitez quand ils offrent des rabais. J'ai découvert leur restaurant récemment. C'est un restaurant self-service et vous seriez surpris que vous payez peu pour un bon repas. Vous pouvez économiser beaucoup ici si vous mangez avec un groupe d'amis. 


Emplacement : Rue Al Tahleyah 


Horaires d'ouverture : 
De samedi à jeudi : 10:00 - 24:00 
Vendredi : 17:00 - 24:00 
Heures d'ouverture spéciale pendant le Ramadan et l'Aïd. 

Farms Superstores 


J'aime visiter ce magasin en particulier quand ils ont des offres spéciales. Vous économiserez beaucoup sur les produits alimentaires et ménagers. 


Emplacement : Espace Al Safa, rue Prince Muheb, près du célèbre hôpital Abdul Latif Jameel. La plupart des chauffeurs de taxi ne le manqueront pas si vous citez cet hôpital. 

Jeddah: Young Learners' English Summer School 2011

Last week I wrote a post on Young Learners Summer Camp for children 3 to 8 years old. If you are looking for an opportunity for your older children to learn English during the summer holidays, see the brochure below for more information.

From the British Council, Jeddah

Saudi Arabia: Big Mistake

"Allo?" I said.
"Alloooo. Kef inti habibty?" He said.
"Who are you and why are you calling me?" I asked politely.
"Me need massage." He said.
"What? Are you out of your mind?" I retorted.
"No. Me just need massage. Inti arifa, sah?" He responded.
"Look here, I don't give massage, okay? By the way how did you get my number?" I said, very irritated now.
"Me get number of you on expatriates.com. How much you take for massage, habibty?" He said, seemingly undisturbed that he was having a conversation with an angry woman.

At that, I dropped the call. I got another call from an unknown individual. Same scenario. A few more anonymous calls during the week got me thinking. My callers all claimed that I had posted an ad on expatriates, offering massage services at a very good rate. Was I sleepwalking when I posted that ad? No, if I was sleepwalking, my husband would have been the first one to complain. Was it someone trying to play a game on me? No, that couldn't be. Then, it dawned on me. I had indeed posted an ad on expatriates.com when I was looking for an Arabic tutor, and in my post I wrote my contact number. So, what these sick guys actually did, was, take that number and call me to try out their luck.

Many expats living in Saudi Arabia are familiar with the website, expatriates.com. You can get everything on this website, from a job, to a flat, car, electronic equipment, household furniture, services, business partners...and so on. Currently, it has an Alexa traffic rank of 11,733, with most of its visitors coming from India and Saudi Arabia.

I would be lying if I say I do not love this site. On this site, I got my second job, we bought our car, and I met a very good friend. In summary, you can benefit so much from this site (or get into trouble); it only depends on how you use it.

Men, do not make the following mistakes:

• Give your personal details to anyone one who claims he is a prospective employer. Some fake guys offer nonexistent jobs and promise to get you a work visa for a huge sum of money. They are very wise and they will find a way to dupe you.
• Give your personal details to anyone who claims to give you a loan on very low interest (so low you could think that you have found honey on the internet). Most of them are scammers. Very few got duped, so do not be the next victim.
• Bring your mechanic if you are planning to buy a second-hand car. Some vendors would sell you a car with a bad engine. We made this mistake, and ended up spending more than 20,000 SAR to change the entire engine. If possible make a down payment and pay the rest on installment.

Women, do not make the following mistakes:

• Those mentioned above.
• Leave your number online even if you are offering a job, looking for a tutor for your kids or for any other thing. Your phone might not stop ringing because of some sick guys who are out to annoy others. Better still, let anyone contact you via email.

The golden rule is to avoid payment via money transfer for whatever article or service. Expatriates.com even warns all users on its website and everyone knows these days that only a dummy would make that kind of mistake.

In short, you can get it all on expatriates.com, but you have to be careful when you deal with strangers. Do not make a big mistake.