Often I mention to online buddies and friends back in the UK that I live on a compound in Saudi Arabia and people don’t always understand what that means. The term sounds a bit austere perhaps or army-like. So what is a compound and what are the benefits?
As an expatriate living in Saudi Arabia you either live in a privately rented villa or appartment or your employer will be able to offer you compound housing. A compound is a entirely private set of villas surrounded by a perimeter wall and has security guards monitoring cars entering the community. Only the cars of residents are permitted to enter and visitors are restricted. Within the confines of the compound as well as homes there are likely to be other numerous facilities available to residents. Due to the nature of life in Saudi Arabia there are many benefits in living on a compound.
- Ladies are prohibited from driving in KSA which means husbands or taxis/drivers are the only means of transport when a woman needs to go about her daily business. Compounds usually provide daily shopping buses for residents and have their own cars and drivers for residents needing taxi drop-offs.
- The compounds usually provide school buses dropping/collecting children to/from the major schools
- KSA is not the country where it is normal for women to take an evening stroll – the closed environment of the compound allows women to enjoy a little more freedom and be able stroll in the evening and easily visit other friends she has made on the compound.
- For non-Muslims who feel somewhat restricted by the necessity to wear abaya in all places when out and about, they can enjoy more freedom and wear their Western dress when inside the confines of the compound.
- Inside the compound children have the freedom to go out and about and play, they have a playparks and wide, empty roads on which to ride their bicycles, or go roller-blading. These are activities girls in particular will miss out on if they don’t live on a compound.
- Some compounds have an on site pre-school.
- All the compounds I know of have at least one swimming pool. There are no public swimming pools in the country apart from those in private male or female health clubs which are likely to be very pricey.
- There may be other sport facilities on the compound for residents’ use such as tennis courts, basket ball courts, gym, bowling alleys and even a golf course.
- The vast majority of compounds also have a minimarket on site where the essentials can be bought.
- The summer months in Saudi Arabia are extremely hot and this can restrict people, particularly children in the available activities. Many compounds will have a recreation department organising activities and trips for the children at weekends.
- For those who are expats in the country with no family here and arriving knowing no-one, compound living provides opportunity to get to know others quickly and easily.
From my point of view I find the compound invaluable. My husband’s job is one that takes him outside of the country or outside of Riyadh frequently so I need to avail myself of the facilities on the compound. The school buses are vital to me even when my husband is in town as he starts work at 7:30am and the children start school at 8am but his work is 45 minutes away from the school; it would be impossible for him to drop the children at school at a reasonable time.
Come With Me To The Casbah
Masha’Allah you live on a nice private compound…bitg difference. I’ve only lived in Government housing. It still has everything you mention but the houses are not as beautiful and they don’t put much effect into beautifying the landscaping.
it’s like army barracks
with its own commissary
i joking of course but but i couldn’t help it!
BmiLalhi arRahmani arRahim.
I’m always interested to hear how you live in an Islamic country. And I think the compound wher you live is beautiful and you can stay quite. Mashaa Allah.
It’s like being on hols everyday! Doyou ever swim in that pool, looks great! I like the transport ideas as pubic can be over whelming in any country.
Compounds in the Kingdom are comfortable, indeed. I loved living in the compound.
When I moved into the city, my life became very constricted. I was not unhappy, but I did miss the freer lifestyle and amenities of the compound.
What a lovely place to live! What a’ pinky’ house!
salamou alaikoum sister,
oh your houses look nice like these in Marrakech…pinky rose! the life there sounds good: secure, well organised and always someone around to go for a visit. t’barak’allah.
I wish you a blessed life there and I am happy, you are ok after the accident-experience…
xxx
Salam,
I have some questions about the compound. I want to move to KSA and so I’m looking for a good housing. I fell in love with the compunds from your description. Can we rent apartments in compound or is it for the employees of the company who have rented the entire compound? And if anyone can rent one, what is the monthly rent? Thankyou in advance.
Assalaamu alaikum,
UmmAdam: I think your compound must have so much more in the way of ammenities though, I mean your compound is huge! Actually only the photos are of 3 different compouds.
Lilandra: Yep, that’s right!
Mujahida What I love about our compound is that it is quiet as it is out of town. We lived on another compound before which was near to a main road and a youth correction facility and it was too noisy for me!
Rainbow: The charm soon wears off!
Me swim there? That pool is at another compound and our pool is surrounded by villas so… no. 
Marahm: Yes, there are benefits to living on a compound and benefits to living in the freer society of the UK/USA. I think compounds are particularly good when you ave children and I will miss it for their sake when we eventually leave.
L_Oman: Pinky? Dusty more like! I found our compound on Google Earth and it all blends in perfectly with the sand!
Itto: I’d love to see some photos of the homes in Marrakech/Morocco… *hint*
Najeeba: The employer normally gives an accomodation allowance (e.g. 3 monthly salaries per year for accoms) OR a villa on one of their approved compounds. To rent a compound villa yourself on accoms allowance is normally very expensive… some compounds are now charging 300,000 per year and others are approaching 200,000 which is over 100% increase on how much they were charging a couple of years ago. Prices are spiralling at the moment… There are smaller compound which are more affordable but even 60-100,000 can be expensive depending on the salary given which of course is not standard for the job it will depend on a variety of factors (experience, nationality) Email me if you wish… my email addy is on the top of my side bar.
Masha Allah! Your compound is beautiful. I have a question. Maybe you or other fellow muhaaijir bloggers can answer this. What do you plan on doing when it is time to retire? Will Saudi renew your Iqama even when you are old and cannot work? I was always curious to know what some of you plan on doing.
Assalaamu alaikum,
I don’t think it’s likely my husband will want to work here until he retires.
Iqamas are only renewable according to your work contract although I have heard that it is now possible to get Saudi residence if you have been here 10 years and fulfill other criteria (I don’t know what they are) BUT… you have to give up any other nationality you hold as dual nationalities are not recognised in KSA.
I think living in a compound like yours has a lot of advantages compared to living in a villa or apartment.
@ Umm Ahmed,
In all the Gulf countries (except UAE , who will give you permenant residence if you buy a house) you cannot be an immigrant (muhajir) even if you live there till retirement, and even if you were born there. The moment you are not employed you have to get out.
Assalaamu Alaykum,
Great post Umm Ibrahim. I spent my early teens on a compound and can relate to it all too well. My parents are still on the compound but things are so different now. They live on the 2nd largest compound in the country but it’s just looked after anymore. It’s quite rubbish these days compared to the smaller compounds. Granted, the facilities are still there, but I’ve actually seen cleaner playgrounds in other parts of Jeddah (outside of a compound) than some of those inside. Swimming facilities are good in that they are there, but maintenance is still an issue unfortunately. What I’ve found from living outside for 4.5 years is that when you’re out of a compound you’re forced to look for alternatives for kids. I’m lucky as I still use the compound and I think it’s harder living out with older children. But like I said, you’re forced to search and somtimes you do find things for kids (and women) to do. I think it’s much better now than when I was a teen! The other thing is you get to experience Saudi a bit more (in my experience).
Umm Ahmed, right now there’s not really an option. Without an iqama, you have to leave. Of course, lots of people find different ways of getting iqaamas! Saudi residence is SO difficult to get it doesn’t seem to be a possibility just yet.
That was a great post. I often wished that we lived on a compound here. I would really enjoy more freedom, more opportunites, and more activites. And many of the compounds I have seen look really nice.
Really nice to knw about the compound life here , wish to get in to compound soon inshallah
Assalaamu alaikum,
~W~: Thanks for the clarification.
UmmHibaat: From what I hear a lot of compounds have gone down in standards over the years particularly during that time when a lot of the ‘western’ expats returned to US/UK etc and KSA was on the list of danger zones.
Susie: Precisely why compounds are so useful and popular.
Niyaz: Insha’Allah you are able to get accoms on a compound soon.
Asak,i always wanted to know what do compounds offer u….tht was a lovely post.
Assalaamu alaikum,
Alhamdu Lillah Anjum; good to hear that it was enlightening.
Pingback: Global Voices Online » Saudi Arabia: Compound life
assalaamalikum umm ibrahim djazzak allahu khairan for you explanation about the compound it was very interesting for me to read.
Assalaamu alaikum,
Wa iyyaaki ya sis Ameena.
I am considering taking a job in Saudi Arabia and it includes living in an apartment in a compound. I am an American women and am wondering what I am going to do with my free time. Is it miserable being a women there? Is it safe?
swimmingblueowl: To be honest I don’t know how it must be for women who are here in Saudi alone with no family. I rely heavily on my husband but I also have my children to keep me very busy. The good thing about living on a compound is that there should be transportation you can use in the evenings or weekends when you are not working and you should be able to meet other ladies to socialise with. Compounds vary in their facilities so it’s good to check around and find out what will be available to you.
Saudi Arabia is the place where YOU have to make it happen, nothing will fall into you lap so you have to make the effort to make friends and find activities to do. You could also check the American Embassy in KSA website and see if there is info there which will help you and find out if there are any American expat women’s organisations (I think there are).
I feel very safe here and think that the crime rate is far lower than that of the US and UK.
Hello, I too am considering moving there as my husband has a job opportunity and it would help us get out of some debt (he’s a doctor trained at Stanford, so I can say that at least some of them are great!!–Actually health care is one issue I am NOT worried about). As a woman, with a daughter, fear we will be mistreated off the compound. We’ll follow the local customs of course, but is there strong anti-American sentiment to worry about? And are there jobs for women? I’m an attorney with some teaching experience. I’m willing to do volunteer work too. I just want to do something constructive with my time & because we were once in the military I definitely understand the need to join or organize groups of women to do things. Can we travel in groups of women or must one male per female be present? If so, that means that I can go nowhere off the compound without my husband? Is that true?
Pingback: Life in Saudi Arabia: On Compound | Move One InMotion
Welcome to Saudi Arabia!
Join us soon in our new website http://www.rightcompound.com a full database for top Saudi housing compounds where you can share activities, experience, and even business.
Our facebook group is active right now with almost a 1000 member from all around the globe most of them are already compounds residents.
Join us today http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saudi-Compounds/100228283377591
Happy Holidays