“Day-to-day life is more balanced in Saudi Arabia. Not having the daily rat race to deal with allows you the opportunity to fulfill other parts of your life, be they athletic, artistic, or spiritual.” Dr. James Weston, MD
Some physicians stay for years; several return repeatedly and one thing is always certain – experiencing life in Saudi Arabia is a phenomenal learning experience on many fronts: the illnesses may be different, the patients come from a different culture, your colleagues are from all over the world, not everyone speaks English, you work with staff who do the same work and have the same credentials as you but are paid less than you because they come from a country in which salaries are much lower. You will have a lot of free time on your hands therefore you will improve your tennis game, learn to play bridge, participate in the local theatre group, or join a music ensemble. You have to be constantly open to new ideas, to new people and to different ways of doing things. Over and over people tell us about how everything is new and different, and how this excites and revitalizes them.
Who enjoys working in Saudi Arabia? The intellectually curious, someone who is sociable, who likes to travel, is non-judgmental, and is open to learning about other cultures and other ways of practicing medicine/nursing. Someone who has a tendency to either learn or educate at every opportunity will thrive. People with a “make things happen” attitude contribute most to the job, to the hospital community, and to the expatriate community. Strong, self-assured people with an accepting attitude do well.
Other Benefits of working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states
• Tax Free Salary
• Able to Save the Majority of Your Salary
• Six to ten weeks Annual Vacation
• Annual Service Award
• Provision of Furnish