This also-told test is based on a conversation with Banke Adebola, 31, an accountant who moved from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia. She moved to the capital, Riyadh, in May 2024. He was published for duration and clarity.
My husband accepted a job offer three years ago, so I get my life in about three suitcases and I left my house in London.
Now, I am an accountant who works at a distance in Saudi Arabia.
I’m not going to lie. When my husband moved to Riyadh, I said: “Let’s stay a year or two, then return to London.” I did not know what it would be to live here as a Christian black woman, but my air has changed. I surprised myself with how much I love her here.
There were things about Riyadh who surprised me
As my husband already had friends living in Riyadh, finding an apartment was not difficult.
For the first year, we have rented an apartment, but we live in a complex now because it is closer to the place where my husband works.
Expatriates tend to flock to compounds because there are no clothing restrictions and there are amenities. Europeans, Americans and people around the world live in a complex, which is a little price than a normal apartment. On the other hand, some other expatriates want to live with the inhabitants.
One of the first things with which I had to accept is that Riyadh depends strongly on cars and driving, so that most residents do not count on public transport. The Riyadh metro station opened its doors last year, which is very popular, but you should always go to the metro.
In London, I would devote my Saturday mornings to walk in the city and have a coffee on the way back. You can’t really do that here because there are not as many places as in London.
The Saudi government is trying to add more greenery, but it is not really a city accessible on foot. It is too hot to walk half the year anyway because temperatures can reach 113 ° F.
Another was how to get dressed. When you hear about Saudi Arabia, you might think: “Oh, I need to buy a scarf or wear an Abaya.” You don’t need to do it as an expatriate.
If you are not a Muslim or if you are not Saudi Arabia, there is no expectation to cover yourself as the inhabitants do. You can wear what you want as long as you are modestly and respectful of culture.
Many Saudis, or people who live in Riyadh, are Muslims, so it is anchored in culture, and you will hear prayer calls all day. During Ramadan, many stores are closed during the day because people fast. The local coffee will be open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., which I had never known before. Being a Christian, it somehow encouraged me to take my faith more seriously because they take their own very seriously.
In addition, the work week in Saudi Arabia is Sunday to Thursday. I am always confused sometimes, and it took me a while to adapt to it.
So far, the biggest impact that it has had on my life is that my mental health is much better here. It’s not like I hated the United Kingdom, but I still had seasonal depression.
When it was winter in London, I never wanted to leave the house, but I don’t have them here. Even during the winter in Riyadh, the weather is always nice. This improved my quality of life and my mental health. I just feel lighter here. Especially from the business world in London, where everything is fast.
Riyadh is a modern city that continues to grow
Riyadh has grown since I visited the first time. My husband and I have met more expatriates in the past six months than ever.
The government has something called Saudi 2030. They are trying to make Saudi Arabia a high -level travel destination, so they have introduced many new entertainment. There are a lot of boxing matches now, and last year, we organized a tennis tournament with Rafael Nadal.
If you visit, you will be surprised to see how much you like Saudi Arabia. There are so many things that tourists can do, such as visiting museums or the world of boulevard, which has exhibitions from different countries presenting food and culture.
Saudi Arabia is much more modern than people do with it.
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