What you must know about getting a Western compound Riyadh - Ranco Village

Planning to move to Riyadh soon? There may be several questions on your mind as an ex-pat on how to settle in Saudi Arabia’s capital. Riyadh is undoubtedly one of the richest places on the globe. The country has a rich cultural diversity with one-third of the residents being ex-pats. Compared to Jeddah, Riyadh is a highly conservative city.

Though you will surely find a decent Western compound in Riyadh, you must take care of respecting their standards and beliefs in terms of clothing and socializing.

The best part about relocating to Riyadh is that it is a highly expensive place to live with accommodation and children’s education being quite costly if these are subsidized by your employer.

Your concerns

You might feel slightly apprehensive moving to Riyadh if you are not a practicing Muslim. The country has highly diverse demographics with a rapidly growing population. It is estimated that up to 40% of Riyadh’s inhabitants may be non-Saudis with people coming from Africa, other Arab states forming the biggest share. Western expatriates, foreign nationals from South Asian and Southeast Asian countries from the remainder part of the ex-pat population. The Western nationals are treated with courtesy it the country.

Accommodation in Riyadh

Modern Riyadh is a metropolis without any clearly defined boundaries. It has 16 smaller municipalities with Diplomatic Quarter being one of them.

Local accommodation is displayed in the local press and also on the website. You can get the classifieds in newspapers translated for you from a friend. While inquiring about the accommodation, you have to inquire about the accommodations from the superintendent of the complex and get the landlord’s phone number. Tell them whether you need a bachelor’s apartment or a family apartment. Living outside Riyadh is mainly recommended for male expatriates without families, Solo women will feel safer inside an accommodation in a compound or that provided by their Riyadh employer.

In western compounds, you will be able to meet many other ex-pats. They have several gated communities present outside of the metropolis area. The residents can get numerous amenities including shops, or shuttle services, gyms, and pools. The religious police cannot enter these areas. In the compound areas, the rules regarding strict dress code and gender segregation do not apply.

Whenever getting a western compound in Riyadh, be sure to get a rental agreement in English or an official translation from Arabic before signing anything. Determine if the new place has a utility connection for electricity and water. You will get gas by the bottle only.

In compounds, fully furnished options are available. Reach out to Ranco Village to learn more about buying a western compound in Riyadh.  Get complete information to make things easier for you by reaching out to a trustworthy accommodation provider.