The first week I moved into my Al Rawdah apartment, I did what every new Riyadh expat does. I hauled…
I have been through three kettles since I moved to Riyadh. The first one came with me from Pakistan —…
Why Most Pilgrims Get This Wrong Search “how to take Zamzam water on a plane” in English and you will…
The first thing most expats do when they arrive in Saudi Arabia is buy a pack of Berain bottles and…
My kitchen tap was reading 540 ppm. I already knew what that number was doing to my shower — I…
I still remember the exact morning in March 2026 when I looked down at my hands after towel-drying my hair…
I know what it’s like to sit in a car that’s supposed to be cooling you down and instead just…
My bedroom split AC was blowing warm air at two in the afternoon in July. Breaker hadn’t tripped. Compressor sounded…
The first power bank I ever owned for my car here died in under two months. It lived in the…
Last June I grabbed my steering wheel at 1 PM in Olaya without thinking, and I genuinely flinched like I’d…
My hairline started looking thinner in November. Not dramatically — just enough that I noticed it in the bathroom mirror…
My Financial Reality Check After Paying SAR 3,531 Insurance on a SAR 10,000 Car I recently opened the Tameeni app…
Not everyone needs to spend SAR 4,000+ on a flagship to get a phone that takes good photos, lasts all…
I was standing near the oversized baggage belt at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah last month when I…
I stood in Terminal 5 at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) last Tuesday, watching a man’s vacation crumble over a…
Moving or traveling within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a logistical challenge, but doing so with a furry family…
If you live in Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam, you know that flying budget carriers like Flynas or Flyadeal is the…
Every expat living in Saudi Arabia dreams of performing Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. The spiritual reward is…
For expats living in Saudi Arabia, the phrase “Annual Leave” triggers a mix of extreme excitement and massive packing anxiety.…
Moving to Saudi Arabia as an expat is a massive logistical challenge, but nothing causes more stress, tears, and anxiety…
Riyadh is booming. With massive mega-projects and international headquarters opening up across the capital, the modern Saudi expat is constantly…
For any Muslim expat living in Saudi Arabia, or anyone traveling from overseas, bringing your elderly parents to perform Umrah…
A few years ago, while riding a crowded budget bus from the Batha district in Riyadh toward Makkah, I struck…
In our previous guide, we exposed the grueling reality of taking a budget Umrah bus from the Batha district in…
For millions of expatriates living and working in Riyadh, the opportunity to perform Umrah is one of the greatest spiritual…
There is a unique kind of dread that sets in when you finish a long day at the office in…
Picture this: You have just finished a massive grocery run at Tamimi or Lulu Hypermarket in the middle of July.…
Opening your car door in Riyadh or Jeddah in the middle of July is an experience every expat remembers. As…
Sleeping comfortably through a Saudi Arabian summer is a uniquely frustrating challenge. Even when the sun goes down in Riyadh…
Take a look around your kitchen right now. Chances are, there is a massive blue 19-liter water bottle sitting on…
Surviving the intense Saudi Arabian summer means keeping your apartment’s air conditioning running almost constantly. While the AC keeps you…
If there is one universal truth about living in Saudi Arabia, it is that the dust never stops. Whether you…
You have finally set up your new apartment in Saudi Arabia, bought a massive Smart TV, and sat down on…
Summer in Saudi Arabia is uncompromising. When the outside temperature hits 45°C (113°F) and the intense Middle Eastern sun beats…
Doing laundry in Saudi Arabia is a completely different experience than doing it in the US, UK, or Europe. If…
Moving to Saudi Arabia comes with a steep learning curve, but the very first hurdle most expats face happens on…
Introduction If you have lived in Saudi Arabia for more than a few months, you know the daily struggle. You…
Whether you are an expat living in a high-rise in Riyadh or renting a family apartment in Jeddah, peace of…
Staying hydrated is the number one rule of surviving the Saudi Arabian climate. Because tap water in the Kingdom is…
As any resident of Saudi Arabia knows, there are two distinct seasons in the Kingdom: winter, and the five months…