Working in Saudi Arabia: Challenge, Profit and Risk
Brud Gorman, 29, has just taken a job as fire inspector and tripled his salary—to $54,000. The former Oklahoma fire training instructor will also receive a food allowance, a free place to live and free medical care. After each 16 weeks of work he will have eight days off and a free round-trip plane ticket to London.
One other thing: Gorman’s new job is in Saudi Arabia, where a number of major construction projects are offering high-paying jobs to American fire service personnel. Help-wanted ads for inspectors, instructors, fire fighters and paramedics have appeared in Fire Engineering and several large newspapers.
In Washington, the State Department estimates that over 40,000 Americans are working in Saudi Arabia and more can be found elsewhere in the Middle East. The number working in fire protection is not known but will certainly increase. Opportunities for working in Saudi Arabia are on the rise because the Saudi government is helping sponsor broad economic diversification to reduce its dependence on oil exports.
Saudi Arabia is the size of the United States east of the Mississippi. It contains one-fourth of the world’s proven oil reserves, the world’s largest sand desert and not one body of natural sweet water. Almost 25 percent of our imported oil comes from there. They have plenty of money. What they want is American technology.
Fire safety stressed
At least two all-new industrial cities are under construction, among the many other projects. Eventually the cities, near al Jubayl and Yanbu, will have an iron and steel-making complex, a hydrocarbon fertilizer plant, seven other petrochemical facilities and five refineries. Fire safety is obviously a main concern around these hazardous areas.
Al Jubayl will be Gorman’s new home for the next two years, at least on the current contract, and except for the three-day leaves in Europe and the three-week trip back to this country after a year. His work schedule for an American company will be six days a week, totaling 50 hours. His expenses? Not many.
All foreign workers at al Jubayl will live in a separate culture, as much as possible, and many of the things they need are provided free. So they save that money. The construction site is on the coast of the Persian Gulf. In one direction is blue water and green vegetation. In the other direction is nothing but desert. Save that money.
Many of the fire service personnel going over are understandably after the dollars. They want to earn a large nest egg quickly and return home to spend tbe money a little more slowly.
There’s still time to get in on the action in Saudi Arabia. Construction started at al Jubayl six years ago. A completely new city for 300,000 residents is being built and work will continue for another 13 years.
Career benefits described
Besides money, it can also be a boost to your career to work there, Gorman thinks.
“After this experience, a new kind of fire service career path will be possible. This puts you into the international picture, a sort of specialized fire service within the larger.fire service, with new contacts for higher level international work. Several well-known American fire-related companies have international operations,” he says.
Dave White also describes tremendous career benefits. A Texas-based consultant with a number of tours in Saudi Arabia, White says his learning experiences were like an advanced college degree. He worked for one of the Saudi government agencies employing many fire service people.
“You become an ‘expert’ when you go over there,” White explains. “That puts you in a situation where you have to experiment and expand to fulfill the role. Tremendous growth can take place.”
Now White feels he can intelligently discuss fire protection with anyone at any level in the petroleum industry— anywhere in the world. On the other hand, a person can go over there and learn nothing, he cautions. And without a positive attitude a person may not last six weeks in Saudi Arabia.
Some leave early
There is risk involved, of course. For various reasons, about 40 percent of Americans break their contracts and leave early. That can cut deeply into a nest egg of savings because a one-way ticket home can run over $1100, and the worker himself pays if he doesn’t fulfill his contract.
Anyone considering taking a fire service job in Saudi Arabia naturally wonders if it is safe. Reasonably so, it seems. United States military and economic interests are strongly interdependent with those of the Saudis. And events in Iran are not likely to be repeated because Saudi Arabia demonstrates a number of critical differences. For one thing, the government is extensively sharing the oil wealth with the people, unlike in Iran. Yet no one knows for sure what will happen anywhere in the Middle East.
If physical safety could be absolutely assured, it still may be very difficult to adjust to such a different lifestyle. Perhaps the social aspects of a fire station environment will help fire personnel adjust more rapidly. But the culture shock may be great. That’s why Gorman will be flown back to London after each 16 weeks.
Saudi laws are different
One item that must be given up is alcohol. The restriction is total. Any use or even possession of alcohol is a serious offense in Saudi Arabia. Violators of this religious law could go to jail for a minimum of six months or be deported.
According to advice distributed by the U. S. Department of Commerce, many Americans working overseas have the “mistaken belief that foreigners are either above the law or treated (leniently) when they break the law.” This is not so. While Saudi authorities tend not to interfere with quiet and private conduct, if any illegal activity accidentally becomes public, then serious trouble can be expected.
Many Americans would be surprised to learn that an arrested person does not have the right to make any kind of call or contact anyone. He may be “detained” as long as it takes to complete an investigation, which may be months. It’s not like in the movies.
Also not commonly understood is the fact that “there is little that foreign governments or their embassies in Saudi Arabia can do to save (a person) from the consequences of their own actions.” Instead, embassies try to monitor fair application of whatever the local law is.
Females are restricted
Women will rarely be seen. Most married men don’t bring wives and families. There will be no female coworkers, either, because Saudi law prohibits women from working except in education, welfare and nursing. Women cannot drive cars, ride bikes or even walk into some banks.
Friction about female roles in Saudi Arabia can be great. One finished construction project is a 200-unit apartment complex in Jiddah. But after a year it is not occupied, reported Time magazine recently. Designers failed to provide for separate elevators for males and females. Religious conservatives protested and got much support from others who believe that females are giving up traditional roles and values too quickly.
Taking photos of women is also a cultural taboo, and photos of refineries and government buildings are often prohibited.
Obviously, if working in Saudi Arabia was a simple and carefree matter a lot of people would make the move. Then the salaries wouldn’t be so generous. (Those salaries, by the way, are often negotiable.)
The tax picture
Which brings up taxes—and the IRS. Although there is no Saudi tax, the American income tax can be a problem. Gorman says that $20,000 in income is tax exempt if the American worker remains over there for 510 days.
Nevertheless, the tax bite can be harsh, according to Larry Jensen at the Commerce Department. His office helps businesses wanting to market products in the Middle East or to set up operations there, but he is candid about taxes.
Apparently the IRS requires the worker to report a portion of the free housing and other benefits as taxable income. White strongly urges anyone to discuss this entire matter with a professional tax consultant if they are considering a job overseas.
White becomes irritated when he discusses tax penalties for working overseas. He says the government should do more to help Americans working in the Middle East. Now there is a possibility that the Reagan Administration will reduce the tax obligation of Americans working out of this country.
“There is an advantage to the government for Americans to be over there,” he declares. “For example, an American organizing fire protection will specify American equipment for Saudi installations. This helps put more people here to work and helps the balance of trade. You know a British worker won’t be asking for our apparatus.
Wonderful opportunity?
Making the decision to go to Saudi Arabia to work (or to any other foreign country) is a big one. It could be a wonderful opportunity—or a nightmare. Several books are available for background reading for anyone considering the move. Contact the Middle East Education Association in Washington, D.C. The phone number is 202-797-7900 or 203-655-3274.
White says he would give hearty but qualified encouragement to anyone considering a Middle East job. His main warning is just to carefully weigh and understand all factors.
“Read the contract. Assume nothing. Ask every question you can think of, no matter how minor it seems,” he urges. “Get details. For example, exactly what kind of medical care is available or provided? Remember that an overseas experience will influence the rest of your life.”
Saudi Arabia is one place where gasoline prices and supplies are no cause for worry. A gallon over there still costs just 31 cents.
