2. New Employee Information Package
4 5
Introduction to
Sadara Chemical Company
(Sadara)
Established in October 2011, Sadara
is an unprecedented joint venture
between Saudi Arabian Oil Company
(Saudi Aramco), one of the top en-
ergy providers in the world, and The
Dow Chemical Company, a leading
science and technology company.
With a total investment of approxi-
mately US$20 billion, Sadara is now
constructing the largest chemical
complex ever built anywhere in the
world in a single phase, with 26
integrated world scale manufactur-
ing plants, and will have an annual
capacity of over three million metric
tons.
Of the 26 manufacturing plants
being constructed, 14 are completely
new to Saudi Arabia, and their prod-
ucts will be the first of their kind to
be made in Kingdom. By bringing in
new advanced technologies to create
new products, Sadara will be adding
new value chains to complement
Saudi Arabia’s existing chemicals
landscape.
Sadara will accomplish this by also
being the first use Naphtha as feed-
stock in the entire GCC. By using
best-in-class technologies to crack
naphtha, we will enable many new
industries that either do not exist in
Kingdom, or that only exist through
imports of raw materials. These new
industries include oil & gas chem-
icals, water treatment chemicals,
furniture, bedding, automobile parts
and detergents, among others.
Additionally, Sadara will introduce
new specialty chemical plants and
businesses to the Kingdom to com-
plement the existing commodity
products.
Another key aspect of the Sadara
chemical complex will be PlasChem
Park, a collaborative effort between
Sadara and the Royal Commission
for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) that will
serve as an accelerator for the King-
dom’s drive to create more value in
the downstream sector. Adjacent to
the Sadara complex in Jubail Indus-
trial City II, PlasChem Park investors
can easily access Sadara’s products
for feedstock and further conversion
to finished products. This will create
unprecedented conversion industry
investment, innovation, education-
al opportunities and thousands of
sustainable jobs, thus producing a
positive and enduring impact on
the Saudi economy. A number of
downstream projects have already
been announced for PlasChem Park,
with a further 20 projects currently in
development.
By creating value through chemistry
for downstream industries, Sadara
supports the Saudi economy and
society both now and in the future.
A game changer in Saudi Arabia
and in the chemical industry – this is
Sadara!
Sadara is an Arabic word meaning:“in the lead” or “forefront”.
3. New Employee Information Package
6 7
The Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia - or KSA - is the birth-
place of Islam and is home to Islam’s
two holiest cities: Mecca and Me-
dina. The modern state of Saudi
Arabia was founded in 1932 by King
Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al
Saud. The current King, whose offi-
cial title is the Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud ascended to the
throne in 2005. Under his guidance,
the Kingdom has steadily modern-
ized through a series of social and
economic initiatives. These have
included expanding employment
opportunities for women, attracting
foreign investment, increasing the
role of the private sector in the econ-
omy and discouraging businesses
from hiring foreign workers.
Saudi Arabia is a member of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC), which
also includes: Bahrain, United Arab
Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
It is the largest country on the Ara-
bian Peninsula, occupying approxi-
mately 80% of the total land mass
and is the leading producer of oil
and natural gas in the world, holding
about 17% of the world’s proven oil
reserves.
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest
country without a river, though
extensive coastlines along the Ara-
bian Gulf and the Red Sea provide
essential lifelines for the country with
regards to importing and exporting
goods. The Kingdom’s economy
is largely backed by its oil industry,
which accounts for more than 95%
Dress Code
Being in a Muslim country, it is
important to respect the religious
culture that dominates the trends
and actions. That said, men are al-
lowed to dress as they would in their
home country, noting that shorts and
sleeveless shirts are not common. It
is important to note that if you have
tattoos, these should be covered in
Public areas as they can offend some
local people.
Women, should always dress re-
spectfully and conservatively, and
are required to wear an “Abaya”
while outside of the residential com-
pounds, in keeping with the Islamic
tradition in Saudi Arabia. Inside the
compound, women may dress as
they would in their home country.
Climate
Saudi Arabia is characterized by its
desert climate, with summer tem-
peratures typically reaching about
45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees
Fahrenheit). The weather is primarily
dry heat in the central region, and
humid along the coasts for most the
year.
Sadara is located in the Kingdom’s
Eastern Province, which lies along
the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, on
the Arabian Gulf.
Currency
The Saudi Riyal (SAR) is pegged to
the US Dollar at a rate of US$ 1 =
SAR 3.75
of exports and 70% of government
revenue.
Saudi Arabia celebrates National Day
on the 23rd of September every year.
Celebrations often include events in
public gathering areas. Celebrations
can be quite exciting to see as many
of the country’s youth invest them-
selves in the festivities wholeheart-
edly.
The available notes come in the fol-
lowing denominations:
People and Culture
The current population of Saudi
Arabia is calculated at more than 27
million people. Approximately 30%
of the total population is composed
of expatriates, most of whom are
from South East Asia.
The population is typically very wel-
coming of Western expats. Arabs
are well known for their hospitality,
and this is often exhibited in a multi-
tude of ways when interacting with
citizens.
The country is very conservative
however, and a high level of respect
for traditions and culture is expected
of Expats. This includes intermin-
gling with members of the opposite
gender in public places, which can
lead to being questioned and de-
tained by members of the Commit-
tee for the Promotion of Virtue and
Language
Due to the large expat community,
there is a large diversity in the lan-
guages spoken in Kingdom.
However, the official language in
the country is Arabic, and English is
widely used and understood by the
local population, as well in the busi-
ness community.
Religion
As the birthplace of Islam, it should
come as no surprise that the primary
faith is Islam. Approximately 85 -
90% of citizens identify with Sunni
Islam, while the remaining 10 – 15%
identify with Shia Islam. The large
expat community has brought a di-
versity of religions into the Kingdom,
though most are practiced privately.
Prevention of Vice (i.e. the Hay’ah or
religious police).
Drinking is illegal in the Kingdom,
as is the use of recreational drugs,
and possession of either can lead to
significant punishment and / or fines.
Bahrain is accessible by way of the
King Fahad Causeway, which is a 27
kilometer long bridge connecting
the two countries together. Simi-
lar to Saudi Arabia in that it is an
Islamic state, Bahrain is significantly
less conservative and offers an easy
escape for many expatriates over the
weekend.
Pets
(Information sourced from: http://
travel.state.gov/content/passports/
english/country/saudi-arabia.html)
If you are a pet owner looking to
bring your pet into Saudi Arabia
when you move, it is important to
note that the Kingdom does not
quarantine healthy pets as long as
they meet certain requirements.
Firstly, all pets must receive approval
from the Saudi Ministry of Agricul-
ture in order to be imported into
Saudi Arabia. Cats and dogs enter-
ing Saudi Arabia require a Veterinary
Health Certificate and a dated letter
from the veterinary private practi-
tioner addressed to the Director of
Customs, Saudi Arabia. Both docu-
ments must be authenticated by the
Department of Agriculture Veterinary
Causeway to
Bahrain
1 5
100
500
10
4. New Employee Information Package
8 9
Service Office and the State Depart-
ment’s Authentications Office and at-
tested by the Royal Embassy of Saudi
Arabia. The certificate must indicate
that the animal was examined and is
free from disease, and confirm that
rabies and other vaccines are current.
Information on the name, breed, sex,
color, and age of the animal must
also be stated.
Any dog that enters Saudi Arabia
must be classified as either a “guard
dog” or “guide dog.” However,
certain breeds are NOT/NOT permit-
ted in Saudi Arabia. Saudi author-
ities can and have refused to admit
animals, and have required them to
be immediately shipped back to their
point of origin. Given the extreme
climate conditions in the Kingdom
and limited staffing and facilities
at Saudi airports that process the
importation of pets, this can be inju-
rious or fatal to the animals. Please
check the updated list of prohibited
breeds at the above link.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ex-
pressly forbids the import of any avi-
an species. Do not attempt to bring
a bird with you to the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.
Pet owners are strongly advised to
seek further information from the
relevant authority of their country
and/or that of the destination coun-
try.
Additional information on the impor-
tation of pets can be found here:
http://www.pettravel.com/immigra-
tion/SaudiArabia.cfm
Telecommunications and
Internet
Saudi Arabia has a strong commu-
nications network in place, and has
one of the highest mobile device
penetration and internet usage rates
in the Middle East. Multiple service
providers include major players such
as:
- STC: the state owned telecommu-
nications network
- Mobily: regional telecommunica-
tions network (owned by Etisalat out
of the UAE)
- Zain KSA: global telecommunica-
tions network
These telecommunications providers
can provide high speed internet to
both fixed-line and mobile custom-
ers, using a range of cutting edge
technologies, from home-based DSL
and Fiber Optic fixed line connec-
tions, to 4G modems, to portable
wifi-hotspots.
Multiple packages at competitive
rates are available to suit the needs
and requirements of individuals and
households.
Housing
Sadara has agreements with a total
of five compounds, three of which
are reserved for those who are on
Family Status, while one of the two
remaining compounds is reserved
for those on Single / Bachelor Status.
The final compound is a mixture of
Single / Bachelor Married and Family
(Married) status.
The accommodations for those on
Family Status can vary, depending on
the number of accompanying chil-
dren: as per the below table:
Number of Children Villa/Apart-
ment type
0-1 1/2 Bed Apartment/Villa
2+ 3 Bed Apartment/Villa
It is important to note that the specif-
ic villa and apartment types can vary
within even the same compound,
however the basic layout will be
similar.
**Please note that accommodation
within these compounds is based
upon availability of units and is not
guaranteed to all expat employees
joining the company immediately
upon arrival**
If units are not available within the
Sadara compounds, regular employ-
ees can submit a request to Com-
munity, Office Services and Logistics
(COSL) department, and they will
be notified as to availability in due
course.
Sadara regular employees also have
the option to rent an apartment/
villa that is not located within a
compound, which can prove to be a
cheaper solution. To aid/support em-
ployees that wish to make use of this
option, Sadara works with a number
of respectable real estate agents in
the Jubail area, and these agents can
assist employees who need to secure
housing within all budgets and re-
quirements.
The below table lists these agencies
with their contact numbers:
Real Estate Service Agency
013-361-3088
0500523233
0501800906
Hektaar Real Estate Investment
0563333664
013-344-1333
Fawzi Real Estate Agency
0505841739
Al Adwani Real Estate Management
Agency
013-361 1395
Alshammari Real Estate Office
0553632525
013-363-2525
Your Most Important Choice Real
Estate Agency
013-363-1465
013-363-5401
0505778666
0555183400
Nukhbat Al Taymuz Real Estate Agency
013-362-0362
013-361-8300
Asas Real Estate Agency
013-361-7771
013-362-1000
Osos Real Estate Agency
0541399988
Amlak Al Tamyuz Real Estate Agency
0549941175
0555863367
Al Melihi Real Estate Agency
013-362-6662
013-362-6665
013-362-6667
0506940001
Driving
As a regular employee, you are al-
lowed to purchase your own vehicle
and drive in Kingdom. If you do not
wish to do so, you can rent a vehicle,
or use company provided transport.
Otherwise, taxis and taxi services are
readily available throughout Saudi
Arabia.
For those who wish to drive, driving
is similar to mainland Europe or the
US in that drivers drive on the right
hand side of the road.
Drivers need to be aware that speed
cameras are enforced throughout
Saudi Arabia, and that the rules of
the road are regulated and enforced
by the traffic police.
5. New Employee Information Package
10 11
Shopping
The eastern province is well rec-
ognized for its shopping and the
numerous retail outlet options that
are available. Some the most well-
known shopping destinations in the
Khobar area include:
Al Rashid Mall
The primary shopping mall in
Al-Khobar. It is landmark building, a
hub for gathering and offers a wide
selection of boutique and high-end
shops to choose from.
Schooling
There are a number of internationally
accredited, well respected schools in
the Eastern
Province, covering the American
Standard, British Standard, Indian
Standard and Arabic Standard cur-
ricula.
Depending on your curriculum pref-
erence, you can explore enrollment
opportunities with one or more of
the following schools:
American Curriculum (ISG System):
International Program Schools
(IPS) (http://www.ipsksa.com/)
Dhahran Academy
(http://www.dahs.org/)
Jubail Academy (http://isg-jubail.
org/)
ISG Dammam
(http://dammam.isg.edu.sa/)
British Curriculum:
British International School – Al
Khobar (BISAK) (http://www.bisak.
org/)
Dhahran British Grammar School
(http://www.dhahranbritish.com/)
Indian National Curriculum:
International Indian School Dammam
(IISD) (http://www.iisdammam.edu.
sa/)
Dhahran Mall
This mall covers a large surface area
in the Dhahran area, and, in addi-
tion to offering an excellent range
of shops and restaurants, it also has
an arcade / amusement park for
children and doubles as an exercise
track for those looking to do some
serious mall walking on hot or humid
days, given the size and width of the
hallways.
Amwaj Mall
A strip mall, it is located next to Ikea,
and includes a number of specialty
and boutique shops that offer shop-
pers something a bit different than
your average shopping mall.
Arabic Curriculum
(with International Accreditation):
Dhahran Ahliyya Schools (DAS)
(http://www.das.sch.sa/Index_En-
glish.html)
Al Faisaliah Schools (https://alfaisa-
liahen.maarif.com.sa/)
Employees are encouraged to
conduct online research to find a
suitable school with the type of
curriculum they would like for their
children. The Sadara community,
both expat and local, will also be
available to help with information on
specific schools for their needs.
Medical
Sadara offers employees compre-
hensive medical coverage through
one of Saudi Arabia’s most respect-
ed Medical Insurance companies,
Tawuniya. Employees and their fam-
ilies are fully covered in a number of
top-tier hospitals. Upon completing
Jubail also has a number of shopping
malls that serve as a gathering point
for locals and expats alike. From
high shopping to local products,
from restaurants to gyms, these
malls serve as much of a social func-
tion as they do a commercial one.
The main malls in Jubail include:
Fanateer Mall
Al Huwaylat Mall
Marina Mall (currently under con-
struction)
Jubail also has a street market / souk
area, known as the Jubail Down-
town, which has local crafts and
foods, and doubles as yet another
gathering point or hub for social
acitvities.
the orientation process during your
first days at Sadara, you will receive
your medical insurance cards, as well
as the policy and a list of healthcare
providers you can visit.
Banks
Saudi Arabia has a robust banking
and financial industry infrastructure,
with a well-respected Central Bank.
As such, the Kingdom has several
major banks, so of which have ties
to international financial organiza-
tions, and others that are consid-
ered strong local players. Popular
banks among expatriate employees
throughout the Kingdom include:
SAMBA: previously associated with
Citi Bank and is recognized for the
strength of its services.
SABB: an affiliate of HSBC, and thus
respected and trusted by those with
existing bank accounts in their home
countries.
National Commercial Bank: one of
the strongest private financial institu-
tions in KSA, and a solid government
lender, thus implying security of
funds.
Riyad Bank: which has strong ties
to many government organizations,
and is therefore considered a very
safe bank by many.
6. New Employee Information Package
12 13
Diving and Fishing
Sadara Diving Club
Take to the depths in a unique diving
and fishing adventure along Saudi
Arabia’s Eastern coast with a group
of like-minded individuals by joining
the Sadara Diving Club.
Jubail, located on the Arabian Gulf,
is one of the most picturesque scuba
diving and fishing destinations, with
a rich and varied marine ecosystem.
Here you can experience one of
nature’s finest adventures in relaxed,
clear and warm waters.
Jubail Dive Association (JDA)
Is another group of scuba divers and
diving professionals with differing
levels of experience. Membership in
the JDA is open to all Sadara em-
ployees and dependents, as well as
others who are looking to become
certified scuba / skin divers.
Find out more at:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/
groups/558370257588193/
JDA activities include: diving trips,
diving training, social events and
gatherings such as “free discover
scuba dive”, workshopsand presen-
tations.
Pearl Diver center
This center is owned by one of the
JDA members, and is the only PADI
(Professional Association of Diving
Instructors) dive center in the Jubail
area. The dive center trainers and
staff have a combined 22 years of
experience as certified dive instruc-
tors. The facility offers: a showroom
where various name brand fishing
tackle, diving equipment, and acces-
sories are available for purchase, two
private training classrooms, a service
area and compressor room for equip-
ment repair and air tank refilling, and
diving trips to the most popular dive
spots along the Jubail coast.
Basketball Team
Organized in January, 2014, the
Sadara Chemical Basketball Team
(SCBT) has completed its inau-
gural year. The SCB Team is part
of a competitive league team
composed of a multi-talented and
multi-cultural group of players rep-
resenting four different countries,
including Saudi Arabia, the United
States of America, the Philippines
and Brazil.
The SCBT competes against oth-
er inter-company league teams
around the Kingdom, and has
recently competed in two tourna-
ments: the MBPA Basketball Invi-
tational and the Eastern Province
Basketball League (EPBL).
SCBT completed its season by
defeating the league’s defending
champions, to achieve a 3rd place
overall finish, closing out the team’s
inaugural season.
In July 2014, SCBT began its 2nd
season, participating in the 27th
season of the Eastern Province
Basketball League open. SCBT was
successful and received a trophy for
Best Team Uniform and Best Orga-
Expat Lifestyle in
Saudi Arabia
The expat community in Kingdom is
very active, and offers a wide range
of activities for those interested in
getting involved. From deep sea
fishing and diving, to “Sand Rosing”
and camping, there is something for
everyone.
The Sadara community itself has a
number of interest groups that are
very easy to join, including:
nized Team. We look forward to a
very competitive and hard fought
season.
Tryouts for SCBT are open to all
Sadara Regular, SMP, and Contractor
employees.
Our team’s motto was originally said
by American automotive pioneer,
Henry Ford: “Coming together is a
beginning; keeping together is prog-
ress; working together is success.”
Football Team
Sadara Chemical Company also has
a competitive soccer (football) team,
composed of team members from
around the organization who partic-
ipate in regular practice and planned
matches.
Tryouts for the soccer (football) team
are open to all Sadara Regular, SMP
and Contractor employees.
Solution Polyethylene Team
7. New Employee Information Package
14 15
Step 1
Application
Step 2
Interview
Step 3
Offer
Extension
Step 4
Mobilised
will need to provide a number of
official documents in order for the
final offer to be created. This will
then be extended to the candidate
for consideration and a final deci-
sion. The candidate will be given a
specific timeframe to respond within,
otherwise the offer will expire. If ac-
cepted, the candidate will be asked
to complete the 1st required med-
ical exam, as well as a police back-
ground check. The medical is exam
is required in order to secure your
Saudi work visa within the first 90
days of your entering the Kingdom.
Upon successfully passing both, and
obtaining a visa, the candidate will
be directed to hand in their notice
to their current company and flights
will subsequently be arranged.
Step 4:The candidate is
Mobilised
Once flights have been organised,
the candidate will receive an email
The medical exams required by Sada-
ra include a physical exam, hearing
and eye exams, x-ray, and blood/
urine/stool samples to screen for
Hepatitis, HIV, and other contagious
conditions, including Tuberculosis,
Cholera, Shigella, Malaria, and vari-
ous STDs, among others.
The four phases are:
Step 1: Application
The candidate applies to a role listed
on the Sadara company website or
via an approved vendor. The applica-
tion is reviewed and, if found to be
suitable for the position, the candi-
date is contacted and an interview is
arranged.
Step 2: Interview
The candidate will be interviewed
and assessed on a variety of factors,
including technical knowledge and
personality. A decision will be made
following the interview, and the can-
didate will be contacted within 14
working days to inform them of the
decision made.
Step 3: Offer extension
If selected for hire, the candidate
they will be required to complete
a 2nd medical exam. This exam is
required to secure your Iqama (Res-
idency Permit), and is typically done
the day after your arrival in King-
dom. This document is a require-
ment for all expats residing in Saudi
Arabia.
with the details of who will meet
them at the airport (candidates
should look for a sign with their
name on it on arrival) and where
they will be initially staying in King-
dom, as well as an emergency
number for someone in Kingdom in
case they need further assistance on
arrival.
Additionally, the candidate will
receive a list of documents they will
need to bring with them on the first
day in the office. Transportation
will be arranged for the candidate
to their work location (Dhahran
or Jubail) in order to complete the
registration process and provide the
required documents to HR. The can-
didate will then either be taken to
the training department (if they have
OJT) or they will be taken to their
respective departments.
Once the candidate arrives in KSA,
Additionally, employees assigned
to OJT will be required to undergo
a drug test prior to leaving for the
training.
The Sadara recruitment process is a simple four-phase process. This
helps ensure all paperwork for prospective employees is in order and
complies with Sadara policies and Saudi Labor Law.
Section 1:
Recruitment Process
8. New Employee Information Package
16 17
Step 1
Flight into
KSA
Step 2
1st Day in
the office
Step 3
Your Iqama
Medical
Step 4
Begin your
new role
accommodation. Please note that
you will be housed in this tempo-
rary accommodation for a period
of 14 days after which you must
have either elected to take company
provided housing or found your own
housing.
Step 2: 1st Day in the office
You will be picked up at your tem-
porary accommodation around 7am
by the meet and greet company
and taken to the office. There, you
will be met by an onboarding team
member who will present the on-
boarding program to you. Following
this presentation, you will be shown
to your respective departments for
introduction and orientation.
Step 3: Your Iqama Medical
You will be picked up by the meet
and greet company at an previously
agreed upon time and taken for your
residency permit (Iqama) medical
The four steps are:
Step 1: Flight to KSA
When you land at Dammam airport,
you will need to go to the desk
for “First Timers”. This is normal-
ly located to the far left of all the
immigration desks, at which the
passport control officer will process
your visa, take your fingerprints and
your photo before being allowed
in to the country. After which, you
will proceed to pick up your luggage
from the carousel and out through
customs’ last baggage x-ray ma-
chine. Please note that all baggage
(including hand luggage) must be
place through this X-ray machine.
Once finished, you will proceed out
to the meet and greet area where
you will be met by a representative
from our meet and greet company.
They will take you to your temporary
exam. This process can take around
two hours and you will be required
to undergo a few medical examina-
tions, as well as give some blood.
Following the medical exam, and
depending on the time, you can be
taken back to work to complete the
day or taken back to your temporary
accommodation. Please note that
unless you have your Iqama you will
not be able to obtain a single or
multiple exit/entry visa, open a bank
account of your choice or buy a car.
Step 4: Begin your new role
After all of the above has been com-
pleted, you will be able to start your
new life and career in Sadara Chemi-
cal Company.
Section 2:
Relocation Process
FAQs
9. New Employee Information Package
18 19
Q. When will I receive my Wel-
coming allowance?
A. The Welcoming allowance is
typically issued with your first full
month’s salary. In some cases, can-
didates begin with Sadara late in
the month or just before payroll cut
off. In this situation, the Welcoming
Allowance will be issued during the
next full month salary cycle. Please
note that if you are on Family Sta-
tus, you will first receive 60% of the
Welcoming Allowance with your first
month’s salary, and the remaining
40% after your spouse has joined
you in KSA. All other employees
(Single/Bachelor, Married) will receive
60% of their base monthly salary
with the first month’s salary.
Q. Is there a time limit for my
wife to arrive in order to get the
remaining 40% of the Welcoming
Allowance?
A. Yes. In order to obtain the remain-
ing 40% of the Welcoming allow-
ance, your wife must arrive within
one year of your arrival, otherwise
you will not be eligible for the
remaining 40% of your Welcoming
allowance.
Q.When my wife gets ready to
join me at a later date will Sadara
assist us with her paperwork and
provide a flight for her to KSA,
even if it is a year or more out?
A. Yes! Sadara does not set a time
limit for uniting you with your loved
ones in Kingdom, even if you have
been with the company for a year or
more. Sadara will also assist you and
your immediate family (spouse and
children) in obtaining a visit visa to
the Kingdom if required prior to their
final move to join you in KSA.
A. This will largely depend on how
long you will be in Saudi before
heading out on OJT. If there are
available housing units in Sadara’s
residential compounds, and you have
longer than a few weeks in Saudi
before beginning your OJT, you will
have the option of transferring to
one of the compound units. If there
are no residential units available, you
will need to extend your hotel stay
until either you depart for OJT, or a
residential unit becomes available.
It is important to note that if you
elect to use the company provided
housing after your OJT, you will no
longer be eligible to receive your
housing allowance.
All housing for Sadara employees is
allocated based on availability.
Q. Will any deductions be tak-
en from my monthly salary? If
so, can you please explain what
these deductions are?
A. Sadara will only deduct your allo-
cated Housing Allowance from your
monthly salary if you have elected to
live in one of the company provided
residential compounds, and/or your
allocated Transportation Allowance if
you have elected to use the company
provided transport.
If you decide to find your own hous-
ing and/or provide your own trans-
portation, (like renting or buying a
car) then nothing will be deducted
from your monthly salary.
Q. If Sadara provides housing
and transportation, why would
they deduct money from me for
that purpose?
A. Sadara regular hires have a choice
to live in the company provided
residential compounds, as well as
the option to use company provided
transportation.
Arriving in KSA
Q. When I arrive in KSA, will I be
in temporary housing? Where ex-
actly and how will it be paid for?
A. You will stay in either the Crown
Plaza Hotel near the AlTurki build-
ing or a hotel in Jubail. Temporary
accommodation will be paid for by
Sadara for the first two weeks (14
days) during which you must decide
if you are going to take company
provided housing (and thus you must
complete the housing request form)
or arrange for your own accommo-
dations.
Q.When do I learn my hours &
shift schedule?
A.Working hours and shift schedules
will be assigned by your direct line
supervisor once you are in KSA.
Q.Where will initial work location
be?
A.Your initial work location will be in
either Jubail or Dhahran, Saudi Ara-
bia, depending on your department.
If you have On the Job Training (OJT),
then you will be informed about the
location of the OJT training by the
training department as well as any
visa requirements for this location
ahead of time.
Q.Will travel to and from the
work location be provided?
A. Yes, there is a daily bus to and
from the residential compounds
where Sadara employees are housed.
Transportation is provided during
training as well to the specific train-
ing locations. Please note that if you
elect to use company provided trans-
port, you will no longer be entitled
to your Transportation Allowance.
A. Sadara’s training locations are
assigned based on your specific role
within the company, the specific
technology requirements associated
with your position, and where that
technology is located within the
DOW OJT network.
Q. What type of schedule I will
be assigned during my OJT?
A. Training is full-time, based on
a 40-hour work week which may
include shift work.
Q. What kind of accommodations
and allowances during my OJT?
A. If OJT is required for your role
within the company, Sadara will
provide housing (based on a Single
Status), meals, and transportation.
A Training Coordinator will contact
you prior to arriving in KSA and meet
with you during your Trans-OJT Pro-
gram. They will handle your training
assignment location accommoda-
tions, and answer any additional
questions you may have on the OJT
experience.
Q. Will my Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) and/or safety
gear be provided? Or do I need
to provide my own?
A. PPE and/or any safety gear and
equipment required will be provid-
ed by Sadara, at no charge to the
employee.
Section 4:
Housing – Western
Expatriate
Q. Will I be assigned to a com-
pound before leaving for train-
ing? And if so, do we know
what compound will I be as-
signed to?
Q. What happens if I receive neg-
ative results?
A. Passing these medical exams is
required for employment with Sada-
ra. Without successfully passing the
required medical exams, you cannot
be issued a Saudi work visa or an
Iqama (residency permit) as per Saudi
Labor Laws, and therefore cannot be
employed by Sadara in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia.
Section 3:
On the Job Training
(OJT)
Q. Once I receive my Iqama (res-
idency permit), how soon will I
ship out to my training destina-
tion?
A. This is based on your hiring man-
ager and training schedule, and will
be conveyed to you at the earliest
possible time.
Q. How long is on the job (OJT)
training?
A. If your position requires OJT, it
typically ranges between three, six,
nine or twelve months. Your hiring
manager will make the final deter-
mination on if/when you will attend
training based on your hire date,
pre-employment clearance, and the
existing training schedules.
Q. Where is OJT training conduct-
ed?
Employees who elect to live outside
of the company provided residen-
tial compounds are eligible to keep
their Housing Allowance in order to
finance their own housing. Similarly,
employees who choose to provide
their own transportation are eligi-
ble to receive their Transportation
Allowance.
However, if the employee opts to live
in the company provided residen-
tial compounds or to use company
provided transportation, then their
housing and/or transportation allow-
ances ARE deducted to cover these
costs.
Q. Are all furnishings and utilities
included? What about internet
and cable?
A. For employees living in the
company provided residential com-
pounds, all units are fully furnished,
with standard utilities including inter-
net. These are provided at no extra
cost to the employee. If employees
choose to live outside of the compa-
ny provided residential compounds,
the cost of these items and services
will be covered within your allotted
housing allowance.
Q. When I get back to KSA from
OJT Training, will Sadara ship my
personal effects from point of
origin to destination? Or is there
cash in lieu to cover the cost of
purchasing new personal effects
in KSA?
A. Sadara provides an actual allow-
ance for shipment of your personal
items from OJT site to KSA. This
is available only once per employ-
ee, and the allowance caps at SAR
24,000 for single employees and
SAR 54,000 for married employees.
This allowance is provided on an
actual basis, and is only reimbursed if
the company is provided with origi-
nal receipts.
10. New Employee Information Package
20 21
Q. When do I need to register my
children for the new school year?
Is there a cutoff date? Will Sada-
ra assist me with the registration
process?
A. Different schools have different
registration, schedules, calendars
and testing requirements. It is there-
fore recommended that employees
conduct their own internet research
prior to arriving in KSA, and you will
be able to visit the schools when
you arrive in Kingdom, to determine
the best school, and thus the specif-
ic requirements for their children’s
registration.
The Sadara community, both local
and expat employees, will be happy
to provide information and feedback
on specific schools where possi-
ble. Sadara’s professional advisors
will similarly be available to consult
with expat employees on needs and
requirements for schools. However,
as Sadara is a start-up company, at
present, there is no specific function
established within the company to
assist employees with school regis-
tration or processing.
Q. Will I receive cultural training
before arriving in KSA? If so,
how will this take place?
A. As Sadara is a start-up company,
we do not yet provide formal cultur-
al training. However, as part of the
hiring process, you will participate
in the new hire orientation program
once you arrive in KSA. This pro-
gram will include some information
on adjusting to cultural differences,
some general information on the
Kingdom, and provide you with a
general list of dos and don’ts to help
you acclimate.
Additionally, the Sadara community
as a whole is very welcoming and
accommodating to expats, with the
local employees, a large community
of expat employees and profession-
Section 6:
R&R / Vacation
Q. Are there any blackout periods
for westerners to use vacation in
KSA?
A. No. Department heads and im-
mediate supervisors are the approval
level for any requested vacation. Like
in any company, these issues are
usually discussed and agreed upon
with the immediate supervisor. You
are not allowed to take any vacation
within the first three months of your
employment with Sadara as this is
your probationary period.
Q. What happens when multiple
people want vacation during
American holiday season? How
will you determine priority on
taking vacation?
A. This will be at the discretion
of your management, and will be
discussed and agreed internally with
employees who request leave.
Our goal is to create a culture that
allows for time away from work with
family.
Q. Must I wait out the 90 day
probation period and/or the 6
month training assignment be-
fore being granted time off?
A. Employees are not allowed to use
vacation days during the initial 90-
day probationary period (as per com-
pany policy). It is not recommended
that employees take days shortly
after the employment date as this is
a critical orientation and acclimation
period. Following the probationary
period, vacation is approved by the
employee’s management based on
workload and distribution within the
department.
Expat employees are eligible for re-
Section 5:
Life in KSA
Q. Does Sadara have anyone to
help expats with tax prepara-
tions?
A. As Sadara is a start-up company,
we do not yet offer tax preparation
support for expatriate employees.
This is an option being considered
for the future, and if/when a decision
is made, employees will be notified.
Q. Will it cost me to have my pay-
roll converted from SAR to USD/
GBP and transferred to a US/UK
bank account each month?
A. Yes, banks will charge custom-
ers the going conversion rate and a
small fee when transferring funds to
a bank in another country.
Most expatriates find it more eco-
nomical to build up funds over a
number of months and then transfer
a larger amount back to their respec-
tive home countries, as this limits the
the local bank charges.
Q. Will Sadara provide finan-
cial assistance for my children’s
schooling while in KSA?
A. Sadara will cover the cost of
schooling up to a maximum of SAR
53,000 per child for a maximum of
three children (ages 5 – 18), currently
there are two methods of paying
school fees:
• The cost of schooling is born
initially by the employee, and later
reimbursed to the employee as per
company policy.
• The employee applies in advance
to Sadara for covering the cost (up
to the limits per child) of the regis-
tration and tuition as per company
policy.
found at most healthcare facilities in
the Kingdom, bringing their knowl-
edge and experience with them,
and it should be relatively easy for
employees to find somewhere and
someone they are comfortable with.
Once you receive your health insur-
ance cards and booklets, you will
be able to identify which hospitals
and clinics are covered and are most
suitable for your needs.
Q. Am I permitted to bring cur-
rent prescription medications into
the Kingdom?
A. Yes, however you must also carry
a copy of the prescription with your
physician’s signature. You will need
to schedule an appointment with
a local KSA doctor for any refills.
Some medications available overseas
only with prescriptions may be avail-
able without prescriptions in KSA,
and vice versa.
Also, it is critical to note that illegal
drugs are prosecuted very severely
as per Saudi law, with little to no
leniency given, and a zero tolerance
approach taken by authorities.
Q. What happens to expats em-
ployees in the event that there
is turmoil or unrest in KSA and
we have to be evacuated? Will
we still get paid until it is safe to
return?
A.In the event that your safety be-
comes an issue, the company does
have evacuation plans in place, and,
should the need arise Sadara and
your Consulate will take the appro-
priate action. Many consulates have
satellite operations in the Eastern
Province, and are readily and easily
accessible to their nationals.
Sadara also has strong relationships
with many of the Consulate’s here in
KSA, and we are committed to the
providing all our employees with the
utmost care and ensuring their and
their families’ safety at all times.
al advisors who will be happy to
answer any questions you have upon
arrival and as you settle in.
There is also a large amount of in-
formation that exists on the internet,
given the nature of the Saudi work
force, and prospective employees are
encouraged to conduct their own
internet research about becoming an
expat in Saudi Arabia.
Q. How should we be prepared
to dress while in public in KSA?
A. Being in a Muslim country, it is
important to respect the religious
culture that dominates the trends
and actions. That said, men are al-
lowed to dress as they would in their
home country, noting that shorts and
sleeveless shirts are not common.
It is important to note that if you
have tattoos, these should be cov-
ered in Public areas as they can
offend some local people.
Women, should always dress re-
spectfully and conservatively, and are
required to wear an abaya while out-
side of the residential compounds, in
keeping with the Islamic tradition in
Saudi Arabia. Inside the compound,
women may dress as they would in
their home country.
Q. Will I be assigned a Dr. or do
I just find one as we do here at
home?
A. There are many reputable health-
care facilities and doctors available in
Jubail and Dhahran. Word of mouth
is typically the best way of identi-
fying a suitable doctor for you and
your family, and we would encour-
age you to speak to your colleagues
and fellow expats, as well as your
professional advisors, who will be
happy to provide referrals.
Medical and healthcare professionals
from all around the globe can be
imbursement of the cost of a fully flex-
ible economy class ticket and allow-
ance upon completing 12 months of
service. The employee will initially bear
the cost of this ticker, and will receive
reimbursement as per company policy
following completion of 12 months of
employment.
Western Expat employee’s that have
opted for Bachelor Married status are
also eligible for a further two econo-
my class tickets (pro rata from date of
joining) which are reimbursable as per
company policy following 12 months
of employment, in addition to an extra
8 days (work days) added onto their
annual leave entitlement.
Section 7:
End of Service (EoS)
Agreement
Q. How is the EoS benefit calcula-
tion done for expat employees?
A. The end of Service policy for expats
is as per Saudi Labour Law: employees
will receive 50% of their gross month-
ly salary for the first 5 years. For each
year after that, it would be 100% of
gross monthly salary. This is calculated
per the total number of years spent
with the company.
Auto renewable contracts renew every
two years (unless otherwise stated). If
the employee decides to leave Sadara’s
employ, Saudi Labor Law would be
followed in calculating EoS packages.
Q. How is this severance paid out?
Is it lump sum one-time payment?
A. EoS packages are paid to employ-
ees as a lump sum payment at the
time of leaving. This benefit is given
to employees on top of the Annual
Benefit Supplement.
