Questions :- working in Saudi

[Electromob]

Hi all , I've searched on net a bit only gives job description and not really qualification info .but can't really get a clear picture I'm hoping someone would be able to help.
What are the required qualifications for working as a domestic/ industrial electrician in Saudi Arabia. What are they looking for ? And any other info would be helpful.
Cheers

 

[Marvo]

I'll move this to the Non UK Electrical Works forum for you where you should get better replies

 

[Electromob]

Thanx marvo. Couldn't find thanx button on iPhone.

 

[trev]

It's a few years since I was there as a maintenance spark at a hospital in Al Khobar but I got in with C&G2360, possibly because I knew someone who may have eased my passage (Fnarr fnarr)
I've not seen any ads ever for domestic sparks over there so I always assumed the Saudi's had their own guys trained up to that level.
As far as visas, inoculations etc go I can't remember exactly what I had to do so you'd be best off trying the Saudi High Commission or their Embassy. They all have websites. Let us know how you get on

 

[Engineer54]

There is very few calls for British or European electricians in Saudi, or the rest of the Middle East. Those sort of positions are generally taken by Indian, Pakistani and Filipinos electricians. British and Europeans will normally be of an Engineer status either junior or full Engineers. The minimum qualification required for those positions that i have seen, is generally HNC, ...or ONC if you have a long experience.

 

[Electromob]

@trev1 thx. Working at a hospital at that time while you wer ther wer there any other British sparks.

Engineer54 , but those sparks you've mentioned no offence to them but hav no standard of safety or regulation of electrical industry. They're doing the sparks work ? Which means our 2391 , not even mentioning 17 th Ed. Has no value wotsoeva.
I was thinking on a level of setting up a construction company which specialises in electrical contracts etc. Do you think a British based co which employs a high standard team of sparks would be of little value.

 

[trev]

Yeah there was a small team of Brit sparks it was bloody good crack as well.
I reckon a company putting highly trained sparks into a domestic situation out there would be a non starter mate. The reason is the Filipinos, Indians and Pakistanis are a hell of a lot cheaper than Brit lads would be. Never know though, I could be wrong

 

[Guest123]

Malcolm would be well suited to answer this one.

He actually works in Riyadh.

 

[trev]

I've sent Malcolm a PM asking him to take a look at this thread and advise accordingly

 

[Electromob]

Thx again trev. Not only domestic also commercial too.

 

[topquark]

I think Malcolm is on his way home at the mo, so may be a while before he sees it.

 

[alarm man]

I was thinking on a level of setting up a construction company which specialises in electrical contracts etc. Do you think a British based co which employs a high standard team of sparks would be of little value.

an electrical contractor which specialises in electrical work,i cant see it taking off really..

 

[Electromob]

Any sign of Malcolm ?

 

[butchburnett54]

i worked
over there in 98, as elec. tech, only wanted c&gs. did test and inspection, italians and asians did the installation.
had to have a medical and blood tests but this was payed for by al hugayet, the firm i was going to work for

 

[Electromob]

Thanx Butch. So al you had to do was testing n insp.

 

[Mile high Mike]

Hey Electromob.

I'm back from Dubai which is essentially the same thing. Due to the relaxed electrical safety installation laws out there you could go out there with nothing. But if its through a recruitment crowd ie Devex, KBR ect they will want the UK equivlant of an electrician be that JIB, 2330, 2391, 2382. Which ever category you fall into.
If it is in fact through a recruitment company the chances of you getting the posting you request is marginal, I applied 4 times for Dubai and I spent 2 years in Canada on a military base doing handyman jobs, untill 2007 I got out to Dubai.
Also you will be required to have an International CV written, these can be obtained easily (at a cost) they ask everything they need then they will pad it out and write it, then send it out for you. Also obtaining a working permit for these countries has its problems though through the write recruiters this wont be much of a problem.

Good luck to you anyway.

 

[trev]

Any sign of Malcolm ?

Probably spending time with the family on his off duty period

 

[Electromob]

Hi Mike , thx . Do u hav an email or something of the cv people ?
My dad has a construction n recruitment co and I suggested we try a set up of electrical contractors in Saudi. I've also thout to go out ther n test the water 1st. Which otherway is ther to get a job not using agencies?

 

[Engineer54]

Not trying to put a damper on your thoughts about starting an electrical construction type company in Saudi, but your chances will be slim to none!! You need ''contacts'' you need plenty, and i do mean plenty of cash too. The only work that needs full qualifications etc, will be on ''Prestige'' projects, and the chances of an unknown company getting those sorts of contracts will be Zero!!

The reason as stated why British and other Western electricians is cost!! You cannot compete with the third country nationals. Don't believe everything you here about these guy's, quite a few are very switched on guy's and would put a good many Domestic installers and even electricians from the UK to shame. Some are Engineers/Technicians working as electricians, because they can earn more in a week, than they can in a month in there own countries!! Every now and then there may be a contract for an electrical supervisor, who will be supervising these TCNs, but these day's they are very few and far between i'm afraid!!

Going back to your idea of starting a company in Saudi, ...you wouldn't believe the hoops you would need to go through, even just to get in to Saudi, let alone start a business. The Saudis love paperwork and official stamps, trouble is ....getting hold of them ...lol!!

Even the last time i was over there, any Western electrician's i came across were working on specialist systems that there company was installing, they were all on temporary entry/exist visa's not working visa's.

I can't see that Malcolm can tell you any different to be honest, the good old day's of working in Saudi is well and truly over!! They also haven't got the money that had in those day's either. Couple that, to the underlying countries infrastructure has all but been completed, and you can see, now a days, most projects in that part of the world is now Private projects, rather as than was in the past, Government projects!!

 

[grantr37]

speaking arabic will help, as far as I know, in those countries, the law states that a native person (ie a saudi local) has to own something like 65% minimum BY LAW and that you would not be allowed to fully own your company over there, you would have to be number 2 to a local in ownership and control of the company......there are special dispensations for internationally recognised brand name companies such as airlines, drinks companies and clothing companies, which can have a registered office...other than that you get shafted.....as for contracts, it will go to fully 100% local companies with indian workers...