Getting around Jeddah

No, not to worry, we do not ride camels to school. :-)

School Buses

AISJ has several school buses that run daily. There are two buses in the morning. One leaves at approximately 6:30am and 7:00am. There are also buses in the afternoon at about 4:10pm and 5:30pm for those needing to stay late. These buses are provided at no cost to overseas hires who currently live in Saudia City.

The buses also run Saturday shopping trips to popular locations like grocery stores, Ikea, Red Sea Mall and local souks. You can also request that the bus visit a certain location that you may be interested in. There is a weekly sign-up for these trips.

How to Handle Taxis in Jeddah

Saudia City compound has its own taxi company with a large fleet of cars available 24 hours a day. Although street taxis can be cheaper at times (not by much), compound taxis are usually cleaner and safer. Most drivers know English and are well-versed on the locations of all the restaurants and stores in Jeddah. You can contact the office directly by calling extension 4346 if you are using your residence phone or calling Saudia City compound at 012 682 0030 x. 4346.

Uber & Careem services are available thru Apps and are straight-forward. Taxis are also readily available throughout Jeddah; however they do not have price meters. Here are some tips about how to deal with regular taxis:

Before Getting In

Negotiate/Agree upon a price - don’t sit down until a price has been agreed. If you don’t like the price offered, and he won’t budge, then walk away and get another taxi. Often, walking away will cause them to agree.

Ensure the driver knows where you are going

If going to Saudia City, it’s important to say, “Saudia City, inside” when negotiating a price. Some taxis will bring you to the gate and say that inside is 20 more SAR than the original price. Drivers who do not have the proper iqama (work permit) will usually not drive into the compound because it would require them to produce the ID to security.

Use common sense and street smarts. Don’t get into unmarked taxis. If the driver makes you feel uneasy, just walk away and find another. It’s that easy.

Paying

Exit the taxi and pay through the window

If you need change, stay in the car. Ask the driver if he has change for the bill you need. Wait for him to give you the change. After receiving the change, you then pay the driver with the bill you had and leave the taxi.

Some people might tip the driver. It’s nice to tip drivers who don’t give you a hassle on price and treat you well as a passenger. Tips will vary depending on distance of the drive. Use discretion.

If you are not being picked up by the school when going to and from the airport, it is best to arrange service from the compound drivers rather than using the taxis from the airport.

Renting Cars

Renting cars in Jeddah is an easy thing to do. First you must have a Saudi driver’s license, which the school will assist you with getting. As you might know, women are now permitted to drive in the Kingdom starting June 25, 2018. As far for the men they can get driving license for 2, 5 or 10 years, and prices will vary.

There are a large number of car rental companies that can be found off compound, the named agencies such as Hertz, Avis and Budget tend to charge more than the local companies. There are plenty of choices to choose from the various websites.

Walking/Running

Walking and running is a popular past time for many in Saudia City. Women are never expected to wear abayas while on compound and can walk/run in usual exercise clothing. Off-compound, while you can walk places, there are not always sidewalks or crosswalks available. You should be more vigilant here than walking in the US and expect to hear (friendly) honks, as locals don’t see many pedestrians. *Also, taxis honk to see if you need their services.

Bicycling

Many women and men bike around the current housing compound for both practical and recreational reasons. There is also a bike-riding path along the northern Corniche, where men and more and more women are starting to ride bikes (however, women should be fully clothed, preferably with long leggings and long sleeved shirts.

Where to buy Bicycles:

To purchase new:

Red Sea Mall

Saco

“Wheels” Trek Store (Sells exclusively Trek brand road, hybrid, and cruiser bikes)

ToysRUs (Roshan Mall)

To purchase used (similar to Craigslist) : http://www.expatriates.com