Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

You’d be crazy to move into that asbestos dump! Good luck with your decision!

Hi most recent post by anonymous,

I was recently placed in Mango as well. Also looking for an update.. but I’m thinking of withdrawing from the role after reading every single thread on this website.

I reached out to a girl working there on single status, she said she had friends living in mango but wasn’t aware of much info.. I guess they’re doing okay considering she hasn’t mentioned complaints? Hard to tell.

I can see the posts are roughly a year old. Is there any update on the conditions of the Mint/Mango apts in the Hills?
Unfortunately I was assigned one of those...

Where is the asbestos
??

I had to turn that noisy aircon off at night, even with ear plugs I could still hear it! Had a fan on all night instead. At least I could get some sleep!

When I arrived on my own ahead of my family to a house in the hills, it was a shock. I’ve ‘expated’ with other companies in the industry, accommodation was always way better than that old, infested, asbestos filled tinder box with the thunderous aircon and the oily water. Unhealthily living doesn’t come close to describing it.

I remember when the Modular homes arrived. It was 1992 I think or thereabouts. Back then we had a trailer park along East Perimeter road with lots of trailers (big mobile homes) hosting US families. Housing was tight. We had secretaries and nurses living in 8 person dorms. Man, the parties we had!! But I digress. The modular homes were a big step up from the trailers and I don’t remember any talk of them being temporary. So I guess they are still going strong!! Not brilliant housing I admit, but better than the trailers. In fairness, the Jebel Heights housing is better. Not sure the secretary/nursing parties are better there though!

Haha, the first time I opened the door of my crumbling 1980s house the “hills”, I thought a motorcycle engine was running at the back of the house. It was the AC unit, chugging away on the room behind the garage. It’s dangerously noisy, Aramco could sound proof the room if they have a toss. It breaks every couple of months as well, the cheapest, cr-ppiest piece of kit. No doubt Aramco pays top bucks from a “trusted local supplier” aka kickbacks galore.

Agree with all that is written about the air and water issues here. There’s another underestimated negative health impact. That’s the dB levels coming from the air conditioning. Call it noise pollution. I learned to sleep in it out of necessity but always get more rested when sleeping elsewhere. Of course there are quiet aircon options but Aramco installs the cheapest, even in the newer units.

Officially Americans have to live on camp, it’s part of the tax treaty between Aramco/KSA and the US gov. Not that there are many Americans left, Aramco can’t afford to hire them anymore.

While I was there, I was told Americans are NOT allowed to live outside the camps. They said it was for "IRS Tax Code" reasons. Probably more like the US State Dept warned then about the safety issues of Americans living among the locals. Just google "the Oasis attack" and that will lead you down a wormhole of things you wish you didn't. The first year I was there, there was the deadly Radium Complex fire and a Canadian guy being attached at that small mall next to Ikea, while his wife and small daughter watched. Aramco simply stiched his arm and hand up (from trying to block the cleaver) and gave him a couple physical therapy appts. Rumor had it that they bribed his silence.....which was complete bs.

Plenty of modern and safe options available OUTSIDE the camp. Don't be an id--t 🤷🏻‍♂️

I installed filters on all vents and they turn black in about a week's time. Buy a bunch, you will have to replace filters more often than you think. Aramco will not clean those vents for free until your 5th year. Even that, they only clean the vents, not the insides and furnace, they don't use a vacuum truck. You can however pay a contractor for professional cleaning, will be money well spent. Still, with all the water leaks and aesthetic patch up work, I won't be surprised those walls and ceilings have black mold. We often see cockroaches and small rats in the house too. Hence, it is heavily polluted outdoors and inhaling toxic air indoors. If you are already there and you have persistent breathing and skinissues, then this might be it. If you are just applying, then be ready to compromise your health.

The last comment on air and water quality mentioned that "Some would call this negligence or even criminal behaviour."

Frankly speaking, issues of health and wellbeing can never be resolved by coining in the mighty Riyal. Air and water quality readings are appropriated by endorsed sources to close down any legtimate dialogue. But of course, It's 'only illegal if you get caught ', and the few are being well pritected and paid handesomely to do this. Remember, all company employees are merely expendable here.

Fact: Pollution levels there are unsafe 9/10 days. Aramco never mentions anything, despite it being bl00dy obvious. Everyone who has a braincell runs half a dozen purifiers, seals their windows and covers the vents with the filtration mesh easily available from Amazon. It’s an unspoken fact, even locals know it’s bad! These vents clog up in weeks and also fill with black soot and sl--e. The place is literally toxic. You will get cancer living here for too long. You might as well smoke a packet of cigarettes a day.

The raw water is unsafe, tainted with god knows what. Aramco says nothing as always. If you complain it’s a shortcut to the surplus list or worse. it astonishes me how many clueless expats think it’s ok to use such water in kids padding pools etc.. Ignorance really is bliss. Ditto those that exercise outdoors, it’s quite remarkable.

The houses thrown up in the early 80s in the Hills are riddled with asbestos, the modular designs were not designed to last for 40 years and are crumbling…It’s an environmental disaster waiting to happen. Aramco gives them a lick of paint and pretends all is ok…Some would call this negligence or even criminal behaviour.

Rumor is household bills will soon be charged for in camp. Meters have been installed.

You need to be a man (or woman) of unshakable faith to come on bachelor status, be placed in a broken down unit and deal with solitude it all brings. Dealing with work related things is of course another matter requiring cerebral fitness in a circus.

Glad I left after 8 months on Bachlor Status. No place to bring your wife. A shithole place to work, not worrh the money or cost.

Jajjajajjjjaajjja OMG I visit Housing more times that I can remember, that for sure is a point to consider, I was smart enough to live outside during 7 years and Aramco pay me instead of taking from my salary for that cr-p Housing

I lived in the Hills near the elementary school in a townhome (made for a 3 person family.....and Housing refused to upsize our home after our 2nd child). The same type of housing goes for my friend with the cockroach issue.

Speaking of modular homes....those were supposed to be temporary. 30 years later, Aramco has made the mobile home style house a perm fixture.

Another nightmare from 2014 with the housing shortage, Aramco was placing familes with children into the small single status homes.....and never attempting to move them into a proper sized home.

And now that Christmas is upon us, I remember the year that SEVERAL homes were decorating their homes with lights and many of the light strings being cut (vandalized). I don't know who was doing it but one rumor was that a tolerant member of Aramco's police dept was doing this on the night shift.....but this could have been only a rumor. Fact is, many families threw away thousands of dollars in holiday lighting. I really miss that aspect of Dhahran were the Western expats were really trying to make their lives a little more normal ...it used to bring a smile to my face and was something that would bring the expat community together.

I had a water leak above my kitchen and the ceiling was falling down in over my sink, cooker and food prep area.

Maintenance were called, came and removed lights and had half of my unit's electricity turned off. Then there was an infestation of some flies which wasn't pleasant.

I was told to inform them when the leak stopped to fix this. Between calling them another four times, the leak never stopped. I'd also asked for a washing machine and dryer which never happened when I was moved to thus unit. So, I was having to live day by day by hand washing, preparing food and eating in a dim lit kitchen!

At this point I cannot even summon the strength to tell you how depressed this situation was making me. How could this not affect my work.

Three months later, I had a house inspection and shared my concerns and previous discussions. I was told I didn't have to worry and move units as this can fixed, but, I did point out that water and debris was still falling. Plug inlets were also wet as water was running down the wall. Weeks passed and I was expecting the ceiling and wall to completely give way!

I called Maintainence weeks later and the next visit was to indentify where the leak was coming from. They blamed the aircon again which was also having its own issues. A week later they came again and they didn't know the cause after doing a wider search.

All in all, it was never remedied and it certainly didn't help with the work/home life balance. The job and life on camp itself had already passed the ridiculous stage that many others have shared on this site.

I, like others, are grateful for the for the housing provided by the company. As a single guy, and many other singles placed on Mint or Mango it's very well known that the housing standards there presents stern challenges. A neighbour of mine often complained of similar problems and the smell of sewage.

Perhaps I was more patient and polite than many others but the Housing Dept should not underestimate how essential home life should be, even if the housing is as basic as it is.

What type of house? Modular?