I am perpetually baffled by Aramco's decision to consistently bring in skilled expats while leaving unqualified locals in management roles. Their so-called "succession planning" program is a joke, rotating mid-level managers with no expertise, relying on lower-level Saudis to cover for them. Expats do all the real work, while locals present flashy, meaningless decks to justify their roles. The organization is riddled with mismanagement and stagnation, and expats are expected to be grateful for their "tax-free" income, which is no consolation given the toxic work environment. After two years of mental abuse, I am leaving. This dysfunctional system is damaging the kingdom’s image and counterproductive to the crown prince's vision for Saudi Arabia.
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Ok that's fair. All of my experience ended just prior to the covid era. I can't even begin to imagine what a mess that was. I'm sure it would have impacted my feeling on my overall experience for the worse.
From my experience I can’t agree. I’m one of only two people in the company with certain very niche expertise. My time at Aramco started off on good terms, but it’s gradually getting worse each year. Something changed after Covid, the anti expat drive from management went into overdrive. Like others on this forum I am counting down the weeks and months until I can leave the Magic Kingdom for good.
IMO, for what it is worth, I believe that your KSA/Aramco experience is directly related to their need for your specific talents/skills. If you are a common business type offering skills which are not so rare, your total experience will be somewhat worse than say...a drilling expert with rarer skills and experience which are more difficult to find and entice to KSA. It's kind of the way the world works everywhere but the differences in treatment are more noticeable in the big sandbox than elsewhere...IMO.
My view is either leave quickly, within a few months, when you just know it’s not right, or hang on in for 5 years min to make it financially a game changer.
Everyone knows that Aramco management are a bunch of largely inbred, tribal mo--ns, bar the very odd exception. They are not your friends and in many cases want you to fail because you are an expat (and they have someone foreign to blame for their inadequacies). They will never every tell you the truth.
Aramco have won in this case it seems. They’ve squeezed you for two years where you’ve given it all… you’re at your wits end…but as it’s only 2 years you get zero in terms of any end of service benefits. You also leave (rightly so), bitter, angry and probably in need of therapy.
The entire expat retention model is based on burn and churn every 2 years. They don’t give a damn and will replace you with one of the desperate plastic expats dying to get a job in Aramco.
I hope you managed to bank enough for this to be worth your while?
Best of luck readjusting to the real world, hopefully you put all of this Aramco nonsense behind you forever. I’ll be doing the same in 1 years time!
"after two years of mental abuse, I am leaving."
And that's EXACTLY what Aramco management expects you to do. The HR model is designed to milk as much as possible out of Expats before they get disgusted and leave.
As has been said on the board many times, if you are desperate enough to come ...
Do NOT bring your family.
Do NOT expect to stay more than two years (if that).
Do NOT attempt to "prove yourself" to a management that sees you as disposable.
Just collect $$$ and GTFO.
This isn't your Father's Aramco. Or your Father's friend. Or your Uncle. Now its just a typical Expat job for a sh^tty Middle Eastern company. I wouldn't be surprised if they start doing two year contract bondage to keep people from leaving right away like the sleazy ones do.
It has always been that way since my time there, which began in 2002. They were so blessed with an abundance of resources that they could make huge errors and mistake in the operation of the company and survive. Plus, how do you think it would play politically if they passed over locals and operated completely on merit? There may come a day when they cannot survive making decisions in this manner, but that day, IMO, has not yet arrived. Good that you are leaving rather than remain and be miserable. Good luck in your post Aramco ventures.