note: while some of this is unique to Saudi Arabia, many expats can benefit from some of these services.

The world is smaller than you think

One of the common questions for expats like us that we get when we tell people that we live in Saudi Arabia is:

How do you live there? Can you get the same things we get here?

I think that many people would be surprised by the fact that we can get the same types of products that we can get in the US.  Near the supermarket that we frequent, there is also a Burger King, Baskin Robbins, Coldstone, Krispy Kreme, and Tim Horton’s (this Canadian company is a staple in Michigan). If you go to the business district here in Jubail, you will see McDonald’s, Chili’s, Outback Steakhouse and Fuddruckers.

Side note: It may be the climate here, but there is a disproportionately large number of ice cream stores.  That may also be a reason for the large percentage of obesity found in Saudi Arabia. 

Amazon – the good ole’ stand-by

Like almost everyone else around the world, our default method of shopping is to look on Amazon.  Not everything can be shipped to Saudi Arabia.  Also for products that can be shipped, the price of shipping sometimes matches or exceeds the actual price of the product.  This fact definitely prevents impulse shopping and allows us to reflect on whether or not we truly need this purchase! In the Middle East, another alternative to Souq.com.  Souq was bought by Amazon in 2017, and they recently launched the Amazon Global Store to bring even more products to the Middle East.

iHerb

Another company that easily ships to Saudi Arabia (and many countries besides) is iHerb. We use this site for a lot of the vitamins, supplements, and toiletries that we might need.  You can’t find Aveeno anywhere here!  They also have a nice selection of specialty grocery items that you might not be able to find elsewhere. (like spices and teas) . Finally, they have a good selection of baby and toddler products.

Click this link for 5% off your order (for both new or current customers)

Aramex Shop and Ship

One final way that we can shop online from Saudi Arabia (and anywhere else) is by using Shop and Ship by Aramex.   Shop and Ship works by basically giving you a mailing address in 24 different countries so that you can shop online from any store regardless of whether or not they ship internationally.  Shop and Ship is $45 for a lifetime membership for the basic package.  They also have a Shop and Ship Flex option for $145 per year that includes added benefits like discounts on heavy items, better shipping fees, and return service special rates. Basically here is a step-by-step once you have an account: 1. Order online from any retailer 2. Have them send to your Shop and Ship address. (our US one is in Springfield Gardens, NY) 3. Aramex will determine the ‘actual weight’ (not by volume) and deal with any necessary export documents and fees. 4. They will then ship it to you after you pay shipping fees.  They have a handy shipping calculator so that you can determine what it will cost to ship before you buy it. (once again to see if it is a necessity or not) Shop and Ship is handy for anyone who is an expat, anywhere in the world.  We can order items from stores in the US or the UK, plus other countries as well. When we order using Shop and Ship it normally takes a week or two for our package to arrive.

Actual Shopping in Saudi Arabia

note: the exchange rate is 3.75 SAR = 1 USD

So now that we’ve discussed all the things that you can’t buy in Saudi Arabia, maybe we should spend some time discussing things that you can.

I would say that you can pretty much find everything that you need, but that these ‘creature comforts’ from home could cost you!

 

The good

Not everything is bleak.  The produce section of our local supermarket beats anything I have seen from the US in terms of variety.  

Ever had a durian fruit?  It smells awful but doesn’t taste too bad. Well, you can find those here.  The first time I tried mangosteen was here too.  Not too bad!

The quality is not always there.  You can find Driscoll’s blueberries and raspberries just like in the US, but they tend to go bad quickly.

The bulk foods section is also quite impressive.  We particularly like the dried apricots, prunes and raisins.  They are much better quality than you can find in the US.

There is also an entire aisle for specialty items and imports.  Here you can find your gluten-free items and other things you might find at Whole foods.

I find myself looking at prices a bit more in the Saudi supermarket than back at home.  We like Hass Avocados, but they are 45 SAR/kg.  In the same aisle, I can find avocados from Kenya and Uganda for 15 SAR/kg.

 

The bad

Some of the imported goods are ridiculously priced here.  I suppose it makes sense because they have to be shipped but still, my gosh!  Halloween is coming up in a few weeks.  I saw a $73 pumpkin in the store.  $73!!!

Here are a few other examples:

The takeaway

Hopefully, if you are an expat you can find some of the services at the start of the post helpful.  While it is nice to immerse yourself into the culture that you live, it is also nice to treats once in a while.  It makes living away from home that much easier.

Grocery shopping in Saudi has definitely made us think about our consumption a bit more.  We often ask ourselves, “do we really need this?” Since moving here, we have a much higher level of disposable income.  This might give you the tendency for ‘lifestyle creep‘.  An activity as simple as grocery shopping here has helped put that into perspective.

At the grocery store, we have 8 different varieties of apple. To my palate, they all taste the same, why not go for the cheaper option.  Do we really need the expensive imported item, or can we buy the cheaper locally (or regionally) made good instead.  How badly do we want it?

We noticed that this carried over when we were back home in the summer.  Maybe it can also transcend to your shopping habits.

 

Would you buy a $73 pumpkin? How much are you willing to pay? Leave a comment below!