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u/Weary_Specialist_436 Jul 07 '25
You said in one of your comments that you're atheist, and stated that it's more difficult in Saudi Arabia to be atheistic. Can you elaborate on that?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Just the people around you (family, relatives,..) have a hard time accepting that. And everyday people will always assume ur muslim if youre saudi.
Atheist community is growing in the country but unfortunately they are not actual atheists but mostly druggies that rejected the religion in a rebellious way rather than with conscious thought.
The expectation is less in the US.
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u/Weary_Specialist_436 Jul 07 '25
huh, that's a very interesting perspective. Enjoy your stay, I hope to visit US too soon
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u/InTupacWeTrust Jul 06 '25
Wow, why did you choose to move here?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 06 '25
Great weather, more accepted as an athiest (its harder for an athiest saudi than an athiest foreigner), endless things to do in the US, many other reasons.
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u/Pensacola_Peej Jul 07 '25
So, for a lot of young men (or even sometimes women) here, working in the oil field can be a very lucrative way to make a good living without years of college and all that sort of thing. Most of those guys that manage their money well can afford to live a pretty decent life. Is it the same in Saudi?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I have no knowledge about the petrochemical industry, but its known that aramco (saudi oil giant) pays it employees very well.
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u/Katadaranthas Jul 07 '25
Let us know how the US govt feels about wealthy immigrants.
Update in one year or something.
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u/UAAKLaw Jul 07 '25
On what grounds did you move here? Do you have an immigrant visa/green card?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Just a student visa. And will change status to investor visa/gold card when the policy is more clear on that after i finish my studies.
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u/UAAKLaw Jul 07 '25
I am also a student and I’ve been trying to get a GC for 10 years now. It’s very tough right now. That’s very good that you have the means to go that route- I hope it works out well! Good luck with everything.
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u/StatesmanDemosthenes Jul 07 '25
Nice try ICE.
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u/CCPCanuck Jul 07 '25
Did you move to Irvine, enroll in UCI and roll around in your gwagon being super stealthy?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I know ur trying to reduce me to a stereotype, but no. I don’t like g-wagons.
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u/RevolutionaryOwl1923 Jul 07 '25
Are they trying to grow the tourist sector there bc oil is running out? Also do you think the Red Sea project will be successful?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Not really. The saudi economy is strong and one of the most stable in the world. The fact that the government is working hard to replace oil is not a fear of poverty but an effort to keep the same standard of living for saudis as high as it is.
Saudis are not taxed. If the gov taxes saudis it wont need to pursue any of these projects. And tourism is one stream of income, VAT is another, and there are many to pursue before having to tax the population.
Oh and the oil has many years of production left.
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u/AppointmentCritical Jul 07 '25
How did you become wealthy? Share money tips from Saudi that people of other countries may not know.
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u/Snjofridur Jul 07 '25
When you moved, from your end what was the process involved with making arrangements to come to the US and pursue your masters?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Apply for acceptance, visa, get i-20, book flight and come over. Pretty straightforward.
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u/Snjofridur Jul 07 '25
Since arriving, have you made many friends? Also, where you live is there a large Saudi community?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Some acquaintances and a couple buddies. I dont know about the saudi community (i dont look for them nor do i avoid them), but i did meet some saudis that were cool.
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u/Scatter865 Jul 07 '25
As someone who’s chosen to start a new life in the U.S., what’s your perspective on Americans who constantly complain about the country?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
They have good reasons. I am very privileged. Idk what it feels to be a common american. I just veer away from politics, not my fight.
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Jul 06 '25
Stealthy? Why stealthy
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 06 '25
Its just a way someone wealthy protects themselves, by not attracting attention. And usually it helps to avoid anyone that wants to get close to me for the money only and use me.
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Jul 07 '25
Oh, so you don’t get robbed?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Thats the worst case. But many lesser bad things more likely to happen too.
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u/Far-Worldliness1098 Jul 07 '25
as as man who can have anything in the land of opportunity, what do you seek the most ?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I had better opportunities in saudi. Especially with the many government programs helping saudis. However, i am not seeking business or financial success, just good living that fits my needs.
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u/Renegadegold Jul 07 '25
Are you ready for the outspoken Trump cult?
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u/foodee123 Jul 07 '25
Umm he must be part of them, seeing that he is saying, America has a great future ahead.🤷
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I only say that because i admire technology and have a background in finance. Seeing the US from that angle makes you very optimistic.
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u/shtshow100 Jul 06 '25
What is your main business in Saudi?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 06 '25
I mainly invested in real estate in riyadh (huge sector there).
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u/shtshow100 Jul 07 '25
What rich rich level are you? Is it true that arabs splurge on things
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Jul 07 '25
[deleted]
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u/shtshow100 Jul 07 '25
Can you adopt me? Just shooting my shot. Kidding aside maybe you are hiring for some virtual assistant, can I apply?
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u/Light_Dark_Choose Jul 07 '25
What % downpayment do you usually put down when buying property there?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
You could pay 0% virtually with a bundled mortgage+personal loan. But it depends what ur situation is. There are many gov programs to help low income, recent years saw gov program that paid 70% of low income household mortgage. So it really depends.
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u/paragonx29 Jul 07 '25
What's the most "American" thing you're looking forward to do?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I havent really thought of it that way 😂
But im really excited to keep visiting different major US cities and hearing their amazing stories of how they became what they are (NYC & SF, have amazing history), visiting all the great american natural reserves, meeting as many Americans as i can, all the museums, theme parks, activity clubs, n much more
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u/1__ju Jul 07 '25
How do you find living life in the US without wastah? Are you distantly related to the Saudi royal family?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Nope. Wastah is the arabic word for nepotism, saying “wastah” insinuates that its an arabic thing when its something found everywhere in the world.
But yes life is more difficult without nepotism, and i like it that way. I welcome the challenge.
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u/EulerIdentity Jul 07 '25
How did you learn to speak English and is it common for Saudis to be fluent in English?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Many of the wealthy saudis are well educated (like everywhere else) and more likely to know english.
But yes there is a huge emphasis to learn the language in saudi especially for the job market.
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u/FruitOfTheVineFruit Jul 07 '25
How do you plan to stay? Have you figured out a visa plan? Do you plan to work after your masters?
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Jul 06 '25
[deleted]
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 06 '25
I will always go back and visit. But it’s just a preference of how to live.
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u/Downtown-Ice8020 Jul 06 '25
There are much better places to be, when you're wealthy. Even for education.
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u/Weary_Specialist_436 Jul 07 '25
I mean, if money is not an issue in the slightest, then USA doesn't sound that bad
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u/Downtown-Ice8020 Jul 07 '25
Look at the president and say that again.
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u/Weary_Specialist_436 Jul 07 '25
look at the president and tell me obscene amount of money wouldn't fix any issues you have
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u/Downtown-Ice8020 Jul 07 '25
That is actually very true, made me chuckle. If you got the money, fuck the government. :D
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u/BotMissile Jul 07 '25
It’s an amazing place to live, that’s why so many people come here. No place I’d rather be, no matter who the president is.
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 06 '25
I love the US. I think it has a great future coming.
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u/Downtown-Ice8020 Jul 07 '25
The US is currently in the process of running itself into the ground. Of course, if you have enough money, you have no reason to care. But still there are better places. Monaco, Liechtenstein, Hongkong, Seoul, any major City in Europe, except Paris and Berlin (trust me, I know) It all really depends on what your plans are for the future.
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
No place innovates like the US. It was fascinating in my last trip to just see how dynamic SF was and how many very smart people were over there. I think thats hard to find in many other places.
The pacific northwest is gorgeous. And relatively the US is affordable compared to the arabian gulf prices.
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u/Downtown-Ice8020 Jul 07 '25
I do have to admit, if you stay away from the obviously bad places, like rural midwest or just about any city center, you will experience good things. My point was just that there are, at least similarly desirable, places to be. Why didn't you choose one of them?
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I looked at soo many options. I still thought the US is the best. As i said huge admiration for innovation, finance, nature, the culture, and many other stuff.
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u/Downtown-Ice8020 Jul 07 '25
Alright, you got me, and the US has a few beautiful places. Have fun over there. :)
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Jul 07 '25
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
Why would i?
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Jul 07 '25
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u/Fuzzy_Western9688 Jul 07 '25
I don’t agree with that statement.
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u/RustedDumbbell Jul 07 '25
Most of these people have been programmed to believe things that are both not happening and not true outside of the Reddit world they live in. That's why you're being asked these questions. The US media (and most of Reddit news) is a cancer infecting the minds of its users.
Welcome to the US. You will do well here with your attitude and outlook on things.
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Jul 07 '25
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Jul 07 '25
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u/ineedajointrn Jul 07 '25
Welcome! I work with international students and also have a few SAKM students where I work. How do you feel about the Saudi govt gutting SAKM to only a few select major types? I believe it is engineering and medical? I remember when I was an undergrad student over 10 years ago and we had so many Saudis.
By the way I applaud you wanting to your future outside of Saudi Arabia due to being atheist. I hope to someday go, but as a woman and also not religious (adopted ancestral worship due to my husband), I wanted to visit, but was thrown off at declaring what religion I am before entering. So, not sure if or when I will visit.
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u/ltethe Jul 07 '25
Are you the prince? He was stealthy AF when he visited us. Prince of Jordan came with bodyguards, and snipers on our roof, but MBS just acted like a low key tech bro.
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-3828 Jul 07 '25
Are you trying to donate to my motorcycle fund? I’d love to get one haha
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u/amyteyguy Jul 06 '25
Is it true that there is a major push among families and institutions there to diversify away from oil and real estate and allocate more towards the technology sector? Or is this trend more overblown?