Moving Back to Canada from Arabia:

The UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait

Welcome to the resource page for Canadians moving back from Arabia! Here you will find useful information, and tips from other Canadians, specific to your return from the Arabian Gulf region.

The main Moving Back to Canada resource page has links to a full set of resources for you to access, so be sure to check it out as well.

Topics & Resources

• Introduction: Transitioning from Arabia to Canada
• Moving your furniture & household belongings
• Selling real estate in Arabia and abroad
• Moving your money, gold, and investments
• Schooling for your children in Canada
• Health care in Canada

Tips and insights by country:

• UAE
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Oman
• Kuwait
• Your tips, suggestions, and feedback?
• Professional help for your return

Introduction: Transitioning from Arabia to Canada

This resource page has a special place in my heart: We spent 6-1/2 years in the UAE before returning to Canada. I will always remember my time in Arabia as some of my favourite years in life. And when a diplomatic uproar broke out between Saudi Arabia and Canada in 2018, I felt it personally. To me, the Saudi students having to leave Canada was an incident I had a personal connection to, because I taught many Saudi students myself over the years - some of whom have become my friends.

Yes, I know that the reality of life for expatriate Canadians, Brits, Americans, Aussies, Lebanese, Indians, and the millions of "workers" from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and other countries is different from what the average Arab citizen experience. However, the feeling of life moving forward and progress happening in the UAE and other parts of Arabia is infectious for most people living there - Arabs and expatriates alike.

Colleagues, clients, friends, and business contacts in Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait reflect that they are also in the region to build better lives, and they do sense some of the same energy in their countries that I felt in the UAE.

Thoughts on transitioning from Arabia back to Canada

What is the experience like transitioning from Arabia back to Canada? Needless to say, returning to Canada is quite a big shift. The longer you live in Arabia, the more striking the differences. Some are pleasant differences, some are unpleasant. And of course whether you experience these differences as pleasant or unpleasant depends largely on individual lifestyle preferences and personal values.

Positives:

• Most returnees come back to Canada financially better off than when they left. This enables them to start life in Canada with hope and confidence that they have a positive future coming up. People moving back to Canada from other countries may not share these feelings as they may not be returning with the same ability to invest financially in their new life in Canada.
• Many people returning to Canada come with improved educations. It never ceases to surprise me how many people work on their degrees, technical credentials, and certifications when they live in Arabia. You don't hear about this on CNN or BBC, but Arab and expats alike are quite focused on personal development through education. Nice!
• Most people come back with much more professional and life experience. This includes stronger professional and personal skillsets, deeper understanding of differences in cultures, belief systems, and values, and personal growth that is "off the charts" compared to what they could have gained by living in Canada all their life. In other words, life in Arabia changes you, just like it would going to any region of the world that lives life differently from Canada. These changes are both a positive in that you have become a "larger" and "deeper" person and at the same time a challenge in that you have most likely outgrown much of the life you had in Canada before you left. This is an important point to consider. You cannot go back to who you were...and possibly to the place, people, and activities you once enjoyed in Canada and expected to return to and re-engage in and with. Consider your return carefully in terms of your unconscious and conscious expectations of what you think you will experience in Canada. Doing so can help you avoid the pain of learning that you may have "outgrown" many aspects of life in Canada.
• Canada has a more relaxed and "free" social context. Canada is still one of the most "free" countries in terms of day-to-day ability to live your life without government, military, police, or social impediments. Really. The USA claims to be the "land of the free", but I would argue that the reality is Canada was able to claim this title (at least until 2020). I won't go into details as this is a sensitive topic for some but people from all over the world have historically moved to Canada and breathed a sigh of relief when they experienced the freedom to live their day-to-day lives safely and without fear here. 2024 update: Due to dramatically increased living costs, increased crime in big cities, social instability in many places, and "complicated" politics in Canada many new immigrants are turning around and leaving again. And larger numbers of long-time Canadian citizens are leaving the country permanently than ever before in history. Does this mean Canada is a "bad" place? No, of course not. However, be careful to understand the current realities of Canada before you move back, and choose where you live carefully. Some places are wonderful. Others? Not so much anymore...
• Canada has systems that you can trust. *Generally*, government systems, processes, and the overall rule-of-law works in Canada. Yes, there are strain points in our system (serious ones at that as started to appear in 2020 and 2021), and life is by no means easy for many, but the system generally works. While Canada is no longer the country most people in the world want to emigrate to, it is still popular.
• Low "power distance" in Canada. The reality of much of the world includes substantial "power distance" and strong social hierarchies despite the amazing progress that has happened since the Internet and mobile phones have begun to flatten the extreme disparities in many places in the world. Canada has always been a country with a more flat power distance than most others. Yes, the "rich and powerful" still live very much more privileged lives than most of the rest of the population in Canada, but not to the extremes that can be seen elsewhere in the world.

Challenges (or not!):

• Weather. While some people moving back to Canada prefer cold weather and full seasons and never get used to heat, the warm climate experienced throughout Arabia is usually quite easy to get used to for those who were born and raised in cold Canada. We were among this group to took to the warmth and heat easily. It took us 2 years to get used to the cold again when we returned to Canada, and we had moved back to the warmest part of Canada!
• Taxes and general cost-of-living. Yes, Canada is expensive overall compared to most places in Arabia. Taxes levied in Canada pay for that nice system I noted above. And housing costs in all major cities in Canada are not generally in synch with incomes. That financial "nest egg" you are bringing back with you? Given the high cost of housing I suggest you buy a property to live in order to manage your overall cost-of-living or you may find Canada a very expensive place to live in again.
  
  Note: From 2020 until early 2022 Canada went through a massive real estate "price bubble" and by Q2 2022 a price correction began. By late 2023 this had become a major drop in prices in some markets and a significant drop in most others. The first half of 2024 was a good time to buy a property in Canada and the rest of 2024 and into 2025 could be even better for buying a property if you are in the position to do so financially with a smaller mortgage. As interest rates have risen as well there is an offsetting effect of some of the price drop if you were to need a larger mortgage.
  
  Another note: Rental costs for flats and villas in Arabia, if you have to pay for them yourself, are sky high in many places, such as in Dubai. But rental costs must also be seen in the context of income potential, employer housing allowances, and other factors, such as taxation. In Canada you do not have that higher income, employer housing allowances, and low or zero taxation.
• Things take time in Canada. In the UAE an elevated light rail system was built in about 3 years. The same system would take 10-15+ years to build in Canada, after politicians argue for 5 years first about who will pay for it and 100 environmental studies are done. And it is not just the big things: The general pace of life in Canada is slower and most things take more time than in much of Arabia. Caveat: The internet is allowing people everywhere to do things quickly and without bureaucracy slowing them down. From banking online to managing our government interactions, Canada and much of Arabia are both more and more "online". Yeah!
• Keeping up. I would argue that it takes more effort to keep up with the latest technology, trends, and changes in the world when you are living in Canada. One of Canada's strengths is "safety". Safety tends to resist change. In the UAE, for example, change and embracing change are simply the normal way you live life. You either "get" with the changes going on and contribute to them or you can quickly become outdated and find yourself left behind. This speed of change is hard on many people, to be clear, but most Canadians find it exhilarating.
  
  And another aspect to "keeping up": One of the first things you feel when you come back to Canada is an immediate loss of access to what is going on in the world. It is like your field of vision shrinks from 120° to 30°. "Did you hear what is happening in Hong Kong/Germany/London/Qatar?" becomes "I heard it might snow today!" Ok, I am exaggerating a bit, but one of the first things you do when meeting another expat in Canada is start talking about world news...the stuff that most Canadians have no clue about and don't fit into their much smaller frame of reference of life.

Summary: Arabia is very different from Canada in terms of lifestyle, geography, weather, and many other variables. Taking the time to look carefully at both the positives and the challenges as they apply to your particular context, and doing so well ahead of a move back, can set you up for a successful new life in Canada.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Moving your furniture and household belongings

Because Canada and Arabia are so far away from each other, moving your belongings becomes a significant question. Here are some considerations:

Shipping method options

Most people have to decide if they are going to return with their full household of furniture and belongings or only their personal effects.

A full household? Plan to use a 20' or 40' sea container ("sea can"). Most of Arabia imports more than they export by sea container. Having an empty container delivered to your villa or flat, getting it packed, and then sending it by ship to Canada is very common and relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of doing so in western countries. Another benefit of a sea container is that you lock the container yourself and unlock it in Canada. No-one but you has access to the contents. It is a very satisfying "click" when you lock it yourself!

Note: A sea container can take 30-60+ days to reach the port in Canada (east or west coast) where it will be taken off the ship and put on a train or truck. Plan accordingly for this time frame.

If you plan on shipping a smaller set of personal effects, you can use a "less than a container load" ("LCL") shipment method, which is usually just a bunch of boxes on a shipping pallet and the whole thing shrink-wrapped. This is a much less expensive shipping method than a whole sea container, but it may take longer and your belongings are not as secure as with a sea container. Be sure to NOT ship anything valuable if you use this method!

Finally, a third method - and the one we used when returning from our first expat experience - was to air freight a few boxes with us on the plane when we left, in addition to our suitcases. This was surprisingly modest in cost and we had the benefit of our belongings arriving with us and being able to pick them up the next day. But this method only works if you have only a few boxes.

DIY or hire packers?

Household goods moving companies make most of their profits on two parts of the process: Packing and insurance. Which is why, of course, their salespeople push you to pay for both if you are shipping your belongings with a sea container. And they can sometimes tell you that you can't get insurance unless their staff pack the container (not true!) From my experience, you can pack the container yourself and skip the insurance, unless you have valuable and fragile antiques, for example. The odds of something bad happening are quite low and I have heard that those very few people who have put in an insurance claim on something broken have not been satisfied by the insurance company process or payout.

If your move back to Canada is paid for by your employer, pay for packing and insurance. Why not? It is not your money. If you are paying for your own move, or receive a fixed amount for the move in cash and have the time and energy, have a container delivered to your building or villa, hire some help for a few hours, and pack the container yourself. You can save quite a bit this way and have the emotional satisfaction of locking your container yourself once it is packed. A nice secure feeling.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Selling real estate in Arabia and abroad

One of the key questions clients ask me is whether to sell their overseas real estate holdings when they move back to Canada. While there are many experts who can advise them, there are a lot of motivations that these experts bring to the discussion. A real estate agent? "Sell it!" (because I make a commission on the sale). A financial advisor? "Sell it!" (and invest the funds in my high-fee mutual funds!) Friends? "Keep it! Prices will be going up!" Prices did shoot up in Dubai, for example, in 2023 but we don't know this will continue indefinitely. For now? Dubai is booming.

All different perspectives and different motivations.

I take a different view in working with my clients. My central question:

"What is right for you, at this stage of your life, for your overall investment and savings picture, and for what your life will look like in Canada in the future?"

I can do this because I have no conflict-of-interest, hidden agenda, or knowledge-based bias. I am only interested in what is best for my clients, given their context, goals, and needs.

Here are some factors that may help you with your "keep" or "sell" considerations:

• Will you need the funds from the sale of a property in Arabia, or property you have elsewhere (a vacation property in Spain, perhaps?), to set up your life in Canada when you arrive? Most people do need a large pool of funds to buy a nice home in Canada. Others are fortunate in that they can leave real estate abroad and still be able to set up their life well in Canada when they return.
• What are the larger factors (also called "macroeconomic" variables) that will impact the value of your property in Arabia or abroad? These factors can include medium and long term oil prices (obviously, for Arabia!), in-migration, social conditions, economic growth due to technology, research, or other major developments, overflow demand from another market, etc. Stepping back and considering what the value of your property might be in 2-5 years from now given the large shifts happening in these areas is a valuable exercise.
  
  If a significant rise in value is likely? A good reason to hold on to your real estate.
  
  If there are some macroeconomic storm clouds on the horizon? Perhaps selling now is a lower-risk strategy.
• Will you invest the funds you receive from selling your real estate? And can you earn as good or better returns from the investments than you can leaving these funds in their current real estate investment abroad? Options for using these funds include the purchase of an investment property in Canada (residential or commercial), buying a business, and investing in the stock market. This last one - investing in the stock market - can come with a bonus: If you have a lot of room in your Canadian RRSP when you return, you can strategically put money into it for the first few years you are back to minimize taxes you pay on your Canadian earnings. A nice bonus strategy!

Related resource:

Check out the related resource on this site: Buying real estate in Canada.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Moving your money, gold, and investments

Bringing gold and jewellery to Canada

"Can we bring $350,000 in gold bars with us on the plane from Dubai to Toronto?"

This is a real question I received some years ago.

The answer: Yes.

My suggestion: No.

If you have a lot of gold and expensive jewellery to be brought back to Canada, I strongly suggest the use of a specialized "bullion" and valuables courier company. They have the expertise and security systems in place for such international movements and your risk of theft will be zero compared with bringing valuables with you on the plane.

Transferring securities to Canada

This is a more complicated question and one that requires a bit more digging for information on your part. If you have your funds locked into a high-fee investment scheme then you may not be able to move your securities at all. If you have bonds or stocks invested through a broker in Arabia or offshore somewhere else you may be able to transfer them to a broker in Canada. And finally, if you have securities investments with an American stock broker you must transfer them to Canada when you return to Arabia. Canadian residents cannot have regular brokerage accounts in the U.S. I found out the hard way when I was unceremoniously booted from E*Trade in the U.S. when I returned from the UAE to Canada.

Most important question: Check into your rights, options, and the tradeoffs of those options now, as you begin your preparations for moving back to Canada. It may take some thought, research, and time to move securities investments to Canada...or to cash them out instead and simply move the money to Canada.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Schooling for your children in Canada

The school system in Canada is very different from that of most schools in Arabia, private or public. Over the years many Canadians living in Arabia have engaged my professional support with questions of moving their children to the Canadian education system (young, teens, or entering post-secondary). I do have some inside expertise as I have been a university faculty member for 14 years here in Canada and was also closely involved in the K-12 education environment, too. Some considerations:

Young children

Transitioning younger children to the Canadian school system is the simplest age range to work with. Whether your children are attending a British, American, or an International public school in Arabia, the stakes are pretty low in terms of grades and adjustment when moving them to Canada. They are young enough to transition easily. Social adjustment is the central question you generally work with. Children under 12 are usually pretty easy to move to a Canadian public school, which is the choice of most people moving back.

Teenagers

This is the age range that presents the most challenge socially and emotionally. They have been going to school with friends for some time now and moving them to a completely different country, system, and social milieu is hard on them. Care must be taken to ensure the move is done with lots of lead time, care, and support for your teenager(s).

"When we moved back to Canada my sister and I cried for a year. We didn't want to leave ______."

Grades are also starting to become a challenge if your teenager is closing in on the all-important grade 12 scores, which are the grades that determine entry into post-secondary and access to scholarships. In general, moving a teen during grade 11 or 12 is by far the hardest time to move them back to Canada.

Post-secondary entry

Paradoxically, young adults are generally happy to be one their way when they graduate high school abroad and anticipate entering post-secondary studies in Canada. At this age, and before they leave, the challenges I have heard about are all experiences their parents are having with them leaving! The parents are very concerned as to how their son or daughter will apply for and get into a good university in Canada. In addition to this concern is "how does my son/daughter get scholarships?"

See the University and College in Canada page of this web site for more information and support for teenagers and the Canadian higher education system.

Please note that preparing your teenager to succeed in a Canadian university or college and in a life on their own is a very important thing to do. The reasons are detailed in the University and College in Canada page. From the stories I have heard in recent years and personally witnessed I cannot underestimate the importance of preparing your teenager ahead of time for life on their own.

One final note: Researching and applying for college and university in Canada takes time from abroad. Be sure to begin the process mid-way through grade 11 if entry in September of the year they graduate is desired. 18 months ahead is a good time to really dig into college and university entry planning for people living in Arabia.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

The Health Care System in Canada

The health care system in Canada is quite different that of all countries in Arabia. While many Canadian nurses and doctors work in Arabia, they do so in systems that operate with principles and practices that are "westernized", "local" or a mix of the two.

Understanding these differences is important if you are retiring to Canada, have chronic or worrying health concerns, or have medications you wish to ensure continuity of when you move back to Canada.

Key differences include how you access health care, how procedures are handled and paid for, how medication is accessed and paid for, and the general philosophy towards health care.

The central concern Canadians moving back already know about is the 3 month waiting period that is required in several provinces, including BC, ON, and QC. This is generally an easy problem to solve: Most people pay for a "visitor to Canada" health insurance plan from Blue Cross or CAA/BCAA. These plans cover returning Canadians as well as visitors.

I have created a dedicated resource page to help Canadians returning from the U.S. understand the health care system here. Even though this is targeted at Canadians living there, it will also be useful for Canadians living in Arabia:

Health Care in Canada - How Canada's health care system is different from the U.S. system.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Tips and Insights by country

The UAE

Special note in 2024:By mid-2024 the biggest exodus in Canadian history of people leaving Canada has been underway due to challenging conditions in Canada that are sharply in contrast to the high quality of life in the UAE. I have had several people and families who moved back to Canada from the UAE in the last 3 years contact me and tell me they are turning around and heading back to the UAE. They cite difficulty in securing high paying employment in Canada, high costs of renting or buying a property, high general costs of living, high and growing taxes of all kinds, inability to get access to a family doctor, politics affecting their children's public school experience, and a generally declining quality of life in many places in Canada with the Greater Toronto Area highlighted as particularly problematic. Suggestion: Be careful to really understand for your personal context if moving back to Canada at this time is in your best interest. To be clear: It may very well be the right time to move...but perhaps to a calmer, more "normal", and more affordable place in Canada. There are dozens of really lovely towns and small & medium sized cities in the country that have a really good income to cost-of-living ratios.

Now on to moving back:

Moving back from the UAE can be the easiest of all the countries in the region. From the experiences with many clients and my own experience moving back twice, the UAE has the most sophisticated logistics system for moving your household goods, the easiest bureaucracy to navigate for exiting the country, and the most friendly financial system. This does not mean that everything will be easy, just that you may be able to move back to Canada more easily than from other places in Arabia.

A key recommendation: Seek referrals and experiences of other expatriates and company HR offices as to the best moving company to use when returning from the UAE. The company we used was "Leader Pack". They did a great job. And a funny story:

A few years ago a moving truck pulled up to my condominium building here in Canada. In the open door were boxes. As I walked by, I had a moment of deja vu: The boxes were labeled "Leader Pack". It was a couple of teachers and their son returning from Al Ain, moving into my building. We have since chatted many times and they became friends. They love being back in Canada.

Note: Between 2020-2022 logistics systems of all kinds around the world came under stress and this affected moving companies in the UAE as well. One client was not happy in mid-2021 with his experience with Leader Pack and not happy with the Canadian end with local movers here. His feedback indicated to me the importance of not simply accepting anything on face value with any moving company at this time. It is important to understand what limitations and challenges these companies are facing. In the case of Leader Pack they had trouble getting sea container shipping out of the UAE but did not communicate this well to the client. This caused timing and cost changes that did not please him.

Another company to consider is INCHCAPE. They are a shipping company primarily, however they do household goods moves. G. Miller shares his experience using them to move from Abu Dhabi to British Columbia:

The shipping experience was trouble free. The great relief to me was that shipping by boat is based on volume, not weight. Depending on how fast one wants delivery, there is the option of sharing a container. INCHCAPE did a great job from estimate to packing, delivery, and set up. The most important thing for the [Canadian] government was to have the shipping contents list (prepared by the company) ready on arrival in Canada and again when the goods arrive. Since Kamloops [BC] is an international airport we cleared customs in mere minutes when the shipment reached us, right on time, 90 days after leaving Abu Dhabi.

Transferring funds to Canada from the UAE

Per the earlier note on transferring and exchanging funds not through your bank, here is a story from a person who returned to Canada from the UAE:

For anyone coming from the UAE specifically, I found that UAE Exchange was the quickest and most economical place I could go to transfer my money back to my Canadian account. The UAE banks have pretty high fees in comparison and can take a while. UAE Exchange made it pretty simple.

- Thank you, Mr. D. Nichols for sharing your experience!

Note: I heard in June 2020 that UAE Exchange had problems with fraud and the UAE Government had to intervene. My client who shared this got his money back, but noted that with the exodus of expatriates from the UAE that took place in 2020 life was a bit more uncertain in the country at that time and was in 2021 as well. Suggestion: While UAE Exchange may now be a stable company you can also use a Canadian or UK foreign exchange firm. See the Transferring Money and Foreign Exchange page on this web site for companies my clients use and trust.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Qatar

I have had several clients who have moved back to Canada from Qatar in recent times. Their central concerns were timing of their move back, logistics, and financial.

Ken T. generously shares his knowledge and guidance from his preparations for leaving Qatar as he moved back to Canada:

Exit permit is required to leave country

Usually supplied by your company giving you authorization to leave. It means they are satisfied that you have not debts or other issues.

Ensure all company items are returned such as company laptops, ID’s, keys, etc.

Resignation and Bank information

When you resign, your company most likely will inform your bank. Your bank will then ensure you have no loans and your credit cards have no debt. If you do, you will not get your exit permit as they have to be cleared first. Your bank may even freeze your credit cards when they are notified. Be prepared not to have active credit cards after you resign. It is best to cancel your credit cards before you resign and have cash to look after your day to day living.

You may have to give up to three months notice depending on your contract. Once you resign, they will not allow you an exit permit until you leave for good. This means do not expect to travel outside the country for the three months.

Ensure you resign on a positive note with your company. If for instance you don’t give them proper notice, they may deny your exit. They may also withhold any amount of money owed to you at their discretion. The company and country is always right. Usually your company will have a check list of items you need to clear before they sign off.

Your in country personal bank account may be used to pay any possible debts you may have or someone may think you have. An example of this is that your landlord suddenly feels you owe him for damages to your villa that you did not do. For this reason, it is best you remove all money from your account before you resign. You should have just your day to day living amount in it. This will ensure you are in charge of your money.

Your Residents & Utilities

Amazingly your landlord and utility company also gets notification of your departure. Ensure your resident is completely paid and you have had your villa inspected for damages and paid and received your clearance. Same for all utilities as you will need to cancel and get a letter saying you owe nothing. If you do not do this, you will be denied your exit. This includes cable TV, Internet, phone packages, villa utilities, etc.

Motor vehicle

Ensure you have paid off your car loan and sold your car. Again make sure you have all the paperwork. Speeding violations also need to be cleared as you will be denied leaving the country if you have outstanding tickets. Ensure you get a driving record from your insurer.

Resident Permit

Your company will cancel your resident permit. This will require you surrendering your passport to them while they process this. This may take up to 2 weeks. Exiting the Country pre-maturely

You may get out of the country on a holiday and decide you will not return because you have outstanding loans. This generally is not a good idea because they do try to track you down. And you may also never travel through the middle east as your name is on a watch list.

Alcohol Permit You need to cancel your alcohol permit if you have one. And obviously you can not take any alcohol out of the country.

Personal effects

Sea shipments take about 3 months from the middle east. Plan ahead and complete this before you resign. An air shipment is also available and it is cheaper to air freight it if you have 10 boxes or less.

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Saudi Arabia

My clients from Saudi Arabia have a common element to their moves back to Canada: Their employer pays for and arranges their move. This has long been the case for oil industry employees and their families, who live on the "compounds" that everyone has heard about, but it is also true of teachers, health care specialists, and other professionals.

I bring this up because unlike a move back to Canada from the UAE, where you can arrange your move and handle all the paperwork yourself, clients in Saudi Arabia have had their employer help them arrange and navigate the move because the system is not as streamlined as the UAE, for example.

In 2021 my clients moving back from Saudi Arabia have consistently noted that "things are changing here". The oil industry is going through changes, the economy of Saudi Arabia is changing, nationalization of the workforce continues, and the society is changing. These changes are not necessarily in and of themselves "bad" but are accelerating the plans of some expats to return to their home countries, including those moving back to Canada.

On the other hand there are Canadians in Saudi Arabia who see a number of opportunities! I received this in 2022 from a Canadian in KSA:

I am working here in Saudi Arabia and noticed you were looking for feedback on the country. I left Canada in 2015 for Singapore and have been here since the early part of 2019. Not planning on moving back before 2025 but want to be prepared nonetheless. I work at a university here and you are correct much of the process for "final exit" is done by my employer and for some it can be a real ordeal. You have to, for example, divest yourself of all assets owned in the Kingdom such as real estate, cars, securities etc. This might change with regard to foreign ownership of certain assets but that is not a certainty. I rent so I don't have that issue and only have a handful of investments here in the Kingdom (who doesn't own Aramco after all). You have to clear all bank accounts and debts which can be an issue for final payments from an employer and may affect the timing. I have not taken up a credit card or any debt locally so I won't have to worry about that. All fines (speeding etc) have to be cleared as well as getting a clear police report before you can apply for the final exit visa. You have to cancel exit and re-entry visas as well. Big thing is that its changing a lot here in the KSA and lots of opportunities for Canadians looking to spread their wings.

Thank you Sean F. for sharing your guidance and thoughts!

What are your thoughts on life as an expat in Saudi Arabia and if and when you might consider moving back? Please share your considerations! (Thank you!)

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Oman

Oman is a quiet country. You hear very little on the public stage about what goes on in Oman. This does not mean that nothing does, just that it seems to quietly go about its business with little attention from the world.

Moving back from Oman has not posed Canadians any significant challenges other than that of transferring large sums out of the country in 2021 caused one client some grief with HSBC Oman. Otherwise their move and the move of other clients was pretty smooth.

Are you living in Oman or have recently moved back from there? Can you add your own thoughts, experiences, and feedback?

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Kuwait

Clients moving back from Kuwait have had mixed experiences of living there and moving back due to the war there and reconstruction that followed. That was now some time ago, and Canadians now living in Kuwait and moving back do not seem to face and significant barriers and concerns. My client's moves back have been quite smooth.

Are you living in Kuwait or have recently moved back from there? Can you add your own thoughts, experiences, and feedback to this topic?

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

Your ideas, considerations, and experiences?

Please share your ideas, considerations, and experiences relating to returning to Canada from Arabia. I will post them here as help for others. Along with a credit to you will be a big thank you on behalf of the many people you will be helping!

Thank you!

Paul Kurucz

Canada

Latest update to this page: July 2024

Topic List | Your thoughts? | Professional Help

I offer professional support to help you prepare for a smooth and easy return to Canada so you can feel confident and organized!

Your questions about when to move back, taxes, investments and finances, bringing back your household belongings, health care, and more will be answered promptly and professionally, with resources to back up what you need. My 20 years of supporting over 1,300 clients gives me a depth of expertise across all aspects of planning and returning to Canada.

Paul Kurucz - Canada

A happy client:

Hi Paul,

Just to update you - we landed and sailed through customs! So thank you so much for all of your advice...It was a thoroughly pleasant experience.

This is to say thank you for everything. Your advisory has been so incredibly helpful and saved us considerable time and removed room for error.

With best wishes,

Caroline

Paul's professional support

---

Moving Back to Canada Planner!

A ready-made and up-to-date planner of questions, considerations, and actions to take as you prepare for your move back to Canada, organized on a timeline approach. Save hours of work and stress of trying to piece everything together. A companion tool to the full content on this web site.

Now available for immediate download. In easily editable Microsoft Word format so you can customize it to meet your planning needs. Also in PDF format.

NEW! If you are in the U.S. and moving back to Canada quickly your purchase includes a new edition as well: "Moving back to Canada from the U.S. in 30 days or less", in Word and PDF formats.

Testimonials: "Your moving guides and checklists are unbelievably helpful - frankly I don't know what I would do without them. You have covered everything including many, many things I would not have thought of. Thank you!!!" - C.W. April 2022. "The list of tasks is very helpful as I’m a list person. Just love checking off the boxes!" and "I must say I truly appreciate having purchased your guide to moving back to Canada. While we are still a couple months away it has really helped me keep all the "balls in the air".

Bonus #1 ! Includes the guide: "Canada in 2023: 10 Insights to Empower Your New Life in Canada." Written by Paul Kurucz from his experience helping over 1,500 clients return to Canada, this guide will help you better understand the Canada you are coming back to!

Bonus #2 ! Includes the "Real Estate Selling and Moving Checklist" to help you prepare for your move back to Canada if you will be selling your house, townhouse, or condominium!

Purchase and Download now:

(PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Amex)

---

Home | FAQ's | Contact | Get help - Professional Support

Commercial use: © 2003-2024 by Paul Kurucz.

Content from the Moving Back To Canada web site by Paul Kurucz is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License for non-commercial, personal use.