I lived on Al Hada compound in Al Khobar for six years I was fairly young, infact I began my first year of primary school out there at the British School Al Khobar(now the British International School)If it was not for the head start this brilliant school provided me I would not be where I am today!
The expat way of life In Al Khobar is amazing with strong sense of community and never a dull moment, on my compound we would celebrate Mardi Gras every year with parades and floats, there were compound barbeques by the pool, craft fairs, seasonal entertainment such as easter egg hunts. Al khobar its self is a wonderful place to go if you like looking around and doing things it is not a regular holiday makers destination although there are often private expat beaches for some compounds, at one point our compound had one with a sunken bus which had been placed at a fair distance from the shore and was teaming with huge angel fish(these were tame and would take bread from your hands and on occasion let you stroke them!!)and other wildlife.
I left Saudi Arabia in 1998/99 when I was about twelve years old and from what I have heard the compounds have improved further and apart from the obvious concerns about recent conflict in the far East everything is just as perfect as when I left..
Well.. I have barely scratched the surface of the amazing years I spent in Saudi,those six years seem like yesterday, I remember every little thing in vivid detail and will never forget..