I just bounced the same question off a guy I know there and I'll try to summarize... (he is debating whether to even return to work from leave - which appears to be a common occurrence).

The 35/31 commuting schedule has been retracted leaving a 6/3 week scheme - but pay has not been raised accordingly. This drops it from the stand out offering it was for best time/money to a point where it appears on par with a number of others - but less attractive due to the overwhelmingly negative experience while 'in country'. ("Hell" is the most used description.)

It sounds like once you arrive, you cannot rely upon the agreement you thought you signed up for. I understand some paycuts have been summarily handed out to crewmembers contrary to their contracts and that a dozen or so have simply bailed out without notice.

I have another colleague on my current contract who was there for a short time a year ago. He was hired for a key management position but found upon arrival a completely different deal - position, pay, everything that mattered. He described something about a VISA or something like it required to DEPART (escape) the KSA and a hurried departure from the place assisted by the embassy.

Basically, all I've heard is ugly, ugly, ugly. I'd be interested in hearing from anybody reliable with a more favorable opinion, if there is one. It will be interesting to see if they can get anybody to stick around with the current offering.