We live in Sunrise Compound, the official name is Sunrise Beach Gardens. We’re one of hundreds of compounds or communities in the Eastern Provence. Most foreigners coming to KSA chose to live in compounds which are very similar to small neighborhood communities. The communities come in all shapes and sizes including modern apartments, single story ranch homes, large multi level villas, to large private mansions . Some compounds are very exclusive to upper management while others are  housing camps with prefab accommodations. Some are company exclusive others have a large diversified mix of companies and cultures. Most provide 24 hour security and maintenance and have a board range of recreational facilities such as tennis, basketball, volleyball, squash courts, a pool and work out rooms. Some of the larger compounds offer dry cleaning service, mini-markets, day care, libraries, restaurants, bowling allies, beach facilities, play grounds, movie theaters and in some cases even schools. Size varies from several families to over 5000 people. The larger compounds have everything a small town would have.

We live in a Dow exclusive compound, all residents work for Dow Chemical. When M.E. first visited KSA in December she was shown two different compounds to live in but it was strongly suggested that she live in Sunrise. Sunrise is located on a peninsula right on the Arabian Gulf, one of the few that are on the gulf and it has its own beach.  There are 32 villas and 8 one bedroom apartments. The villas are like twin row houses centered on a long walkway with a driveway looping around them. We live in the first villa in the row, farthest  from the beach. From the second floor we have a view of the causeway and of the bay beyond it. We have 2 pools, one indoor, one outdoor, an indoor hot tub, an exercise room with free weights and exercise equipment, 2 tennis courts, a combination basketball and volleyball court, a squash court and a multi-purpose room. We also have a min-market. We are told that this compound is especially nice because it has a lot of green space. We do live in a desert. It has very nice lawns, flowering plants and palm trees and it is all very well maintained.

ME has a 15 minute ride to work and to the center of Al Khobar is 15 minutes. So far we like it here, what really is there not to like. During the week we have a yoga class, an interval training class, tennis lessons, group volleyball twice a week and on occasion community barbecues.

In the next post we will look at the inside of our villa. Below are pictures of Sunrise Compound.

looking at our compound from across a little lagoon

the entrance to our compound

two of the security guards

the sign

this is the mirror on little casters that is rolled around the underneath of the car

we have double fencing, a stone wall with razor barbwire and a steel mesh fence with razor barbwire

view when entering the compound, our villa is the first one on the left, notice the walls on either side of the villas, our compound is narrow and long

the walkway between the villas with view of the gulf at the end

the 8 apartments

combination basketball and volleyball courts with tennis courts just beyond all with night lights

the recreation center that houses the indoor pool and exercise room

exercise room

pool and hot tub

view of the beach

floating dock and patio on the gulf

outdoor pool over looking the gulf

looking back at the beach

view of our villa and the road looping around the villas