Life at Saudi Aramco

Careers

Mr. Jaewook Ha

  • Joined Saudi Aramco's Corporate Transaction Group in 2019
  • Originally from South Korea
  • Currently resides in Saudi Aramco's residential camp in Dhahran together with his wife and child
Mr. Jaewook Ha's family celebrating their child's first birthday

Working at Saudi Aramco

What are your responsibilities at Aramco?

I am working in the Financial Consulting Division (FCD) which provides in-house financial and commercial consulting and advisory services such as Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Joint Venture (JV) transactions and other special projects directed by the management.

As a member of the Corporate Transaction Group under FCD, my responsibilities include M&A, JV, divestment opportunity assessment, transaction support, financial model development/review, valuation, financial due diligence, transaction/project economics analysis and business plan review, etc.

What is a typical work day for you?

Each day at work is full of new challenges and learning opportunities, and no single day has been the same for me. One day, I could be building the valuation model for the marketing rights of chemical products. Another day, I could be discussing negotiation strategies for monetization transactions with my colleagues by running multiple scenario analysis on the economic impact.

What is your team like?

I feel that what our team does is intellectually stimulating and strategically important. That's one of the reasons why we are recognized as a professional service center within the company.

What you do at the workplace most definitely matters. When it comes to job satisfaction, however, who you work with is equally important. I'm surrounded by colleagues of diverse nationalities and with rich work experiences. They are smart and of high-caliber, yet at the same time humble and cooperative. I enjoy working with them, and they support me whenever I needed help.

What do you enjoy most about working in Aramco?

As a corporate control function, our division has the privilege and the advantage of reviewing and supporting almost every transaction opportunity that Aramco pursues.

Recently, one of the JV investment opportunities that I worked on was finalized. This JV will provide cloud and digitalization software products and services using Artificial Intelligence technology. I feel both honored and proud to be part of the team involved in this opportunity. I am convinced that the JV will become instrumental for Aramco in playing a leading role in the digital transformation of the Oil and Gas sector, as well as in nurturing local talents who will be leading the Kingdom towards the fourth industrial revolution.

Why Saudi Aramco

Why did you join Aramco?

My passion for energy as well as Aramco's unparalleled presence in the global energy space were the key factors that motivated me to join Saudi Aramco and to move to Saudi Arabia.

The opportunity for broad exposure to M&A and JV transactions excited me as well. My exposure here ranges from traditional Oil and Gas transactions such as upstream/ downstream, LNG production, power generation and renewables, to new trends or technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

Last but not least, my position aids the management decision-making process with counsel based on solid data-driven analysis. Aramco is where I can leverage my various skills and experience in management consulting, strategic planning and buyer-side investment management.

"Aramco is the symbol of the Saudi Arabia economy as well as the Kingdom’s primary value creator and growth driver. In this vein, Aramco seeks a wide variety of opportunities in creating value to both the Kingdom and the company.”

- Mr. Jaewook Ha

Living in Saudi Arabia

Where are you and your family originally from? Where do you live in the Kingdom?

My spouse and I are from South Korea. In Saudi Arabia, we live in an Aramco residential camp in Dhahran.

How have you and your family settled in the Kingdom?

Despite our initial concerns, the overall relocation process went smoothly. An Aramco Global Mobility Coordinator was assigned to us and she helped us throughout the entire relocation process from flight arrangements, visa application to housing assignment.

After arrival, we attended a one-week orientation specially organized by onboarding specialists. They provided us with all the necessary information to help us settle in smoothly.
In addition, the Iqama (residential permit) application process was surprisingly quick. I believe it is one of the benefits of being a Saudi Aramco employee.

How is life in the community?

So far so good! I live in the Dhahran residential camp and it is very different from other residential towns in the Kingdom. Inside the camp where only Aramcons and their families can reside, there are thousands of houses with their front and backyards surrounded by green grass, palm trees and parks.

Children playgrounds are scattered across the camp and there is a well-managed golf course that is centrally located. Additionally, various recreational facilities including tennis courts, running tracks, gyms, and swimming pools are accessible anytime to residents without any fees required.

Thanks to the easy access to these facilities, I have improved my tennis and golf skills tremendously since relocating here. I was also told that there are numerous small communities active in various activities including painting, sailing, learning of foreign languages, taekwondo and football, etc. Name it and you have it!

What do you enjoy doing?

There are many interesting places to visit in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is also surrounded by many popular tourist destinations with famous attractions in Europe accessible in just a few hours.

Due to the current global Covid-19 outbreak, it may not the best time to enjoy the advantages of Saudi Arabia's geographical location.  Before the pandemic, however, my wife and I traveled to Dubai and Oman to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and it was a wonderful experience. We look forward to visiting our dream destinations such as Maldives, Seychelles and Sharm El-Sheik after this pandemic is over!

 

Covid-19 Response

What are your thoughts and views on how Aramco has responded to the pandemic?

I am impressed with Saudi Aramco's swift response to the pandemic and its measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at the workplace.

The Saudi government has also managed to control the situation nationwide. Coming back from vacation in South Korea recently, I had to get a Covid-19 PCR test done. The drive-through test center was easily accessible, and the whole process was quick and smooth. The test result was ready within a day; yet another pleasant surprise.

Mr. Kyoo Wan Kim

  • Joined Saudi Aramco in 2019 as a Project Engineer within the UR Engrg & Project Dept.
  • Originally from South Korea
  • Currently resides in Saudi Aramco's residential camp in Dhahran
Mr. Kyoo Wan Kim

Working at Saudi Aramco

Kyoo Wan, who has almost 30 years of experience as a project engineer, relocated from South Korea to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in December 2019 to join the Saudi Aramco Unconventional Gas project, the biggest shale gas development outside of the United States. When asked how he felt about joining Saudi Aramco, Kyoo Wan said, “My dream came true! I hoped to work for Aramco, the most prestigious oil and gas company in the world.” According to Kyoo Wan, Saudi Aramco has the world's best systems, processes and people. He has been able to enjoy learning about the organization's systems and best practices. 

Prior to joining Aramco, Kyoo Wan's successful international career has also taken him to work in countries such as Mexico, Turkey and Malaysia. Sharing about his relocation experience, Kyoo Wan said “Whenever I was assigned to a new country, I studied its culture and history. The understanding of the country was useful in helping me adapt to the new environment.” For those considering opportunities with Aramco in Saudi Arabia, Kyoo Wan's advice was, “First, study Islamic culture and the Kingdom's history.”

Talking about his work environment and the people he currently works with, Kyoo Wan said, “Most of my colleagues are from various countries such as Canada, UK, Philippines and India. We coordinate very well as a team to complete our projects successfully.” 

Kyoo Wan's colleagues have not only helped him professionally. They also made his transition from Korea to the Kingdom easier. “I had some challenges to overcome such as the different working methods and cultural differences between Saudi Arabia and Korea. My colleagues advised me and helped me out when I faced difficulties,” Kyoo Wan said. “I feel that most of Aramco employees are very kind and have good personality. They were willing to support me to settle in the Kingdom.”

"Whenever I was assigned to a new country, I studied its culture and history. The understanding of the country was useful in helping me adapt to the new environment."

- Mr. Kyoo Wan Kim

Living in Saudi Arabia

Outside of work, Kyoo Wan enjoys touring Al-Hasa and Riyadh where he has visited many impressive sites. He has made it an objective to visit as many tourist attractions as possible while in the Kingdom.

Shortly after Kyoo Wan arrived in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom enforced a lockdown in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Alone in a new country and faced with a daunting situation, Kyoo Wan nonetheless feels that Saudi Aramco has done well in taking care of its employees with regular updates via emails and calls, as well as regular temperature checks and monitoring of employees' health. 

Although Kyoo Wan has not been able to fully experience life in the Saudi Aramco residential community because of the pandemic, he looks forward to joining the various community clubs and activities with colleagues who enjoy the same hobbies, after the pandemic situation eases.

Mr. Hunjang Kim

  • Joined Saudi Aramco in 2018 as an Environmental Engineer within the Jazan Refinery Engineering Department
  • Originally from South Korea
  • Currently resides in Saudi Aramco's residential camp in Ras Tanura with his wife and two children
Hunjang Kim and his family

Working at Saudi Aramco

What do you do as an Environmental Engineer?

My role focuses on managing the environmental aspects of the refinery process, such as air emissions, wastes, as well as water discharge and conservation. We ensure that our operations are in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations/standards and do not create any risks to the environment. We also make great efforts in conserving natural resources and minimizing the environmental footprint of all activities.

What is your team like?

Our team atmosphere is wonderful! All members are very friendly and cooperative. We are open to sharing our knowledge and we communicate well with one another. Good team work helps us find the best solution whenever we encounter challenges. Because everyone is professional, it helps us achieve higher performance.

What do you enjoy most about working in Aramco?

The most enjoyable aspect of my work is being able to challenge myself to become the best in my field. As soon as I joined Aramco, I was leading the development of environmental manuals/programs for the new refinery facility. I was tasked to conduct the target setting for environmental KPIs such as flaring, air pollutant emissions, etc. At Aramco, I can fully utilize my knowledge of international standards and best practices including engineering calculation. Aramco has introduced the highest level of environmental standards and provided learning opportunities. This motivates me to improve my capabilities.

Why Saudi Aramco

Why did you join Aramco?

I wanted to gain experience with a global company and to improve my professional skills in the Oil and Gas Industry. I have worked and developed my career as an Environmental Engineer for a long time. My ultimate career goal is to be the best environmental expert in the world.

Aramco is the best company globally, so I joined without any doubt. I am now working at a new refinery facility that has introduced many advanced environmental technologies. Therefore, I can improve my professional knowledge and skills to reach a higher level in my field.

In addition to professional achievement, my family was also happy that Aramco can provide good work-life balance and all the necessary support including the international community camp and a great place for the kids.

What thoughts and insights can you share with those keen to join Aramco?

Working at Aramco is a very valuable experience. To anyone considering joining Aramco, challenge yourself to be the best in your field and grab the opportunity to join us!

"For those considering relocation to Saudi Arabia, firstly, you can have a chance to experience many family-friendly activities here. Secondly, there are many amazing places to travel to within the Kingdom. Lastly, the Aramco communities are the best for living, recreation, and education for the kids. Joining Saudi Aramco, you can find opportunities beyond anything you could have imagined."

- Hunjang Kim

Living in Saudi Arabia

Where are you and your family originally from? Where do you live in the Kingdom?

My family and I are from South Korea. In Saudi Arabia, my wife, children and I live in an Aramco residential camp in Ras Tanura.

How have you and your family settled in the Kingdom?

Although there were a few things to prepare for our relocation, we were able to settle down smoothly since Aramco provided the necessary support and help for us to adapt to our new environment. It was easier than what we expected and we were happy to be able to settle down without any problems!

How is life in the community?

There are many things to do with the family during weekends at Ras Tanura camp such as swimming, bowling and golfing. The Ras Tanura community center provides many activities and initiatives for the residents. For example, there was an event on sea turtles rehabilitation during the previous Earth Day! During the event, turtles were returned safely to the sea and it was a great experience with our community members. Our children also became aware of the importance of marine life protection.

What are the community activities and initiatives you've participated in?

We spend our time enjoying the wonderful Ras Tanura beach. It takes only a few minutes to reach the beach from our house. There is also the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture where we have attended many international events such as culture festivals, art exhibitions and musicals. We also went to the Land of Civilizations where we learned about history and natural habitats, and got the chance to visit the amazing cave.

What insights can you share with those considering relocation to Saudi Arabia?

 For those considering relocation to Saudi Arabia, firstly, you can have a chance to experience many family-friendly activities here. Secondly, there are many amazing places to travel to within the Kingdom. Lastly, the Aramco communities are the best for living, recreation, and education for the kids. Joining Saudi Aramco, you can find opportunities beyond anything you could have imagined.

Overall, how do you and your family feel about life in Saudi Arabia?

My family and I are perfectly satisfied with our life in Saudi Arabia, and are making unforgettable and valuable memories.