An Expat Living in Libya

One of the secrets of being happy in Libya is preparing yourself for the move – and what better way to do this than by hearing about it from expats already living in Libya. The following interview was carried out recently with one of our expatriates living inside Palm City, Accommodation in Libya, where she relates her experiences and hands out tips to potential newcomers into Libya & Palm City.

Q: Where are you living now (city + suburb)?
A: Tripoli, Libya. I actually live in Palm City Residences which is just outside Tripoli in Janzour and is where many expats live.

Q: How long have you lived here?
A: 1 year

Q: Did you move with a spouse/ children?
A: Yes, I moved here with my spouse. He actually moved here first since due to his job and I moved one month later

Q: Why did you move; what do you do?
A: I moved here because my husband took on a post here in Libya so I decided to move too.

About your city

Q: What do you enjoy most about your host city, how’s the quality of life?
A: When I first moved here it took a few weeks for me to get used to the different culture and the fact that there are no bars and few good restaurants. We love good restaurants, great food and all the frills and even though you cannot go out and socialize in the same way as back home, the number of restaurants in Tripoli is increasing rapidly. However, we now enjoy socializing with our many expat friends, cooking dinner at our homes, barbecuing by the pool on the weekends, and making the most of the gorgeous weather which allows us to enjoy dinner outside in the garden for 8 months of the year. Although it might sound so hard to adapt to such a different culture, in actual fact this new way of life, new friends, new scenery, new schools and shops, new faces and traditions somehow instil a refreshing sense of peace which you just don’t find in the western world. Life at home was always so rushed, so many people to catch up with, so much work to cope with, huge expenses and never enough time to enjoy the little free time we had.

Q: Any negatives? What do you miss most about home?
A: The variety and quality of restaurants. There are very few good restaurants in Tripoli as yet even though four very good ones have opened over the past months, these being “Movida” and “Slush” at Palm City, “La Scala” and “Naranja” on Gergaresh Road.

Driving in Libya can be dangerous if you’re not careful. I do not drive however I, and many friends have a driver. Having a driver is pretty normal here and doesn’t cost much I am very happy with my driver – he picks me up each morning and takes me to work and picks me up after work, takes me shopping etc etc.

Q: Is the city safe?
A: Yes the city is relatively safe, it’s like any other city – there are areas you should avoid and areas which are safe. However a woman shouldn’t walk around in the streets on her own. I do go shopping at the shopping mall or smaller village vegetable vendors, supermarkets etc, I stop at the shops on my way home from work practically every day and I never felt harassed or unsafe.

About living here

Q: Which are the best places/suburbs to live in the city as an expat?
A: Janzour is just outside of Tripoli and is full of large houses with pool and garden occupied by expats. The area is quieter then the city which tends to be very chaotic and traffic can be a nightmare. If you have children I strongly suggest living in an expat compound/villages within Janzour area such as ‘Palm City’ - the latest project which is really gorgeous. Palm City has its own restaurants, entertainment areas, gym, fitness centre, sports facilities, clinic, supermarket and much more.

Q: How do you rate the standard of accommodation in Libya?
A: Very high. Most expats live in large or else in one of the expat villages like Palm City which offers added safety, peace of mind for your family and more importantly excellent services and a standard of housing superior to houses back home! Places are fully furnished so it also saves you having to get all your stuff in a container from home, which can be costly. All Palm City houses included everything down to linen, cutlery, utensils so you really just need to walk in and start life in your new home!

Q: What’s the cost of living in Libya compared to home? What is cheap or expensive in particular?
A: Very cheap compared to home. Fuel is very cheap, almost cheaper than water, vegetables, fruit, fish and meat are all much cheaper than what you would buy at home. All in all cost of living is extremely low. One can utilise the Palm City Supermarket which offers local products at normal costs but also offers products not usually available in Libya (certain cuts of meat, spices, Italian cheeses etc)

Q: What are the locals like; do you mix mainly with other expats?
A: The locals are extremely nice and welcoming. I have always been treated respectfully and both men and women are very friendly and obliging. We socialize with expats, however, we work and meet with many locals and they are really very lovely people.

Q: Was it easy meeting people and making friends?
A: Yes we found it very easy to build a social life. There is such a large network of expats here and there is always something going on. If you are open and willing to meet new people then before you know it you will have lots of new friends and lots going on. If you have kids it is probably easier since through school events and extracurricular activities for the kids you tend to make friends with other families. The Embassies are also very proactive and help with expat integration.

About working here

Q: Did you have a problem getting a work visa/permit?
A: No we did not, the company we work for provided us with a Visa

Q: What’s the economic climate like in the city, is there plenty of work?
A: Yes there are so many opportunities and not enough people to work which is why so many expats are moving here on a daily basis.

Q: How does the work culture differ from home?
A: I would say it’s different, on some levels its harder and on other levels its far easier. All in all I would say that work here is more rewarding, I certainly feel more fulfilled and I look forward to going to work, enjoy the time I spend with my colleagues and clients and although the day flies by the pace is much slower.

Q: Did a relocation company help you with your move?
A: No unfortunately not, we had to learn what to do and what not to do through fellow expats who lived there already. However our biggest headache was solved by moving into Palm City since the place is fully furnished and literally ready to move into.

Family and children

Q: Did your spouse or partner have problems adjusting to their new home?
A: Not at all, he moved here before me and adjusted very quickly in fact

Q: Did your children settle in easily?
A: I do not have children as yet however I do have many friends who have children and they are very happy too.

Q: What are the schools like, any particular suggestions?
A: The standard of schooling here is very high, there are excellent expat schools available for children. The 3 largest and most popular expat schools are The British school, the American School and the International GEMS school.

Q: How would you rate the healthcare?
A: There are a few private hospitals available in town, a couple of them are pretty good and offer a very good level of service as well as expat doctors and specialists covering all areas. The best two hospitals are Medilink & St.James Hospital

And finally…

Q: Is there any other advice you like to offer new expat arrivals about Living in Libya?
A: If you are moving here with young kids I think that you will get to enjoy them more, you will get to spend more time with them and you will have the luxury of bringing them up yourself which in this day and age is so rare! I would strongly advise living in one of the expat villages like Palm City if you have very young kids since this will make life much easier on mummies who need to take their restless babies out for walks etc as well as for socializing with other mothers and babies of the same age.
There are several flights flying and leaving from Tripoli International Airport so taking weekend breaks is also very easy. Malta is just 40 mins away, Tunisia 1 hour, Rome 1 hour and a half, there are flights to Dubai, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and most of the main hubs.
Moving to another country is always a challenge especially if the culture is so different to what you are used to. I was very apprehensive before moving here but I came here with an open mind and I was so pleasantly surprised by what I found. Now almost one year later I am really honestly happy and settled!