JEDDAH, Jun 27 (Arab News): Many expatriates feel that spending their prime years depriving themselves of the very things they work so hard for is an unavoidable sacrifice and a painful truth.

“Expatriates work abroad to build better futures back home, but in this process years fly by with many expatriates telling themselves that next year they would go home for good," said Naeem Nasruddin an Indian expatriate in this Red Sea port city. "And after several years, when they do go home they realize that though they built a home they didn’t get to live in it until years, and their children have become grown up men and women who have their own lives and responsibilities.”

He said thinking about the many years of sacrifice — and when enough is enough — should be an "eye-opener" for expatriates working in Saudi Arabia away from their families.

“I think it is a question of balance. An expat should realize when they have worked long enough away from home and then return and start their own businesses home.

He admits that the situation may be different for expatriates who have their families with them. Under Saudi labor law, expatriate workers who want to bring their families must meet income requirements to do so.

Asif Shaikh, an Indian expatriate who works as a librarian, said that he personally is content with what he has achieved so far.

“I’m content and okay with what I’ve done. I don’t know how it is for other expatriates, but for me I believe we should realize this is real life,” he said.

“For economic reasons many expatriates have no choice but to spend years working away from home. Many expatriates here live in poor conditions, though they make enough money to live comfortably here, but between the option of spending their earnings on personal luxury or sending the money back home, they sacrifice their own comfort,” said Tamim Khan, an Indian expatriate who works as a salesman.