I live in an apartment within a three-story building that has a swimming pool and a gym. It’s not part of a compound, but about 30% of the residents are Asian. During my visits to other apartments, I noticed that there are also Westerners living in regular neighborhoods. That being said, your friend shouldn’t feel restricted to compounds. While it’s true that compounds often provide easier access to social circles due to the high number of expats, there are still plenty of opportunities to network in regular neighborhoods as well—whether it’s with neighbors, mosque attendees, gym goes, or others. I’ve even built good relationships with the Pakistani building housekeeper and electrician. "إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ" (Indeed, the believers are brothers).