We studied quality of life in 211 patients with schizophrenia from 2 outpatient clinics in Irbid, Jordan and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using the self-reporting questionnaire SRQ-24 and the modified version of the schizophrenia quality of life scale. Sex, marital status, employment, education, nonpsychotic symptoms and psychotic symptoms were examined. Approximately 27% had good quality of life, 19.4% thought their general health was excellent or very good and about 30% said they had achieved their expectations. There was no significant relationship between sex and marital status and quality of life but employment and education were significantly related. Patients with less severe psychotic and non-psychotic symptoms were also found to have better quality of life.