First and foremost - PATIENCE!!! - this is key for playing with Saby'n. It takes a long while to get up and running and competative in the theater of war.

You can train ships in the city to the south of the starting city...
Some extent of early debt is inevitable, as you will need an army to conquer this city.

One consideration, rather than focussing on expanding through the eastern half of the arabian peninsula - AND rather than expanding initially into Ethiopia - Is to capture the southern indian settlement... This can provide Indian units, which personally I feel are more capable than ethiopian units. Also, this territory is out of the greedy grasps of the Ptolemies, and the Baktrians will not reach this distance for a LONG time into the game.

Also, Bostra is an important target, as this provides you with faction troops, while the settlements around this largely do not.. And you will inevitably fall into conflict with Ptolemy, so to strike first here is a usefull option.

In terms of Battles - the Bodyguard infantry is fantastic.. Use them as often as possible and get their experience up to turn them into outstanding infantry... In order to achieve completion with Saby'n I had to resort to mass archer tactics for long periods of time. You simply dont have the units capable of fighting the Greek style armies in their own manner.. As you said you played as Parthia - you should be aware of fighting like a sneaky bastard!!! Be as sneaky and back-stabbing as possible...
Also - once you take the nile delta you will be blessed with mercenaries which are an absolute neccessity to conquer further.. Galatian Wild Men, Thessalonikan Cavalry, and Cretan Archers seriously improve your armies...


A couple of annoying things however, include the way that the generals occassionally get "Stuck" for turns.. and get lots of movement restrictions. Also, some marginal Ptolemaic settlements rebel and this can create a war before you are ready...

Either way . Good luck, and I hope that some of these points can help..