Saudi Arabia (SA)

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the world's leading oil producer — a rapidly transforming absolute monarchy embarking on an ambitious Vision 2030 diversification agenda that has already delivered entertainment venues, mixed-gender events, a booming tourism sector, and the Riyadh Metro.

Capital: Riyadh

Region: Middle East

Language: Arabic

Currency: SAR (ر.س)

Cost of living: Moderate (index 60)

Emergency: 911

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Saudi Arabia.

Qiwa Labour Platform / MHRSD Job Portal

قوى — منصة العمل

Qiwa (قوى) is Saudi Arabia's integrated labour services platform. Expats register via Iqama and verify with Saudi mobile OTP. The platform manages employment contracts, complaints, employer transfers, and work permit applications. For job seeking, MHRSD also operates Taqat (taqat.com.sa) — primarily for Saudi nationals. Expats typically find jobs via LinkedIn and sector-specific recruiters before arriving.

Services offered:

✓Employment contract registration and verification
✓Labour complaint filing
✓Employer Nitaqat status checking
✓Kafala (employer) transfer applications
✓Wage Protection System status
✓Work permit applications
✓Termination dispute mediation

Expat eligibility: Expats can use Qiwa for employment contract verification, complaints, and Kafala transfers. Job searching is primarily done via LinkedIn, sector recruiters, and company direct applications before arrival.

Visit Qiwa Labour Platform / MHRSD Job Portal

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens have no special access to the Saudi labour market — the same visa and Iqama requirements apply to all nationalities. A Saudi employer must sponsor the work visa under the Kafala system. EU citizens from countries with bilateral agreements may benefit from slightly faster processing at Saudi embassies but the underlying rules are the same.

Non-EU Citizens

All nationalities require a Saudi employer-sponsored work visa (تأشيرة عمل). The employer must have an MHRSD-approved vacancy and a Nitaqat-compliant company profile (Green or Platinum) to sponsor a new expat worker. The Iqama (residence permit) issued after arrival ties you to that employer under Kafala.

EU Blue Card

Saudi Arabia has no EU Blue Card equivalent. The closest alternative for Kafala-free residence is Premium Residency (SAR 800,000 one-time or SAR 100,000/year) — which allows work without employer sponsorship. For standard employment, all foreign professionals regardless of skill level require an employer-sponsored work visa and Iqama.

Freelancer Visa

Saudi Arabia does not have a general freelance visa in 2026. Options for freelancers: (1) Set up a registered Saudi business (CR) and operate as a business owner; (2) Obtain Premium Residency which allows independent work; (3) Partner with a Saudi national under a traditional business structure; (4) Work via MHRSD's Freelance Profession Licence (مهنة حرة) — piloted but limited sectors in 2026. Consulting work for multiple clients while on an employer-sponsored Iqama is technically illegal.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours Government sector: Sunday–Thursday 07:30–14:30 (7 hours). Private sector: Sunday–Thursday 08:00–17:00 or 09:00–18:00 (9 hours including 1-hour lunch/prayer breaks). Some multinationals and Vision 2030-aligned businesses are shifting to Monday–Friday. During Ramadan: all employees work 2 hours fewer per day (law). Prayer breaks (5 per day — approximately 2–3 hours total) are taken during working hours — plan meetings around prayer times. In 2026, many private sector companies are adopting hybrid and flexible work policies.

Annual leave Minimum 21 days after first year of service, rising to 30 days after 5 years. Eid holidays (Eid al-Fitr: 3 days; Eid al-Adha: 4 days) and Founding Day (February 22) and National Day (September 23) are public holidays. Many employers provide 30 days annual leave and 2 business class return flights per year for senior expat packages. Annual leave utilisation is actively encouraged — Saudi Labour Law does not allow leave to be withheld without compensation.

Sick leave First 30 days: fully paid. Next 60 days: 75% pay. Next 30 days: unpaid. Doctor's certificate required from day one. After 120 days, employer can terminate with full ESB. Maternity leave: 10 weeks at full pay (expanded to 12 weeks for multiple births). Paternity leave: 3 days at full pay.

Trial period Probation period maximum 90 days (extendable to 180 days by written agreement). Must be specified in the employment contract registered on Qiwa. No minimum wage for expats during probation (there is no expat minimum wage in Saudi Arabia — this only applies to Saudi nationals at SAR 4,000/month).

Notice period 30 days minimum notice for either party in an open-ended contract (60 days if contract specifies). Fixed-term contracts: termination before expiry requires payment for the remaining period or mutually agreed settlement. Notice can be worked out or paid in lieu.

Salary range 2026 benchmarks for expat roles: Graduate / entry professional SAR 6,000–12,000/month basic; Mid-level professional (5 years+ experience) SAR 12,000–25,000/month basic; Senior professional / specialist SAR 25,000–50,000/month basic; C-suite / Director SAR 50,000–200,000+/month basic. Oil and gas sector (Saudi Aramco, SABIC) typically pay 20–40% above market. Healthcare roles (doctors, nurses) vary significantly by specialty — Saudi hospitals pay international-competitive rates for senior consultants. Total compensation with housing, schooling, and transport allowances can be 1.5–2× the basic salary figure.

Pay frequency Monthly salary paid by the 10th of the following month (WPS requirement). Bonus cycles vary — typically annual performance bonuses paid in the first quarter. Some employers pay a 13th-month bonus at Eid. Salary is paid in SAR to a Saudi bank account.

Contract types

·Open-ended employment contract (عقد عمل غير محدد المدة) — most common for permanent roles
·Fixed-term contract (عقد عمل محدد المدة) — becomes open-ended after two renewals
·Part-time contract (عقد عمل جزئي) — rare for expats, typically used for Saudi nationals under Vision 2030 policies
·Secondment / Intercompany transfer — common for multinational companies
·Project-based contract — common in construction and oil/gas EPC projects

🔍 Job Boards

Most important platform for professional and senior expat roles in Saudi Arabia — particularly for oil/gas, tech, finance, healthcare, and management roles. Major Saudi employers (Saudi Aramco, SABIC, STC, Al Rajhi, HMG) actively recruit on LinkedIn.

Bayt.com

Largest Middle East job board. Strong for professional roles across Saudi Arabia. English and Arabic listings.

GulfTalent

Senior and specialist roles across the Gulf including Saudi Arabia. Strong for engineers, finance professionals, and healthcare workers.

Naukrigulf

Saudi Aramco Careers

Direct applications to Saudi Aramco — the world's largest oil company. High salaries, excellent packages, and a strong expat community.

Indeed Saudi Arabia

General job board with a significant Saudi Arabia section. Good for mid-level roles across industries.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

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NEOM Careers

Hiring portal for Saudi Arabia's flagship giga-project. Thousands of roles across engineering, technology, urban planning, hospitality, and management.

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SABIC Careers

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation — global petrochemical giant with extensive expat workforce. Good packages and accommodation support.

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Invest Saudi (MISA)

Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia portal — information for investors and professionals working with foreign-invested companies.

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Chalhoub Group / Michael Page / Robert Half

International recruitment agencies with strong Saudi Arabia offices. Good for retail, luxury, finance, and senior management roles.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: International CV format (2 pages maximum) is standard for professional roles. Include photo (common in Saudi Arabia — professional headshot). Include nationality, visa status, and whether you are already in Saudi Arabia (local hire preferred for faster start dates). Avoid including marital status or children unless relevant. Tailor to the specific job — Saudi employers appreciate clear alignment between your experience and the role requirements.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Business Arabic is a significant differentiator for senior roles — Arabic fluency can increase your salary by 20–30% and opens many more doors. English is sufficient for most professional roles in multinationals, oil/gas, and healthcare. Government-adjacent roles often require Arabic. Bilingual Arabic/English professionals are highly sought in Vision 2030 transformation roles.

Interviews: Interviews are increasingly professional and structured. Video interviews (Teams/Zoom) are common for first rounds. Saudi interviewers appreciate: clear demonstration of relevant experience, understanding of Saudi business culture, awareness of Vision 2030, and confirmation that you already have (or are ready to get) the correct Iqama. Salary expectations should be researched — asking above market is penalised; asking below leaves money on the table. Visa status is always discussed. Relationship building matters — expect small talk about your background and family before business.

🤝 Networking Tips

→LinkedIn is essential — ensure your profile is updated with clear job title, experience, and "Open to Work" settings for Saudi Arabia
→British Business Group, American Business Council, and Franco-Saudi Chamber have strong Riyadh and Jeddah networks
→AIESEC, PMI, CIMA, and similar professional bodies have Saudi chapters — attend their events
→Riyadh Season and Jeddah Season entertainment events are major networking venues
→Expat compound communities (whatsapp groups, pool parties) generate significant job leads via word of mouth
→Saudi Aramco and SABIC hire extensively via referrals — know someone inside before applying cold
→NEOM and giga-project hiring events are sometimes held in London, Singapore, and Dubai — attend if possible before arriving in Saudi Arabia
→Always verify your target employer's Nitaqat status before accepting an offer — a Red-zone company cannot process your Iqama
→Confirm the job profile/category matches your educational credentials and the Iqama profession field

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