Moving to Saudi Arabia — Relocation Guide

A rapidly transforming kingdom where ancient traditions meet Vision 2030 ambition and zero income tax.

Saudi Arabia at a Glance

Saudi Arabia is undergoing the most ambitious national transformation in the modern Middle East. Vision 2030, launched in 2016, is reshaping the Kingdom from an oil-dependent economy into a diversified hub for tourism, entertainment, technology, and mega-projects like NEOM, The Red Sea, and Diriyah Gate. For expatriates, the draw is powerful: zero personal income tax, competitive salaries, a low cost of everyday goods, and an increasingly open social environment. However, the system still operates on sponsorship (historically kafala, now reformed), religious law influences public life, and bureaucracy can be dense. Daily life revolves around prayer times, which pause commerce five times a day, and Ramadan reshapes the entire month. Summers are extreme, with temperatures regularly exceeding 45C in Riyadh and 50C in the Eastern Province. The expat community is massive — roughly 13 million foreign residents in a population of 32 million — which means well-established support networks exist for nearly every nationality. The country is safe, infrastructure is modern, and the pace of change is extraordinary, but newcomers must respect deeply held cultural and religious norms that remain central to Saudi identity.

Visa Options for Saudi Arabia

Tourist e-Visa — Tourism, visiting family, attending events, or performing Umrah. Available online or on arrival.
Business Visit Visa — Attending meetings, conferences, exploring business opportunities. Does not permit employment.
Employment Visa (Work Visa) — Long-term employment in Saudi Arabia. Employer sponsors the visa and handles most of the process. Leads to Iqama issuance upon arrival.
Premium Residency (Saudi Green Card) — Permanent or temporary premium residency without employer sponsorship. Allows property ownership, business establishment, and family sponsorship.

Key Requirements for Moving to Saudi Arabia

Iqama (Residence Permit)

The Iqama is your national identity document as a foreign resident. It is a green card-sized document containing your name, nationality, profession, sponsor details, and a unique ID number used for all government and private transactions.

GOSI Registration (General Organization for Social Insurance)

GOSI is the mandatory social insurance system. Employers must register all employees and contribute 2% of salary for non-Saudi workers (covering occupational hazards). Saudi employees have additional pension contributions.

Absher Account

Absher is the unified government services platform run by the Ministry of Interior. It is the Saudi equivalent of a digital government portal, handling everything from visa services and traffic violations to passport renewals and dependent permissions.

Muqeem (Employer Portal)

Muqeem is the employer-facing platform of the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat). Employers use it to manage Iqama issuance, renewal, exit/re-entry visas, final exit visas, and profession changes for their sponsored workers.

Culture in Saudi Arabia

Saudi culture is rooted in Islamic values, tribal traditions, and Arab hospitality. Generosity is a core virtue — expect to be offered coffee (qahwa) and dates in any social or business setting, and refusing is considered impolite. The pace of life follows prayer times: shops close briefly five times daily, and Friday is the holy day (the weekend is Friday-Saturday). Gender mixing in public has relaxed significantly since 2019, but conservative norms persist in many areas outside Riyadh and Jeddah. Ramadan transforms daily life for an entire month: eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight hours is prohibited for everyone. The social hierarchy values respect for elders, patience in dealings, and relationship-building before business.

Hospitality is sacred — accepting offered coffee and dates is a sign of respect.
Prayer times pause daily life five times; plan errands around them.
Ramadan affects business hours, restaurant availability, and social norms for the entire month.
Dress conservatively in public: men in long trousers and shirts, women no longer required to wear abaya but modest clothing is expected.
Alcohol is strictly prohibited throughout the Kingdom — there are no exceptions.
Weekends are Friday-Saturday; Sunday is a normal working day.

Common Mistakes When Moving to Saudi Arabia

Not negotiating the full salary package. Base salary alone is meaningless without knowing whether housing, transport, education, and annual flights are included or excluded.
Arriving without understanding your Iqama timeline. Your employer has 90 days to issue your Iqama after arrival. Until then, you operate on a temporary work permit with limited access to services.
Underestimating housing costs in Riyadh. Demand from Vision 2030 projects has driven compound rents to 80,000-200,000 SAR per year for family units.
Assuming Western social norms apply everywhere. While Riyadh and Jeddah are increasingly cosmopolitan, smaller cities and rural areas maintain conservative expectations.
Not registering on Absher immediately. Delays in setting up your Absher account cascade into delays for everything else: banking, driving license, dependent visas, and exit/re-entry permits.
Ignoring the heat. Newcomers from temperate climates consistently underestimate how debilitating 48C heat is. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and car breakdowns are real risks from May to September.

Things to Know About Saudi Arabia

Extreme Summer Heat: From May to September, temperatures regularly exceed 45C (113F) in Riyadh and can reach 50C in the Eastern Province. Outdoor activity is essentially impossible during midday. Plan your life around air conditioning.
Sponsorship System: Although reformed, your employer still has significant control over your legal status. Understand your rights under the new labor reforms — you can now change jobs without employer consent after completing your contract or after 1 year with notice.
Alcohol Prohibition: Alcohol is completely banned. There is no legal way to purchase or consume alcohol in Saudi Arabia. Violations carry severe penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
Ramadan Impact: During the holy month, working hours are reduced (typically 6 hours), restaurants are closed during daylight, and public eating or drinking before sunset is prohibited for everyone regardless of religion. Plan accordingly.
Gender Norms: While dramatically relaxed since 2019 (women can drive, attend stadiums, work in most sectors), some cultural expectations around dress and public behavior persist, particularly outside major cities.
Prayer Time Closures: Shops, malls, and restaurants close briefly during each of the five daily prayer times. This can disrupt schedules if you are not accustomed to planning around them.