Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Middle East
Living in Saudi Arabia: the short version
Saudi Arabia is opening up fast under Vision 2030, with tax-free salaries, huge construction and tourism projects, and new routes to residence and property ownership for foreigners. Life follows Islamic customs, and most expatriates are sponsored by an employer.
Best for: Engineers, healthcare workers, executives and professionals in energy, construction and finance.
Why people move here
- No personal income tax on salaries
- High packages that often include housing and schooling
- Premium Residency allows living without a sponsor
What to watch out for
- Conservative social rules and very hot summers
- Heavily car-dependent cities
- Alcohol is restricted
How to move to Saudi Arabia: main visa and residency routes
Summaries only β requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.
- Employer-sponsored work visa (iqama)
- The standard route: your employer sponsors your work visa and residence permit.
- Premium Residency
- Sponsor-free residence in categories including permanent (one-off fee), renewable (annual fee), special talent, investor, entrepreneur and real estate owner.
- Family residence
- Sponsored residence for spouses and children of iqama holders meeting a salary threshold.
Healthcare for newcomers
Employers must provide private health insurance for expatriate staff and their families under the Cooperative Health Insurance scheme. Major cities have modern private hospitals.
Cost of Living
Cost of living index: 50 (NYC = 100)
Rent (1BR)
$900
Rent (3BR)
$1700
Groceries
$280
Transport
$50
Utilities
$80
Internet
$70
Dining Out
$140
Tax System
Corporate Tax
20%
VAT / Sales Tax
15%
Social Security
0%
Capital Gains
0%
Income Tax Brackets
| Income Range (USD) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - Above | 0% |
Culture
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest cities. Under Vision 2030 the kingdom is opening up quickly, with new tourism visas, entertainment, giga-projects such as NEOM and new residency routes for foreigners.
Traditions
- Ramadan and Eid celebrations
- National Day (23 September)
- Riyadh Season entertainment festival
- Arabic coffee (qahwa) and dates for guests
Cultural Values
- Faith
- Family
- Hospitality
- Generosity
Common Greeting: As-salamu alaykum!
Cultural Tips
- β’ Dress modestly; shoulders and knees covered in public
- β’ Non-Muslims cannot enter Mecca and central Medina
- β’ The weekend is Friday and Saturday
- β’ Alcohol is heavily restricted
π½ Food & Cuisine
Saudi cuisine centres on rice, lamb, chicken, dates and aromatic spices, served generously and often shared from a large communal platter.
Kabsa
Spiced rice with chicken or lamb, the national dish
Mandi
Meat slow-cooked in an underground oven and served over rice
Jareesh
Cracked wheat cooked with meat and spices
Dates and qahwa
Fresh dates with cardamom-scented Arabic coffee, offered to every guest
Sources and methodology
Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on . Found something out of date? Tell us.
Official Saudi Arabia sources
Data sources
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries β individual income tax
- Numbeo β cost of living (crowdsourced prices)
- World Bank Open Data β economic and population indicators
- OECD Tax Database β tax rates and social contributions
- ILOSTAT β employment and unemployment
- UNDP Human Development Reports β health and education
- UN World Population Prospects β population
Quality of Life
Job Market
Average Annual Salary
$30,000
Job Difficulty
Moderate
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Work Permit Required
Yes
Top Industries
Languages
Official Languages
Other Languages Spoken