Middle East & Africa

Find work in Saudi Arabia

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — 36 million people, Saudi Riyal (SAR), Arabic. Full employment compliance handled for you, paid every Friday.

Capital

Riyadh

Population

36 million

GDP / capita

$27,600

Currency

SAR

Saudi Riyal

Time zone

UTC+3 (AST)

Employment law

Working in Saudi Arabia: what to expect

Key employment law provisions that affect your engagement. Corpshore handles compliance so you don't have to navigate this alone — but knowing your rights matters.

Standard workweek

48h max

48 hours (40 during Ramadan for Muslims)

Annual leave

4 public holidays

21 days (30 after 5 years)

Maternity leave

10 weeks (4 before + 6 after) at full pay

Paternity leave

3 days

Notice period

60 days (indefinite contracts) or as per contract (fixed-term)

Severance

End of service benefit: 15 days per year (first 5 years) + 30 days per year thereafter.

Overtime rules

150% of hourly rate for overtime. Friday is the weekly rest day.

Probation period

90 days (extendable to 180 by agreement)

Tax overview

Tax landscape in Saudi Arabia

Indicative tax ranges for general orientation. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. Tax year: Hijri calendar or Gregorian.

Income tax
0% (no personal income tax for residents)
Corporate tax
20% (foreign-owned); zakat (2.5%) for Saudi-owned
Social contributions
GOSI: 2% employee + 12% employer (Saudi nationals). 2% employer only for non-Saudis.
VAT / GST
15% (tripled from 5% in 2020)

Treaty network

Over 40 tax treaties

Your fee is always zero

Corpshore charges the hiring business, never you. You receive 100% of the agreed rate, regardless of tax jurisdiction.

Weekly pay

How you get paid in Saudi Arabia

SARIE (Saudi Arabian Riyal Interbank Express) is the RTGS system. SAR is pegged to USD. STC Pay and mada (debit) are widely used domestically.

Bank transfer (SARIE)

Wise

Settlement

Every Friday

No net-30 waits, no chasing invoices

Platform fee

Zero, forever

The business pays Corpshore, never you

Currency

SAR

Local currency where supported

See all payment rails →

Compliance

Regulatory landscape in Saudi Arabia

Corpshore manages compliance so you can focus on the work. Here's what shapes the regulatory environment for workers in Saudi Arabia.

Worker classification

Saudi Labour Law governs. Freelance permit (work permit for self-employment) introduced under Vision 2030.

Data protection

Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL, effective September 2023). SDAIA (Saudi Data and AI Authority) initially oversees.

Right to work

All foreign workers require employer-sponsored work visa (iqama). Kafala (sponsorship) system being reformed under Vision 2030.

Non-compete enforceability

Enforceable under Saudi Labour Law. Must be reasonable in time, place, and type of work.

Collective bargaining

Trade unions are not permitted. Labour disputes handled by Labour Courts.

Country context

Working culture in Saudi Arabia

Business culture

Hierarchical and relationship-driven. Personal trust precedes business deals. Arabic hospitality (coffee, dates) is important. Gender dynamics in the workplace are evolving rapidly under Vision 2030.

Key industries

Oil and gas (Aramco)
Construction
Financial services
Technology
Tourism (Vision 2030)

Talent pool strengths

Energy engineering
Construction management
Finance
IT (growing)
Arabic-language services

Historical context

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to diversify the economy away from oil dependence. The plan includes NEOM (a $500B future city), entertainment liberalisation, tourism expansion (Red Sea Project), and Saudization of the workforce. This transformation is creating enormous demand for skilled workers across sectors.

At a glance

Official name
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Languages
Arabic
Time zones
UTC+3 (AST)
Data region
Middle East & Africa

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