Moving to Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the average gross salary is €1,746 a month (2025) and unemployment is 3% (2025).
Saudi Arabia had GDP per capita of US$35,528 and life expectancy of 79.0 years. There were 3.406 doctors per 1,000 people.
Can I move to Saudi Arabia?
Across 198 passports, 6 passports enter visa-free, 67 passports need an eVisa and 125 passports need a visa for Saudi Arabia. Check your passport below.
- Visa-free
- 6
- eVisa
- 67
- Visa required
- 125
Choose citizenship and purpose to see the relevant entry steps.
Entry.
Living & working.
Official requirements [2] · Visitor-entry rules
Residence rules and exceptions
| Citizenship / situation | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Other citizenship | Check work, study or family requirements.[41] |
| Existing status or family rights | A passport alone cannot establish your eligibility. Check the relevant authority’s guidance. |
These are national starting points, not an eligibility decision. Long-stay residence, work authorisation and in-country application rules differ by route; a visa-free visit never settles them. Check the route that matches your purpose and circumstances with the responsible authority.
Visa and entry rules
Sources checked through 28 Aug 2026.
Work and income
What is the unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia?
The national unemployment rate was about 3 % in 2025.
This is the World Bank / ILO modelled estimate series used as the canonical national answer. Other published definitions exist and are shown in the table below.
- National unemployment rate: 3.04 % · Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 202528
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| National unemployment rate | 3.04 % | 31 Dec 2025 | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 202528Official · national figure |
Public employment service in Saudi Arabia
Official job-search, registration, counselling and training routes. Private recruitment agencies are not included.
Jadarat employment platform — Public employment service
A national service does not prove that an office exists in every city. City pages show an office only after an exact address is linked to that city. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.
Taxes in Saudi Arabia
National rates and comparable published scenarios. Personal tax depends on income, household and residence circumstances.
Benefits newcomers may qualify for in Saudi Arabia
Public schemes where an official source defines an eligible migration or residence status. Amounts and conditions are kept in their native terms.
| Programme | Published amount | Source and application |
|---|---|---|
Developed Social Security System — social-security pension — Minimum-income support | Amount set per household by formula / Monthly | |
Eligibility and amount detailsThe current Social Security Law defines the monthly pension by subtracting counted income from the calculated minimum pension for the independent person or family. The calculated minimum includes the basic minimum for the independent person or family head and an increase for each additional dependent within the statutory framework; the actual SAR amount varies by household composition, counted income and the current minimum set under the law. The current Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development service page says the developed social-security pension is restricted to Saudis who live permanently in the Kingdom, but expressly excepts the nationality condition for these source-defined categories: ‘Non-Saudi wife who is married to a Saudi husband or his widow who has children from him’; ‘Saudi widows children who were born to a non-Saudi father’; and persons in the listed disability, widow/orphan and mobility-card category, including ‘orphans who do not have Saudi nationality documents and who have mobility cards’. Saudi Wife Or Widow Of Saudi Man With Saudi Children For Social Security Pension, saudi Widow Child Born To Non Saudi Father For Social Security Pension and orphan Without Saudi Nationality Documents With Mobility Card For Social Security Pension; it does not generalize the pension to expatriate residents. The claimant must also meet the source-defined social-pension and income/need conditions. | ||
UNHCR KSA case-by-case legal and cash assistance — Arrival and reception support | Amount varies | |
Eligibility and amount detailsThe current UNHCR KSA assistance section says the office does not provide direct or regular assistance and may provide legal advice and cash assistance only on a very limited scale after case-by-case committee assessment. No fixed amount or guaranteed payment is published; the support varies by assessed case. The current UNHCR KSA page states: ‘UNHCR’s mandate covers refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless people and returnees.’ The same assistance section says that the office does not provide direct or regular assistance, but provides on a very limited scale legal advice and cash assistance after the competent committee studies the situation and circumstances on a case-by-case basis. This row therefore publishes only refugee Or Asylum Seeker Under Unhcr Mandate Reviewed For Limited Case By Case Assistance In Sa; it does not imply guaranteed assistance or broaden the route to all migrants. | ||
Admitted official schemes currently cover 2 of the 5 common support families for this country; the rest are not yet collected.
ImmigrationDB shows published rules; it does not decide personal eligibility. Confirm your status, contribution record and household circumstances with the responsible authority before applying. Sources checked through 12 Aug 2026.
Can migrants receive medical care in Saudi Arabia?
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Saudi Arabia under the published coverage rules.
Language courses and integration in Saudi Arabia
Government programmes, public integration services and exact provider records. The section expands only from fields present in the source; missing prices, refunds or contacts are not replaced with estimates.
King Salman Academy Language Immersion Program — Integration course
King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language
For non-native Arabic speakers, international cultural/tourism programme participants.
Abjad Center Arabic for Non-Native Speakers — State Language Course
King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language
For non-native Arabic speakers.
Ahlan wa Sahlan Arabic Learning Platform — State Language Course
King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language
For native and non-native Arabic speakers.
Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers — State Language Course
University of Tabuk
For non-native Arabic speakers.
Islamic University of Madinah Institute of Teaching Arabic — State Language Course
Islamic University of Madinah Institute of Teaching Arabic
For non-Arab natives with low or no Arabic proficiency.
King Saud University Arabic Training Course for Non-Native Speakers — State Language Course
King Saud University College of Language Sciences
For non-native Arabic speakers.
Living and moving context for Saudi Arabia
National median net income was €535.75 per month in 2023.
Saudi Arabia cities by population
The largest published cities appear first. Population is taken from the reusable official city layer; hub labels come from the existing city taxonomy.
All published cities in Saudi Arabia (3)
3 of 3 shownSearch all cities
Reports with this country
Accepted report pages with a row for this country.
What different occupation groups earn in Saudi Arabia
Mean gross monthly earnings by occupation major group, from ILO ILOSTAT, converted to EUR at the annual-average exchange rate recorded with each row.
| Occupation group | Earnings | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | ≈ 3,964 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Professionals | ≈ 2,962 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Technicians and associate professionals | ≈ 2,078 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Clerical support workers | ≈ 1,635 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Service and sales workers | ≈ 969 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | ≈ 466 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Craft and related trades workers | ≈ 714 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Plant and machine operators, and assemblers | ≈ 635 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
| Elementary occupations | ≈ 580 EUR/month (gross) | 2022 |
Source: ILO (ILOSTAT mean earnings by occupation (EAR_EMTA_SEX_OCU_CUR_NB)) · observed 2022 · checked 2026-07-30.
Method and sources for these figures
Mean gross monthly earnings in EUR from ILO ILOSTAT (EAR_EMTA_SEX_OCU_CUR_NB); employees; converted from the local currency at the annual-average exchange rate recorded with each row; ISCO-08 major groups (some series ISCO-88).
ILO — ILOSTAT mean earnings by occupation (EAR_EMTA_SEX_OCU_CUR_NB)
An occupation major group (ISCO or national equivalent) is not a job title: each figure is the average across all occupations in the group, so it is never a salary "for" one profession. Rows from different surveys, periods or statistics are shown as separate rows and are never merged or ranked against each other.
Profession pages for Saudi Arabia: Nurse · Physician · Teacher · Engineer · Architect · Software developer · Accountant · Childcare worker · Electrician · Plumber.
Saudi Arabia facts
Current source-backed observations, grouped the way the city pages are, with geographic scope and observation periods.
Population and profile
How many people live in Saudi Arabia?
The published population was 35,300,280 people in 2024. Source: World Bank32
National, resident population scope. Foreign-resident and migration-background figures are separate metrics in the table below.
How many foreign residents live in Saudi Arabia?
The foreign-resident population was 13,382,962 people in 2022. Source: General Authority for Statistics (Saudi Arabia)9
Residents without Saudi Arabia citizenship. The migration-background population is a broader measure and appears in the table below.
Legal, tax and other context
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average gross earnings | 1,330 EUR/month | 31 Mar 2026 | Labor Market Statistics Q1 2026 (Arabic workbook)15Official · national figure |
| Rent deposit can be paid in instalments | 0 | 9 Oct 2026 | Real Estate Brokerage Law24Official · national figure |
| Typical rent deposit | 1 months | 9 Oct 2026 | Guide to renting a home in Saudi Arabia40Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context · national figure |
| Public healthcare access for foreign residents | Yes | 3 Aug 2026 | Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia17Official · national figure |
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 31 Dec 2023 | World Bank33Official · national figure |
| Population by year | 30,063,799 people (2019) | 1 Jul 2019 | Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL)23Official · country annual series |
| Doctors per 1,000 residents | 3.41 per 1,000 | Not stated | Physicians (per 1,000 people), World Development Indicators22Official · national figure |
| People in employment | 9,072,298 people | 2022 | api.datasaudi.sa2Official · national figure |
| English proficiency index | 404 index points | 31 Dec 2025 | EF EPI6Official · national figure |
| First residence permit fee | 155 EUR | 9 Oct 2026 | Investor Guide14Official · national figure |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people | 44.07 % | 31 Dec 2024 | api.worldbank.org3Official · national figure |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions | 14,967,584 subscriptions | 31 Dec 2024 | api.worldbank.org4Official · national figure |
| Global city class (GaWC) | Alpha- class | 31 Dec 2024 | Globalization and World Cities (GaWC), Loughborough University10Official · national figure |
| GDP per capita | 35,528 USD/person | 31 Dec 2024 | GDP per capita (current US$), World Development Indicators8Official · national figure |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 residents | 2.41 per 1,000 | 31 Dec 2023 | Hospital beds (per 1,000 people)11Official · national figure |
| Labour force participation rate | 65.1 % | 31 Dec 2025 | World Bank Open Data34Official · national figure |
| Labour force | 18,383,677 people | 31 Dec 2025 | World Bank Open Data35Official · national figure |
| Who pays the letting agent | Either by contract | 9 Oct 2026 | Real Estate Brokerage Law24Official · national figure |
| Life expectancy | 78.98 years | Not stated | Life expectancy at birth, total (years), World Development Indicators16Official · national figure |
| Minimum-wage authority information | https://www.hrsd.gov.sa/en/knowledge-centre/decisions-and-regulations/ministerial-decisions/778074 url | 19 Nov 2020 | A ministerial decision to raise the minimum wages for Saudis in the 61706 ranges1Official · national figure |
| Minimum-wage system | Statutory sectoral | 19 Nov 2020 | A ministerial decision to raise the minimum wages for Saudis in the 61706 ranges1Official · national figure |
| Statutory minimum wage exists | 0 | 31 Dec 2020 | قرار وزاري برفع الحد الأدنى لاحتساب أجور السعوديين في نطاقات 6170639Official · national figure |
| Migrant integration policy score (MIPEX) | 10 index | 31 Dec 2019 | MIPEX — Migrant Integration Policy Index, Saudi Arabia country profile18Official · national figure |
| Average gross salary, monthly | 1,746 EUR/month | 31 Dec 2025 | GASTAT Labor Market Statistics — Q4 20257Official · national figure |
Settling-in index
How the conditions a newcomer meets in Saudi Arabia compare with the other 35 scored destinations: integration policy, getting by in English, an established foreign community and language courses. Every point comes from the component table below.
Above the median on the size of the foreign community; below it on integration policy and getting by in English.
| Component | Reading | Score (0–100) | Weight | Adds | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integration policy (MIPEX) | 10 of 100 | 10 | 35 | 4.4 | MIPEX — Migrant Integration Policy Index, Saudi Arabia country profile 2019 |
| Getting by in English (EF EPI) | 404 EF EPI points | 0 | 25 | 0 | EF EPI 2025 |
| An established foreign community | 37.9% of residents | 100 | 20 | 25 | General Authority for Statistics (Saudi Arabia) 2022; population 2024 |
Working as… in Saudi Arabia
Open a profession for its available regulation, recognition and work-route evidence.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
What is the unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia?
The national unemployment rate was about 3 % in 2025. Source: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 2025.
How many people live in Saudi Arabia?
The published population was 35,300,280 people in 2024. Source: World Bank.
Cite this page
Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.
APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 16). Moving to Saudi Arabia: population, rent, salary, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; version fbf29e931fb8dca0f782e27ad9ba5bd4]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/countries/saudi-arabia/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_moving-to-saudi-arabia-population-rent-salary-jobs_b5dd8aa6e2f8,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Moving to Saudi Arabia: population, rent, salary, jobs},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-16},
version = {fbf29e931fb8dca0f782e27ad9ba5bd4},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/countries/saudi-arabia/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Moving to Saudi Arabia: population, rent, salary, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/countries/saudi-arabia/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version fbf29e931fb8dca0f782e27ad9ba5bd4; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
Every number above comes from one of these records. Open the original source for its geographic scope and publication date.
- A ministerial decision to raise the minimum wages for Saudis in the 61706 ranges hrsd.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-17
- api.datasaudi.sa api.datasaudi.sa · checked 2026-08-12
- api.worldbank.org api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-08
- api.worldbank.org api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-08
- Awareness Guide on the Rights and Duties of Employers and Workers — Official holidays Awareness Guide on the Rights and Duties of Employers and Workers · hrsd.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-25
- EF EPI ef.com · checked 2026-08-03
- GASTAT Labor Market Statistics — Q4 2025 GASTAT Labor Market Statistics · stats.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-20
- GDP per capita (current US$), World Development Indicators api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-14
- General Authority for Statistics (Saudi Arabia) api.stats.gov.sa · checked 2026-08-21
- Globalization and World Cities (GaWC), Loughborough University gawc.lboro.ac.uk · checked 2026-08-03
Show 31 more sources
- Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) data.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-13
- Household Income and Consumption Expenditure Survey Publication 2023 stats.gov.sa · checked 2026-07-26
- ILOSTAT — Average monthly earnings of employees by sex, occupation and currency (annual) ILOSTAT · rplumber.ilo.org · checked 2026-07-30
- Investor Guide gaca.gov.sa · checked 2026-10-09
- Labor Market Statistics Q1 2026 (Arabic workbook) stats.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-23
- Life expectancy at birth, total (years), World Development Indicators api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-14
- Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia moh.gov.sa · checked 2026-08-03
- MIPEX — Migrant Integration Policy Index, Saudi Arabia country profile MIPEX · mipex.eu · checked 2026-09-18
- National Address portal.splonline.com.sa · checked 2026-10-09
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-05
- Physicians (per 1,000 people) data.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-13
- Physicians (per 1,000 people), World Development Indicators api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-14
- Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL) api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-29
- Real Estate Brokerage Law rega.gov.sa · checked 2026-10-09
- Real Estate Price Index — Q2 2025 Real Estate Price Index · stats.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-20
- Saudi Labor Law, Article 98 hrsd.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-25
- Saudi Shura Council (Majlis al-Shura), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shura.gov.sa · checked 2026-08-03
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 2025 api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-09-11
- UNODC Data Portal — intentional homicide victims UNODC Data Portal · data.unodc.org · checked 2026-09-20
- WHO GHO RS_196/RS_198 ghoapi.azureedge.net · checked 2026-09-05
- WHO GHO RS_196/RS_198 ghoapi.azureedge.net · checked 2026-09-05
- World Bank api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-02
- World Bank api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-02
- World Bank Open Data api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-07
- World Bank Open Data api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-07
- World Bank SP.POP.TOTL api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-09-05
- Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, Saudi Arabia zatca.gov.sa · checked 2026-08-03
- ZATCA — Guideline for Regional Headquarters in KSA ZATCA · zatca.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-20
- قرار وزاري برفع الحد الأدنى لاحتساب أجور السعوديين في نطاقات 61706 hrsd.gov.sa · checked 2026-09-23
- Guide to renting a home in Saudi Arabia expatica.com · checked 2026-10-09
- Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development — expatriate services guide
Official Saudi Arabia national residence and immigration guidance; not a personal eligibility decision.