Relocating your team to Saudi Arabia
What executives and staff relocating with your company need to know β lifestyle, schools, healthcare and driving.
Saudi lifestyle for expats
Significant social and entertainment liberalization since 2016 has reshaped daily life for foreign residents.
- Cinemas reopened in 2018 after a 35-year ban; the General Entertainment Authority (est. 2016) now licenses concerts, festivals and live events nationwide.
- The tourist e-visa launched September 2019 β a one-year multiple-entry visa for ~66 eligible nationalities, plus visa-on-arrival for valid US/UK/Schengen visa holders.
- The abaya/headscarf requirement for foreign women was lifted in September 2019; "modest dress" is the general expectation instead.
- Cost of living: Mercer's 2024 ranking placed Riyadh 90th and Jeddah 97th globally (out of 226 cities) β both cheaper than Dubai (15th).
- Major expat hubs: Riyadh (capital, largest expat population), Jeddah (commercial/Red Sea gateway), and the Eastern Province (Dammam/Khobar/Dhahran β the oil-industry hub with the Kingdom's longest-established Western expat community).
Schooling for expat families
Expat families typically enroll children in fee-paying international schools rather than the free Arabic-medium public system.
- The Ministry of Education licenses and supervises all international and private schools operating in the Kingdom.
- Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar host schools offering British, American, IB and other national curricula β avoid citing a precise school count, as no single authoritative figure was found.
- School enrollment requires a valid Iqama for both the student and guardian; dependents under 18 qualify for family-sponsored residency.
- The 2025β2026 academic year ran 24 August 2025 β 25 June 2026 under a two-semester calendar (many international schools set their own dates β always confirm with the specific school).
Healthcare for expats & employers
A dual system: subsidized public care for citizens, and mandatory employer-provided private insurance for expatriate workers.
- The Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) regulates health insurance and sets the mandatory minimum benefits package.
- Every private-sector employer must provide CCHI-approved health insurance for expatriate employees, at the employer's cost.
- Coverage generally extends to legal dependents (spouse, sons under 25, unmarried/unemployed daughters).
- Since late 2025, health insurance reportedly must be secured before a work visa is issued, with Jawazat checking coverage before Iqama issuance/renewal β a relatively recent procedural tightening worth reconfirming close to your relocation date.
- Expats generally cannot access subsidized public healthcare except in life-threatening emergencies; virtually all expat healthcare runs through private, employer-sponsored insurance.
Driving in Saudi Arabia
A Saudi driving license requires a valid Iqama; the process depends heavily on which country issued your existing license.
- Eligibility: valid Iqama, minimum age 18 for a private-vehicle license (21+ for professional/public driving), plus a medical/vision exam.
- GCC-country licenses can generally be converted directly; a number of other countries have reciprocal exchange agreements β this approved list changes periodically, so always verify current eligibility on Absher before relocating staff.
- Women driving has been legal since 24 June 2018, following a royal decree issued September 2017 β no male-guardian permission is required.
- Absher (Ministry of Interior) is the channel for booking test appointments, license issuance/renewal, and checking outstanding traffic violations.
Residency options β the short version
Employer-sponsored Iqamas cover most staff; Premium Residency lets qualifying individuals live in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor. Full detail β including current fee figures and the 2021 labor-mobility reforms β is on our dedicated Residency guide.
- Standard Iqama: the employer-sponsored residence permit, tied to your work contract, managed via Muqeem/Absher.
- Premium Residency (pr.gov.sa): self-sponsored status β no Saudi kafeel required β with products ranging from the flagship permanent/renewable tiers to newer category-specific tracks (talent, investor, entrepreneur, real-estate owner).
Government rules, fees and programs change often. This guide is a starting reference β always confirm current figures with the official portal or ask our smart agent before relying on a specific number.
