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Country hiring guide

Hiring in Saudi Arabia πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¦

Saudi Arabia offers a fast-growing Gulf market and low direct employer taxes for expatriate staff, with an end-of-service award in place of a pension. All-in employer cost runs around 1.12x the gross salary. Here is what to know before your first Saudi hire.

Calculate a Saudi Arabia hire β†’
Capital cityRiyadh
CurrencySaudi riyal (SAR)
LanguagesArabic
Population~36 million
Payroll frequencyMonthly (via WPS)
VAT standard rate15%
Employer burden*~2% (expats) of gross
TGTC flat EOR fee$699/mo Β· Tier C
Overview

Employing in Saudi Arabia

Employment runs under the Labour Law, with salaries paid through the Wage Protection System and Saudization (Nitaqat) quotas shaping hiring. Nationals are on GOSI social insurance; expatriates accrue an end-of-service award.

Minimum wage

  • SAR 4,000/month for Saudi nationals (Saudization)
  • No statutory minimum for expats

Payroll cycle & extra pay

  • Monthly via WPS (Mudad)
  • No mandatory 13th-month salary

Public holidays

  • Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha
  • National Day (Sep 23), Founding Day (Feb 22)

Onboarding & probation

  • Probation 90 days, extendable to 180
  • Written Arabic contract required
Employer costs

What you pay on top of salary

For expatriate staff the direct employer contribution is small (occupational hazards), plus the accruing end-of-service award; Saudi nationals require full GOSI contributions.

Employer contribution*Rate
GOSI pension/annuity (Saudi)9-9.75%*
Occupational hazard (all incl expats)2%
SANED unemployment (Saudi)0.75%
Expats - occupational hazard only2%

End-of-service award

Expatriate staff accrue half a month's pay per year for the first five years and a full month a year thereafter, paid on departure.

Employee-side taxes

There is no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia. Payroll compliance centres on WPS, GOSI for nationals, and Saudization, which under EOR is ours.

Types of leave

Statutory leave in Saudi Arabia

Annual leave

  • 21 days/year, 30 days after 5 years

Maternity & parental leave

  • 10 weeks paid maternity
  • 3 days paternity leave

Sick leave

  • 30 days full, 60 days at 75%, then unpaid

Other leave

  • Hajj (10-15 days), bereavement, marriage
Employment termination

Ending employment in Saudi Arabia

Notice

  • 60 days (indefinite, monthly-paid)
  • 30 days for other contracts

Severance

  • EOS gratuity: half-month pay/yr first 5 yrs
  • Full month pay/yr thereafter

Probation

  • Terminable within 90-180 day probation

Contractor risk

  • Saudization/Nitaqat; misclassification risk*

*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.

Employ in Saudi Arabia without setting up locally

Compliant Saudi contract, WPS payroll, GOSI or end-of-service award, and benefits, handled. One invoice, flat $699 per month.

Get a Saudi Arabia quote