Here’s Your Guide to Foreign jobs in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, finding a job is generally done before you arrive. Even though the nation began providing tourist visas in September 2019, employment visas are still the most common kind of visa issued in Saudi Arabia. The current effort to diversify Saudi Arabia’s flourishing economy has resulted in a slew of new employment possibilities, but with the push for Saudization, foreigners may find it difficult to find work in the kingdom.

You’ll be given a visa once you’ve found a job, gone through the interview procedure, and been granted a contract. After you’ve decided to migrate to Saudi Arabia with your potential employer’s sponsor, the following step is to settle in. Families are usually accommodated in most contracts, but be sure that dependents will be given visas as part of the contract.

How is the labor market in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is a lucrative location to work for expats, and it is well-known for positions in the oil business, which remains a major employer. Saudi Arabia’s economy, however, is shifting to other profitable industries as a result of its expanding population, huge cultural and social growth, and in accordance with the national Vision 2030.

The Desert Kingdom is home to more than 10 million immigrants. The majority of them are from Southeast Asia and work as manual workers. In addition, it is projected that 125,000 foreign citizens from Western countries work in Saudi Arabia.

While it is not the simplest nation to find employment in, if you have a high degree of skill and experience, there are lots of job possibilities in Saudi Arabia. Engineering (primarily in the oil industry), IT, healthcare and medical, banking and financial services, education (especially for women), telecommunications, and construction all employ a large number of expatriates.

Changing Trends of Jobs in Saudi Arabia

Today, the Kingdom is looking for more international investment rather than foreign labor. Again, ambitious infrastructure and building projects, such as NEOM, a cross-border, high-tech metropolis in Tabuk, Northwestern Saudi Arabia, are creating new business and job possibilities. Cinemas, concerts, and festivals are no longer prohibited, thus the entertainment industry is in great demand.

Keep in mind that unemployment in Saudi Arabia is on the rise. To address these issues, the government has put in place a ‘Saudization Program’ for the next few years. The majority of expats who work in Saudi Arabia were hired while still living in their former city. It is extremely uncommon, if not impossible, for foreigners to arrive in Riyadh or Jeddah without having received an offer of employment. The issue has been exacerbated further by the Saudi government’s current push for “Saudization.”

Private consultants or agents representing Saudi businesses in major cities across the world primarily search for management roles. Intra-company transfers within multinational businesses also account for a significant number of international assignees. Contacting your country’s chamber of commerce is a useful starting step for anybody interested in working in Saudi Arabia.

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How to find a jobs in Saudi Arabia?

Employment possibilities in Saudi Arabia may be found through online searches, LinkedIn matches, job portals, and career fairs. Whatever method you use to locate work, bear in mind that all pertinent information and negotiations will take place with your potential employer before you even arrive in the country.

If you decide to leave Saudi Arabia and return to a different company at a later date, make sure you leave on good terms. Saudi Arabia ‘sponsors’ employers and can prevent you from finding another employment by placing you on the Ministry of Labor’s blacklist.

Additionally, to find a relevant job according to your skill set, you can reach out to a Saudi jobs employment promoter in Pakistan

Work Permits and Sponsors

You won’t be able to get a work permit until you have a firm job offer. Individuals cannot apply for a permit on their own; instead, their sponsor must do it on their behalf. Every expat has a sponsor, who is generally their employer and serves as both a guardian and a guarantor throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.

Individuals, corporations, or institutions, such as your Saudi Arabian chamber of commerce, or a business colleague or partner, can serve as sponsors. Some people may expect to be paid for their services.

Your sponsor will most likely be your main point of contact in the kingdom and may assist you with a variety of difficulties, from obtaining a visa to locating housing. They are also accountable for you and have a deep interest in your well-being and good behavior.

Benefits of working in Saudi Arabia 

Each profession has its own set of perks; however, the following are some of the most common:

• One round-trip ticket to your native nation is required (dependents included)
• Accommodation is provided or a housing allowance is given. You should find details about accommodation in Saudi Arabia before your arrival.
• Medical insurance with adequate coverage (dependents included)
• The “end of contract” bonus, which expat employees are generally entitled to after two or more years of working for the same company, is another benefit that awaits them at the end of their contract. This indemnification might be rather substantial.
• There will be almost no deductions from your monthly income because there is no social security system (at least not for foreigners). However, you might wish to put your big money to good use.

Breaks and Holidays in Saudi Arabia 

With the goal of making the Saudi economy more flexible and contemporary, the government has allowed firms to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week starting January 2020. Despite this, prayer time breaks – five times a day – are still extensively observed in the public and private sectors, and outsiders must respect this tradition.

The Kingdom’s working and school days go from Sunday through Thursday. The weekend is made up of two days, Friday and Saturday. Muslims have special prayer sermons on Fridays that are lengthier. As a result, most private businesses, such as restaurants and retail malls, are closed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Because Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country, there are no Gregorian Calendar holidays for Christmas, Easter, New Year, or other festivals. Official days off are generally around National Day, September 23rd, and for the two Eids (as per the Islamic calendar), which are religious holidays after Ramadan and the Hajj pilgrimage.

Finally, if you want to change jobs, you should get formal permission from your boss. Working in Saudi Arabia may be a lucrative career move, especially if one is qualified and highly competent, as well as conversant with the country’s regulations and rights.