Vision 2030 — Riyadh Metro live, FIFA 2034 host, zero personal income tax
Correct — there is no personal income tax on salaries for residents or non-residents. Your gross salary and your take-home pay are effectively the same, aside from any mandatory insurance or fees your employer deducts.
Most goods and services carry 15% VAT. Some items are zero-rated (e.g. exports, certain medicines) and residential rent is VAT-exempt. Displayed retail prices usually already include VAT.
Zakat is a 2.5% religious levy on the Zakat base of Saudi- and GCC-owned businesses, administered by ZATCA. It applies to qualifying companies, not to an individual expat's salary.
Residential rental income for individuals is generally not subject to personal income tax, and residential leasing is VAT-exempt. Selling the property, however, triggers the 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax.
Ordinary salaried employees do not file a personal income-tax return because there is no such tax. Filing obligations arise if you run a business (VAT, Zakat/CIT) or make payments subject to withholding tax.
For work-visa holders, the employer is normally required to provide a CCHI-compliant policy. Always confirm whether dependents are included; if not, you must buy coverage for them, as insurance is mandatory for every resident's Iqama.
You generally use hospitals within your insurer's approved network for cashless treatment. Out-of-network care may require you to pay and claim back, subject to policy terms, so check your network list before you need it.
Dial 997 for the Saudi Red Crescent ambulance service, or 911 in cities where the unified emergency number operates. Major private hospitals also run their own emergency departments.
Leading private and specialist hospitals in the major cities are modern and internationally accredited, with many Western-trained physicians. Care quality is strongest in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.
No. English is widely spoken in business, healthcare and daily services, and the large expat population operates largely in English. Learning basic Arabic phrases is appreciated and helpful outside the big cities.
Yes. Women have been able to drive since 2018, can travel and hold passports independently, and use ride-hailing apps. Everyday life for women in the major cities is considered very safe.
The weekend is Friday–Saturday. During Ramadan, working hours shorten, daytime is quiet, and eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight is not allowed — including for non-Muslims — while evenings become lively.
Card and mobile payments are ubiquitous via the mada network, Apple Pay and wallets like STC Pay. Cash still works, but a mada debit card from your Saudi bank covers almost everything.