Moving to Saudi Arabia is easier than most people expect and harder than most guides admit. The country has changed quickly in recent years, daily life is affordable, and many newcomers settle in within a few weeks. The problems tend to come from small things nobody warned you about, like an empty apartment, a shop that closes just as you arrive, or a phone plan you cannot get until your residency card is issued. This article covers what newcomers most often need to know in their first weeks and months.
Your first week
The first few days are mostly paperwork. Keep copies of every document from your work visa, report to your employer’s human resources office on day one, and follow up regularly on your residency permit, called the Iqama. Your employer handles it, but it moves faster when someone keeps asking. You can buy a prepaid SIM card on arrival using your passport and visa number, and most newcomers stay on prepaid until the Iqama is issued, because monthly plans usually require it. A local bank account comes next, and a handful of apps will quickly become part of your routine: Absher for government services, Tawakkalna, Careem for rides and HungerStation for food delivery.
Getting around
Many foreigners never drive here. Careem and Uber operate in all the major cities, they are reliable, and a typical city ride costs somewhere between 15 and 40 riyals. If you do plan to drive, your home licence is only valid for a limited period before you need to convert it, so ask your employer how and when. If you buy a car, expect to drive much more than you did at home and service it more often. Cars also need to pass a periodic technical inspection to keep their registration valid, and after a minor accident the Najm app is the usual way to report it for insurance. Download it before you need it, and write down the emergency numbers: 911 is the unified number, 999 is police and 997 is an ambulance.
Healthcare and insurance
Employers are required to provide medical insurance, and the private hospitals in the larger cities are very good. If you take regular medication, bring a good supply along with your prescription paperwork. Most medicines are available locally, but having your own supply removes one worry while you settle in.
What daily life costs
Groceries, restaurants and transport cost noticeably less than in most Western countries. A week of groceries for one person typically runs between 150 and 300 riyals, a mid range restaurant meal between 40 and 80, a coffee between 15 and 25, and a monthly phone plan between 100 and 200. Where you shop matters. Locally made products are usually much cheaper than imported brands and are often just as good, and prices can differ a lot between supermarkets and markets. The real opportunity is the gap between what you earn and what you spend, and that gap is where your savings come from.
Renting and setting up your home
This one surprises almost everyone. A privately rented apartment is often an empty shell with no furniture and no appliances, so plan your setup costs before you arrive. If your employer provides furnished housing or you live on a compound, this does not apply to you. Check everything the day you move in, including taps, switches and water. Landlords usually expect problems to be reported within the first month, and after that repairs often become your own cost. Secondhand furniture markets exist in every city and will often deliver, and furniture made to order can be cheaper than buying from a large chain. Ask colleagues for the names of a plumber, an electrician and a mechanic they trust, rather than choosing the best reviewed company, because good workers are not always the ones with the best marketing.
Working and communicating here
The mistake newcomers make most often is expecting things to work the way they do at home. Timelines are looser, relationships matter a great deal, and direct confrontation is usually counterproductive, so a patient and indirect style tends to get better results. Shops and restaurants close briefly several times a day and opening hours shift at certain times of the year, so check before you head out. Dress modestly in public. Colleagues of the opposite gender are generally polite and respectful, but in many settings people do not shake hands, so let the other person offer first and watch how your own workplace operates. A few words of Arabic and a little interest in the local culture go a long way toward building real relationships.
Staying in touch and staying careful online
Some video calling apps do not work reliably in Saudi Arabia, so check which ones work for calling home before you arrive and agree a backup method with your family. Be careful about filming or photographing in public and posting it online, and avoid sharing opinions on politics or religion on social media, because those topics can cause serious trouble. Many foreigners use a VPN, but its legal standing is not clearly settled, so do not make it your plan for staying in touch, and ask your employer what is acceptable.
Want the full picture?
The Complete Expat Guide to Living and Working in Saudi Arabia goes into all of this in more detail, including visas, contracts, salary negotiation, culture, daily costs and saving money. It was written by an educator who has lived and worked in the Eastern Province for over ten years. You can find it at https://qiblaedu.com/product/ksa-expat-guide/ and download a free three page preview from the product page before you decide.
Costs are typical ranges and vary by city and lifestyle. Rules for licences, residency and online services change, so confirm the current requirements with your employer or the relevant authority. This article is general information and not legal advice.
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