Before You Leave
Tax residency
Work out whether you will stop being an Australian tax resident under the ATO's residency tests (the resides, domicile and 183-day tests). If you become a non-resident, your Saudi salary is generally outside Australian tax, but Australian-sourced income such as rent is still taxed, and leaving can trigger capital gains tax choices on shares and other assets. If you have a HELP/HECS debt, you must tell the ATO you are going overseas and continue to report worldwide income and make repayments. Take advice from a registered tax agent before you go.
Home banking and credit cards
Keep at least one Australian everyday account open for direct debits, HELP repayments and emergency access, and tell your bank you are moving overseas so they do not freeze it for unusual activity. Check international transaction fees on your cards, keep a card with no foreign transaction fee if you have one, and make sure your myGov, ATO and bank logins do not depend on an Australian mobile number you are about to cancel.
Pensions and savings
Your superannuation stays in Australia — you cannot withdraw it just because you move abroad, but you can keep contributing voluntarily if you want to, and it is worth checking insurance inside your super fund still covers you overseas. Review any share portfolio or managed funds for non-resident withholding and CGT consequences, and note that the main residence CGT exemption is generally lost if you sell your home while non-resident. Get regulated advice before selling or restructuring anything.
Document legalisation
Confirm the exact chain with your Saudi employer before paying for anything. Australian degrees, marriage and birth certificates typically need to be certified and then given an Apostille by DFAT, and academic qualifications may also need verification through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Australia. Some documents will need an authorised Arabic translation once you arrive.
Pets and medical records
Pet exports are handled through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: ask your vet early about Saudi import permits, microchipping, rabies vaccination and the health-certificate timetable, as the sequence takes months. Request copies of prescriptions, immunisation history, dental records and any specialist notes for each family member, and carry essential medicines in original packaging with a doctor's letter.
Visas & Documents
Australian citizens relocating for work need an employer-sponsored Work Visa. Your employer starts the process in Saudi Arabia; you will then complete a medical examination at an approved clinic, obtain an Australian Federal Police National Police Check, and have your academic qualifications attested — usually via DFAT Apostille and the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission — before the visa is stamped by the Saudi embassy or consulate in Australia.
Once you arrive, your employer will arrange your Iqama (residency permit). The Iqama is your essential ID card, needed to open a bank account, rent a home, get a SIM card and set up utilities. Keep a photo of it on your phone — you will be asked for it constantly.
Employment & Contracts
Expat packages in Saudi Arabia typically bundle a base salary with a housing allowance, medical insurance, annual flights home and, for families, an education allowance. Read the contract carefully: the housing allowance often decides whether a compound is realistic, and the flight allowance may be cash or tickets.
There is no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia. Two things Australians notice: there is no employer superannuation — instead you accrue an end-of-service benefit (ESB) paid when you leave, typically half a month's salary per year for the first five years and a full month per year after that — and annual leave is usually 21–30 days rather than the Australian four weeks plus public holidays. Most contracts run for a fixed term and renew.
Housing & Neighbourhoods
Most expats choose between a home in a residential compound and an apartment or villa "on the economy" — the commonly used expat term for living outside a compound. Compounds offer an easier first landing and built-in community, while living on the economy usually gives you more choice, better value and a closer connection to the city around you.
Rents are quoted annually and are usually paid in one or two instalments up front. Residential leases must be registered through Ejar. Many employers provide accommodation or pay a housing allowance, so check exactly what your employment contract includes before deciding where and how to rent.
Compounds: the easy landing
When you are new, compounds can make settling in much easier. They commonly provide gated security, pools, gyms, tennis courts, playgrounds, cafés and often a shop or restaurant on site. You also gain an immediate social circle of other expats, school-bus pick-ups, a more relaxed dress code inside the walls and maintenance handled for you.
The trade-off is price: compounds often cost 30–60% more than an equivalent villa or apartment outside, and the most popular developments can have waiting lists. Many arrivals spend their first year or two in a compound and then move out once they understand the city and their preferred commute.
Compound prices are normally quoted per year. Villas in the leading Riyadh compounds can run well into six figures in SAR annually.
Living outside a compound
Living outside a compound is generally cheaper, gives you a wider choice of homes and puts you closer to the everyday life of the city. Expat-oriented apartment buildings and smaller "mini compounds" are also available in many popular districts.
Riyadh: Al Olaya, Al Malqa, Hittin, Al Narjis, Al Sahafa, Diplomatic Quarter (DQ).
Jeddah: Al Shati, Al Rawdah, Al Hamra, Al Salamah, Al Zahra.
Eastern Province: Al Rakah and Al Aqrabiyah (Khobar), Dhahran, Al Shati (Dammam).
Popular compounds
Riyadh
- Al Nakhla Residential Resort
- Kingdom City
- Arizona Golf Resort
- Cordoba Oasis Village
- Al Hamra Oasis Village
- Ranco Village
- Seder Village
- Ishbilia Village
- Rawabi Pearl
- Arcadia Residential Compound
Jeddah
- Sharbatly Village
- Arabian Homes
- Basateen Village
- Al Basateen Compound
- Midtown Khalidiyyah
Eastern Province
- Eurovillage
- Dana Compound
- Nada Compound
- Zamil Village
- Al Ansari Compound
- Dhahran Hills (Aramco housing — employees only)
This isn't a ranking — availability changes constantly, and the right compound depends on where you work and which school you've chosen.
Browse more compounds on RightCompound.
Practical tips
- View the property before you sign if at all possible.
- Ask your employer's HR team which compounds colleagues use.
- Check commute times to the office and school at 7:30am, not on a weekend.
Healthcare System
Your employer is legally required to provide private medical insurance for you and your sponsored dependants. Private healthcare in the major cities is excellent, with modern hospitals and English-speaking staff widely available.
Check your policy's coverage class, network hospitals and co-payments before you need them. Medicare does not cover you in Saudi Arabia and there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement, so your employer's policy — or a top-up international plan — is your only cover. Bring enough of any regular medication to last until you have found a local doctor, with a supporting letter and the original packaging.
Banking & FX
Which bank to open
In our experience SAB is the most straightforward Saudi bank for expats who want to send money home via a licensed FX provider like SummitFX. Some other banks restrict or delay third-party international payments, which can lock you into their own exchange rates.
SNB, Al Rajhi and Riyad Bank are widely used alternatives; compare their account requirements, transfer controls and published charges before choosing.
What using a specialist FX provider saves you
Australian and Saudi banks typically build a 2–3% margin into their exchange rate on top of any transfer fee, and AUD/SAR is a less common pair so the spread is often worse than on USD or GBP. A specialist FX provider like SummitFX works from the live interbank rate, so on most transfers you keep the majority of that 2–3% yourself.
- Arriving: Rent is usually paid 6–12 months up front, so many new arrivals send a large lump sum from Australia to cover the first year. On a SAR 60,000 annual rent (about A$22,500), a 2–3% bank margin costs you A$450–A$680 before you've unpacked.
- Every month after that: Most Australian expats send part of their tax-free salary home for a mortgage, HELP repayments, voluntary super contributions or family. On a monthly transfer of SAR 20,000 (about A$7,500), the same margin is A$150–A$230 a month — A$1,800–A$2,700 a year, every year you're in the Kingdom.
Whether you are servicing an Australian mortgage, making HELP repayments, topping up super or simply building savings at home, sending money via your Saudi bank's app exposes you to a wide AUD/SAR spread — it is a thinner pair than USD or GBP, and banks price it accordingly. SummitFX quotes from the live interbank rate and can deliver AUD to your Australian account the same day. Check the live AUD/SAR rate.
Need to transfer AUD to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quoteDriving & Transport
Driving remains the default way to get around, although the Riyadh Metro is changing that in the capital. Australians can convert a valid full Australian driving licence to a Saudi licence without sitting a driving test, subject to an eye test, an authorised translation and the usual paperwork once you have your Iqama. Traffic is faster and less forgiving than at home — take it slowly for the first few weeks.
Uber and Careem are everywhere and are a reliable option while you wait for your licence. Most expats buy or lease a car within the first few months; leasing through a bank is common and petrol is a fraction of Australian prices.
Schools & Family Life
There is no Australian-curriculum school in Saudi Arabia, so most Australian families choose between the British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Levels), the American curriculum (High School Diploma, often with AP courses) or the International Baccalaureate. All three are recognised by Australian universities; the IB and A-Levels map most cleanly onto ATAR-style admissions if your children may return home for university.
Secure a school place before you sign your contract if you can — waiting lists at the popular schools are long and the academic year starts in late August or early September, not January. Family life revolves around the compound, school and a rapidly growing entertainment scene of cinemas, theme parks and international sport.
International schools popular with Australian families
Riyadh
- American International School Riyadh (AIS-R)
- British International School Riyadh (BISR)
- Reigate Grammar School Riyadh
Jeddah
Eastern Province
Waiting lists can be long, particularly for popular year groups, so contact schools and apply as early as possible.
Culture & Daily Life
Saudi Arabia is a conservative Islamic country and understanding local customs matters. Prayer times shape the day, modest dress (shoulders and knees covered) is expected in public, and although the abaya is no longer legally required for expat women, most dress conservatively outside compounds. Alcohol is not available and there are no bars — a bigger adjustment for some Australians than the heat.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday, so Sydney is a full working day ahead when you are calling home on a Friday. Summers are long and hot — Riyadh regularly passes 45°C, but it is a dry heat rather than Sydney's humidity, and winters are pleasantly mild. Learning some Arabic and accepting Saudi hospitality when it is offered will transform your experience.
Community & Support
The Australian community in Saudi Arabia is small but well connected. Most people find their circle through compound life, school parent groups, sports clubs — rugby, cricket, touch football and running groups all exist in Riyadh and Jeddah — and events organised through the Australian Embassy. Registering on Smartraveller before you go means you'll hear about consular updates and community notices.
Facebook groups
- Australians in Saudi Arabia: Australians in Saudi Arabia (KSA)
- City expat groups — Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar: Expats in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
- City expat groups — Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar: The Expats Club – Riyadh
- City expat groups — Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar: Jeddah Expatriates
- City expat groups — Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar: Expats Jeddah For All
- City expat groups — Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar: Expatriates in Al Khobar
- Parents and school groups: Most school and parent groups are private WhatsApp groups — ask your school's admissions team or class rep for an invite.
Podcasts & resources
Arrival Checklist
In your first few weeks, get your Iqama processed through your employer's HR team — everything else depends on it. Then open a local bank account, buy a SIM card (STC, Mobily or Zain), install the Absher and Tawakkalna apps, and register your address on the National Address (SPL) system.
Register with Smartraveller and note the Australian Embassy in Riyadh as your consular contact. Set up your money route home early — decide which Saudi bank and which FX provider you will use before your first salary lands — and start exploring your neighbourhood and the Australian and wider expat networks.
Cost of Living: Saudi Arabia vs Australia
| Item | Cost in Saudi Arabia | Saudi cost in AUD | Typical cost in Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed apartment, good area) | 4,500 SAR | — | AUD 3,000 |
| Groceries (monthly for 1) | 1,400 SAR | — | AUD 550 |
| Utilities (monthly) | 500 SAR | — | AUD 280 |
| Meal at mid-range restaurant | 120 SAR | — | AUD 40 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | 2.33 SAR | — | AUD 1.95 |
| International / private school fees (per year) | 70,000 SAR | — | AUD 35,000 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | 300 SAR | — | AUD 85 |
| Flat white | 20 SAR | — | AUD 5.5 |
| Mobile plan (monthly) | 120 SAR | — | AUD 40 |
| Cleaner (4 hours per week, monthly) | 800 SAR | — | AUD 720 |
| Car insurance (annual) | 2,500 SAR | — | AUD 1,500 |
Note: Costs are indicative and vary based on lifestyle, neighbourhood, and inflation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia does not levy personal income tax. Whether Australia taxes your Saudi salary depends on your residency status: if you become a non-resident for Australian tax purposes, your foreign employment income is generally not taxed in Australia, but Australian-sourced income such as rent still is. If you remain a resident, worldwide income is taxable. Take advice from a registered tax agent before you leave.
It doesn't pause. If you are overseas for 183 days or more in a year you must tell the ATO, and if your worldwide income is above the repayment threshold you must lodge an assessment and make compulsory repayments, even as a non-resident.
No. The riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US dollar at 3.75, so the AUD/SAR rate simply follows AUD/USD. When the Australian dollar weakens against the US dollar, your Saudi salary is worth more in Australian dollars.
For anything above a few thousand dollars, a specialist FX provider like SummitFX will usually beat a bank on the rate — often by 2–3% — with same-day delivery. Open a Saudi bank account that supports payments to third-party FX providers (SAB, in our experience) so you aren't limited to your bank's own rate.
It is no longer legally required for expat women. Modest dress — shoulders and knees covered — is expected in public, and many women still wear an abaya or loose clothing outside compounds for comfort and convenience.
The Iqama is your Saudi residency permit and ID card, issued through your employer. You need it to open a bank account, rent a home, get a SIM, sponsor dependants and convert your driving licence.
Foreign ownership is being opened up gradually but is still limited to specific circumstances and designated zones, and most expats rent. Rent is normally paid annually or half-yearly in advance, so budget for a large upfront payment.
No. Australian families generally choose the British, American or IB curriculum at one of the international schools in Riyadh, Jeddah or Al Khobar. All are recognised by Australian universities, but apply early as waiting lists are long.
Need to transfer AUD to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quote