Before You Leave
Tax residency
Work out whether you will stop being a New Zealand tax resident: you generally become non-resident once you have been away for more than 325 days in any 12-month period and no longer have a permanent place of abode in New Zealand — a family home you keep available can be enough to stay resident. Non-residents are not taxed on Saudi salary, but New Zealand-sourced income such as rent still is. If you have a student loan, tell Inland Revenue you are going overseas: after 184 days away the loan stops being interest-free and you must make repayments based on the balance, not your income. Take advice from a tax adviser before you go.
Home banking and credit cards
Keep at least one New Zealand everyday account open for automatic payments, student loan repayments and emergency access, and tell your bank you are moving overseas so it isn't frozen for unusual activity. Check international transaction fees on your cards, and make sure your online banking, myIR and RealMe logins do not depend on a New Zealand mobile number you are about to cancel.
Pensions and savings
Your KiwiSaver stays in New Zealand; contributions stop when you leave a New Zealand employer, though you can keep contributing voluntarily. You can only withdraw it for permanent emigration after a year overseas (and not if you move to Australia), so treat it as locked. Review any shares or managed funds for non-resident tax treatment, keep statements for everything, and get advice before selling or restructuring investments.
Document legalisation
Confirm the exact chain with your Saudi employer before paying for anything. New Zealand degrees, marriage and birth certificates typically need an Apostille from the Department of Internal Affairs Authentication Unit, and academic qualifications may then need verification through the Saudi embassy in Wellington or the Saudi Cultural Mission. Request your Ministry of Justice criminal record check early, and budget for authorised Arabic translations once you arrive.
Pets and medical records
Pet exports go through the Ministry for Primary Industries: 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 regular medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter.
Visas & Documents
New Zealand citizens relocating for work need an employer-sponsored Work Visa. Your employer starts the process in Saudi Arabia; you then complete a medical examination at an approved clinic, obtain a Ministry of Justice criminal record check, and have your qualifications attested — usually a Department of Internal Affairs Apostille followed by verification through the Saudi embassy in Wellington — before the visa is issued.
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 — and the long haul from New Zealand makes that distinction matter more than for most nationalities.
There is no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia. Two things Kiwis notice: there is no employer KiwiSaver contribution — 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 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. There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, and ACC does not cover you overseas, 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
New Zealand and Saudi banks typically build a 2–3% margin into their exchange rate on top of any transfer fee, and NZD/SAR is a thinly traded 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 New Zealand to cover the first year. On a SAR 60,000 annual rent (about NZ$28,100), a 2–3% bank margin costs you NZ$560–NZ$840 before you've unpacked.
- Every month after that: Most Kiwi expats send part of their tax-free salary home for a mortgage, student loan repayments, KiwiSaver top-ups or family. On a monthly transfer of SAR 20,000 (about NZ$9,400), the same margin is NZ$190–NZ$280 a month — NZ$2,250–NZ$3,400 a year, every year you're in the Kingdom.
Whether you are servicing a New Zealand mortgage, repaying a student loan, topping up KiwiSaver or simply building savings at home, sending money via your Saudi bank's app exposes you to a wide NZD/SAR spread — it is a thin pair, and banks price it accordingly. SummitFX quotes from the live interbank rate and can deliver New Zealand dollars to your account the same day. Check the live NZD/SAR rate.
Need to transfer NZD 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. Many New Zealanders convert a valid full New Zealand 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 — but the eligible-country list is reviewed periodically, so confirm the current rule with your employer's government-relations (PRO) team. Traffic is faster and less forgiving than at home, and you'll be driving on the right.
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 New Zealand prices.
Schools & Family Life
There is no New Zealand-curriculum school in Saudi Arabia and NCEA is not offered, so most Kiwi families choose between the British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Levels), the American curriculum or the International Baccalaureate. All three are accepted for entry to New Zealand universities; the IB and A-Levels map most cleanly onto university entrance if your children may return home to study.
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 rather than February, which can mean a child repeating or skipping half a year. Family life revolves around the compound, school and a rapidly growing entertainment scene of cinemas, theme parks and international sport.
International schools popular with New Zealand families
Riyadh
- British International School Riyadh (BISR)
- American International School Riyadh (AIS-R)
- Reigate Grammar School Riyadh
Jeddah
Eastern Province
- British International School Al Khobar
- International Schools Group (ISG) — Dhahran, Dammam and Jubail
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 — for many Kiwis that is a bigger adjustment than the heat.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday, and Auckland is 9–10 hours ahead of Riyadh, so calls home work best in your early morning or their evening. Summers are long and hot — Riyadh regularly passes 45°C, but it is a dry heat rather than Auckland'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 New Zealand community in Saudi Arabia is small, so Kiwis tend to fold into the wider Australian, British and South African expat networks — compound life, school parent groups, rugby and cricket clubs, running groups and events run through the New Zealand Embassy in Riyadh. Register on SafeTravel before you leave so the embassy can reach you with consular updates and community notices.
Facebook groups
- New Zealanders in Saudi Arabia: The New Zealand community is small and most local groups are private — ask the New Zealand Embassy, your compound or Kiwi colleagues for an invite
- Australians in Saudi Arabia (Kiwis welcome): 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 on SafeTravel and note the New Zealand 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 Kiwi, Australian and wider expat networks.
Cost of Living: Saudi Arabia vs New Zealand
| Item | Cost in Saudi Arabia | Saudi cost in NZD | Typical cost in Auckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed apartment, good area) | 4,500 SAR | — | NZD 2,600 |
| Groceries (monthly for 1) | 1,400 SAR | — | NZD 550 |
| Utilities (monthly) | 500 SAR | — | NZD 280 |
| Meal at mid-range restaurant | 120 SAR | — | NZD 35 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | 2.33 SAR | — | NZD 2.7 |
| International / private school fees (per year) | 70,000 SAR | — | NZD 30,000 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | 300 SAR | — | NZD 80 |
| Flat white | 20 SAR | — | NZD 6 |
| Mobile plan (monthly) | 120 SAR | — | NZD 45 |
| Cleaner (4 hours per week, monthly) | 800 SAR | — | NZD 640 |
| Car insurance (annual) | 2,500 SAR | — | NZD 1,200 |
Note: Costs are indicative and vary based on lifestyle, neighbourhood, and inflation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia does not levy personal income tax. Whether New Zealand taxes your Saudi salary depends on your residency status: once you are a non-resident for tax purposes (generally after 325 days away with no permanent place of abode in New Zealand) your foreign employment income is not taxed in New Zealand, but New Zealand-sourced income such as rent still is. Take advice from a tax adviser before you leave.
It stops being interest-free once you have been overseas for more than 184 days, and you become an overseas-based borrower with compulsory repayments based on your loan balance rather than your income. Tell Inland Revenue before you go and set up a repayment plan — the interest and penalties add up quickly if you don't.
No. The riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US dollar at 3.75, so the NZD/SAR rate simply follows NZD/USD. When the New Zealand dollar weakens against the US dollar, your Saudi salary is worth more in Kiwi 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 in your first month.
No. Kiwi families generally choose the British, American or IB curriculum at one of the international schools in Riyadh, Jeddah or the Eastern Province. All are accepted by New Zealand universities, but apply early as waiting lists are long.
Need to transfer NZD to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quote