Before You Leave
Tax residency
Portugal treats you as tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year there or keep a home that suggests habitual residence, so update your morada fiscal at the Autoridade Tributária when you leave and file your final resident IRS return. As a non-resident you are still taxed on Portuguese-source income such as rent, at flat non-resident rates. Portugal and Saudi Arabia have a double tax treaty, which helps settle any dispute over where you are resident, but get advice from a contabilista certificado before you sign — particularly if you were on the NHR regime or plan to return under its successor.
Home banking and credit cards
Keep at least one Portuguese account open for débitos diretos, a mortgage and emergency access, and tell your bank you are moving abroad so it isn't blocked; most banks will move you to a non-resident account with different fees. Check foreign card fees, and make sure your online banking, Chave Móvel Digital and Portal das Finanças logins do not depend on a Portuguese mobile number you are about to cancel.
Pensions and savings
There is no social security agreement between Portugal and Saudi Arabia, so your Saudi years will not count towards a Segurança Social pension unless you keep contributing through the seguro social voluntário — worth costing out if you are close to the minimum contribution period. PPRs and other savings plans can stay where they are. Review shares and funds for non-resident withholding, keep statements for everything, and take advice before selling or restructuring.
Document legalisation
Confirm the exact chain with your Saudi employer before paying for anything. Portuguese degrees, marriage and birth certificates typically need an Apostille from the Procuradoria-Geral da República, and university qualifications may also need verification through the Saudi embassy in Lisbon or the Saudi Cultural Mission. Request your certificado de registo criminal early and budget for certified Arabic translations once you arrive.
Pets and medical records
Pet exports need an official health certificate from the DGAV veterinary authority plus Saudi import approval, microchipping and up-to-date rabies vaccination; the sequence takes months, so start early. Request copies of prescriptions, vaccination history, dental records and any specialist notes for each family member — the SNS does not cover you abroad — and carry regular medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter.
Visas & Documents
Portuguese 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 certificado de registo criminal, and have your qualifications attested — Apostille plus Saudi embassy or Cultural Mission verification for degrees — before the visa is issued by the Saudi embassy in Lisbon. Healthcare professionals also need Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classification and the Prometric exam, which your employer or recruiter will coordinate.
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 — think of it as your Cartão de Cidadão for the Kingdom. Keep a photo of it on your phone.
Employment & Contracts
Portuguese professionals in Saudi Arabia work in engineering and construction, architecture, healthcare, technology, higher education and, famously, football, and most arrive on packages that bundle a base salary with housing (or a housing allowance), medical insurance, annual flights home and, for families, an education allowance. Check whether housing is provided or paid as cash, whether the flight allowance covers dependants, and whether you are on a local Saudi contract or seconded from a Portuguese employer — the tax and Segurança Social consequences are very different.
There is no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia, which is the single biggest change to your take-home pay compared with IRS. There is no employer pension contribution; instead you accrue an end-of-service benefit (ESB), typically half a month's salary per year for the first five years and a full month per year thereafter, paid when you leave. Annual leave is usually 21–30 days, contracts are generally fixed-term and renewable, and the working week is Sunday to Thursday.
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 — and a good number of Portuguese nurses and doctors working in them.
Check your policy's coverage class, network hospitals and co-payments before you need them. The SNS will not cover you in the Kingdom, 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
Portuguese and Saudi banks typically build a 2–3% margin into their exchange rate on top of any transfer fee. 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 Portugal to cover the first year. On a SAR 60,000 annual rent (about €14,000), a 2–3% bank margin costs you €280–€420 before you've unpacked.
- Every month after that: Most Portuguese expats send part of their tax-free salary home for a crédito habitação, savings, family or a seguro social voluntário contribution. On a monthly transfer of SAR 20,000 (about €4,700), the same margin is €90–€140 a month — €1,150–€1,700 a year, every year you're in the Kingdom.
Whether you are paying a crédito habitação, supporting family, keeping up seguro social voluntário payments or simply building savings in euros, sending money via your Saudi bank's app exposes you to a wide EUR/SAR spread. SummitFX quotes from the live interbank rate and can deliver euros to your Portuguese account the same day via SEPA. Check the live EUR/SAR rate.
Need to transfer EUR to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quoteDriving & Transport
Driving is the default way to get around, although the Riyadh Metro is changing that in the capital. Portuguese licences are generally accepted for conversion to a Saudi licence without a full 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. You'll be driving on the right, as at home, but traffic is faster and less forgiving.
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; bank leasing is common, and petrol is a fraction of Portuguese prices.
Schools & Family Life
There is no Portuguese-curriculum school in Saudi Arabia, so Portuguese families choose between the British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Levels), the American curriculum or the International Baccalaureate. All three are accepted for entry to Portuguese universities through the special admission route for holders of non-Portuguese secondary qualifications, and the IB in particular maps well onto the ensino superior entry requirements. Children who may return home should keep up written Portuguese — some families combine an international school with distance learning or Instituto Camões support.
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, roughly in line with Portugal. Family life revolves around the compound, school and a rapidly growing entertainment scene of cinemas, theme parks and international sport — including a Saudi Pro League that is currently a showcase for Portuguese football.
International schools popular with Portuguese 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 or esplanadas in the Portuguese sense — for many Portuguese that, and the lack of fresh fish and a proper bica on every corner, is a bigger adjustment than the heat.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday, and Riyadh is only two to three hours ahead of Lisbon, so keeping in touch with family is easy. Summers are long and hot — Riyadh regularly passes 45°C, though it is a dry heat, and Jeddah and the Eastern Province are humid — while winters are mild and sunny. Saudis are warm towards Portugal, largely thanks to football, and learning some Arabic on top of that goodwill will transform your experience.
Community & Support
The Portuguese community in Saudi Arabia is small but growing fast — Portuguese is now the second most spoken language in the Saudi Pro League, and behind the footballers and coaching staff have come engineers, architects, nurses, doctors, academics and construction professionals. Most people find their circle through compound life, school parent groups, the wider Portuguese-speaking community (Brazilians are a large group), football, padel and events run by the Portuguese Embassy. Register with the consular section (inscrição consular) when you arrive.
Facebook groups
- Portuguese in Saudi Arabia (Portugueses na Arábia Saudita): Ask Portal das Comunidades and established local expat groups for current Portuguese community contacts
- 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.
Complete your inscrição consular with the Portuguese Embassy in Riyadh, and set up your money route home early — decide which Saudi bank and which FX provider you will use before your first salary lands. Then start exploring your neighbourhood and the Portuguese, Portuguese-speaking and wider expat networks.
Cost of Living: Saudi Arabia vs Portugal
| Item | Cost in Saudi Arabia | Saudi cost in EUR | Typical cost in Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed apartment, good area) | 4,500 SAR | — | EUR 1,400 |
| Groceries (monthly for 1) | 1,400 SAR | — | EUR 280 |
| Utilities (monthly) | 500 SAR | — | EUR 130 |
| Meal at mid-range restaurant | 120 SAR | — | EUR 18 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | 2.33 SAR | — | EUR 1.75 |
| International / private school fees (per year) | 70,000 SAR | — | EUR 10,000 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | 300 SAR | — | EUR 40 |
| Coffee (bica / espresso) | 15 SAR | — | EUR 1 |
| Mobile plan (monthly) | 120 SAR | — | EUR 20 |
| Cleaner (4 hours per week, monthly) | 800 SAR | — | EUR 200 |
| Car insurance (annual) | 2,500 SAR | — | EUR 400 |
Note: Costs are indicative and vary based on lifestyle, neighbourhood, and inflation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia does not levy personal income tax. Whether Portugal taxes your Saudi salary depends on your residency status: if you become non-resident (fewer than 183 days in Portugal and no home kept as your habitual residence) your foreign employment income is outside Portuguese IRS, though Portuguese-source income such as rent is still taxed at non-resident rates. Portugal and Saudi Arabia have a double tax treaty. Get advice from a contabilista certificado before you leave.
In most cases yes — Portuguese licences are generally accepted for conversion without a full driving test, subject to an eye test, an authorised translation and the paperwork once you have your Iqama. The eligible-country list is reviewed periodically, so confirm the current position with your employer's PRO.
No. The riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US dollar at 3.75, so the EUR/SAR rate simply follows EUR/USD. When the euro weakens against the dollar, your Saudi salary is worth more in euros.
For anything above a few thousand euros, a specialist FX provider like SummitFX will usually beat a bank on the rate — often by 2–3% — with same-day delivery to your Portuguese account via SEPA. 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. Portuguese 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 for Portuguese university entry via the special admission route for foreign qualifications, but apply early as waiting lists are long.
Need to transfer EUR to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quote