Before You Leave
Tax residency
South Africa taxes residents on worldwide income, so decide early whether you will remain a tax resident or formally cease residency with SARS. If you stay resident, the foreign employment income exemption covers only the first R1.25 million a year, and only if you spend more than 183 days outside South Africa (including 60 continuous days) in a 12-month period — anything above that is taxed at home. Ceasing residency triggers a deemed capital gains 'exit tax' on your worldwide assets. Both routes have real consequences, so speak to a registered tax practitioner before you sign your contract.
Home banking and credit cards
Keep at least one South African bank account open for debit orders, bond repayments and emergency access, and tell your bank you are moving abroad so they don't freeze the account for unusual activity. Ask how they treat non-resident customers if you cease tax residency, since your account may be re-designated. Check international card fees, and make sure your online banking and SARS eFiling do not rely on a South African mobile number you are about to cancel.
Pensions and savings
Understand the exchange-control rules before you leave: as a resident you can move up to R1 million a year under the Single Discretionary Allowance without a tax clearance, and up to R10 million a year with SARS approval. Retirement annuities can only be withdrawn once you have been non-tax-resident for three consecutive years, and provident and pension funds now follow the two-pot rules — take advice before cashing anything in. Keep statements for tax-free savings accounts and investments, and note that the rules change if you formally cease residency.
Document legalisation
Confirm the exact chain with your Saudi employer before paying for anything. South African degrees, marriage and birth certificates typically need to be authenticated with an Apostille from DIRCO (or the High Court for some documents) and may then require verification by the Saudi embassy in Pretoria and the Saudi Cultural Mission for academic qualifications. Apply for your SAPS police clearance certificate early — it can take six to twelve weeks — and budget for authorised Arabic translations once you arrive.
Pets and medical records
Pet exports need a state vet health certificate and export permit from the Department of Agriculture, plus Saudi import approval, microchipping and up-to-date rabies vaccination; the sequence takes months, so start early. Request copies of prescriptions, immunisation records, dental records and any specialist notes for each family member, and carry chronic medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter. Your medical aid will not cover you in Saudi Arabia, so decide whether to suspend or cancel it.
Visas & Documents
South African citizens relocating for work need an employer-sponsored Work Visa. Your employer starts the process in Saudi Arabia and you complete the South African side: a medical examination at an approved GAMCA/Wafid clinic, a SAPS police clearance certificate, and attestation of your qualifications — typically a DIRCO Apostille followed by verification through the Saudi embassy in Pretoria. Healthcare professionals also need to pass the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classification and 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. Keep a photo of it on your phone.
Employment & Contracts
South Africans are heavily represented in Saudi healthcare, education, engineering and construction, 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, and whether the flight allowance covers dependants.
There is no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia, which is the main reason the move is so financially attractive from a rand perspective. There is no employer pension or provident fund 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, and contracts are generally fixed-term and renewable.
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 — many South African doctors and nurses work in it — with modern hospitals and English-speaking staff widely available.
Check your policy's coverage class, network hospitals and co-payments before you need them, and note that your South African medical aid will not cover you in the Kingdom, so decide whether to suspend or cancel it. Bring enough of any chronic 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
South African and Saudi banks typically build a 2–3% margin into their exchange rate on top of any transfer fee, and the rand is a volatile currency, so timing and rate both matter more than most people expect. 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 South Africa to cover the first year — and that outbound payment also has to fit within your exchange-control allowance. On a SAR 60,000 annual rent (about ZAR 259,400), a 2–3% bank margin costs you ZAR 5,190–ZAR 7,780 before you've unpacked.
- Every month after that: Most South African expats send part of their tax-free salary home every month for a bond, family support, retirement savings or investments. On a monthly transfer of SAR 15,000 (about ZAR 64,800), the same margin is ZAR 1,300–ZAR 1,940 a month — ZAR 15,550–ZAR 23,350 a year, every year you're in the Kingdom.
Whether you are paying a bond, supporting family or building savings at home, sending money via your Saudi bank's app exposes you to a wide SAR/ZAR spread on top of the rand's own volatility. SummitFX quotes from the live interbank rate and can deliver rand to your South African account the same day, and can help you time larger transfers when the rand moves in your favour. Remember that money sent home while you are still a South African tax resident counts against your annual exchange-control allowances. Check the live ZAR/SAR rate.
Need to transfer ZAR 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. Many South Africans convert a valid South African licence to a Saudi licence without sitting a full driving test, subject to an eye test, an authorised translation and the usual paperwork once you have your Iqama — but the list of eligible countries is reviewed periodically, so confirm the current rule with your employer's government-relations (PRO) team. Petrol is a fraction of the South African price and there is no load-shedding.
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 the roads are safer than at home, though driving standards take some getting used to.
Schools & Family Life
There is no South African-curriculum (CAPS or IEB) school in Saudi Arabia, so most South African families choose between the British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Levels), the American curriculum or the International Baccalaureate. All three are recognised by South African universities via a Universities South Africa (USAf) exemption, but check the specific subject requirements 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, not January, 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 South African 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, and pork and biltong-style meat products are restricted — bring your own recipes.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday, and Saudi Arabia is only one hour ahead of South Africa all year, so keeping in touch with family is easy. Summers are long and hot — Riyadh regularly passes 45°C — but it is a dry heat, and the Eastern Province and Jeddah are humid. Many South Africans say the biggest adjustment is the sense of personal safety: walking at night, leaving a car unlocked and children playing outside are all normal here.
Community & Support
South Africans are one of the largest Western expat communities in Saudi Arabia, with a big presence in healthcare, teaching, engineering and construction. Compounds often have a strong South African contingent, braais are a fixture of weekend life, and you will find rugby, cricket and running clubs in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province. The South African Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate-General in Jeddah run community events and voting stations at election time.
Facebook groups
- South Africans in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh South Africans
- 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 the South African Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate-General in Jeddah, and decide your money route home early — which Saudi bank and which FX provider you will use — before your first salary lands. Then start exploring your neighbourhood and the South African and wider expat networks.
Cost of Living: Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
| Item | Cost in Saudi Arabia | Saudi cost in ZAR | Typical cost in Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed apartment, good area) | 4,500 SAR | — | ZAR 12,000 |
| Groceries (monthly for 1) | 1,400 SAR | — | ZAR 4,500 |
| Utilities (monthly, incl. electricity) | 500 SAR | — | ZAR 2,500 |
| Meal at mid-range restaurant | 120 SAR | — | ZAR 250 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | 2.33 SAR | — | ZAR 21.5 |
| International / private school fees (per year) | 70,000 SAR | — | ZAR 130,000 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | 300 SAR | — | ZAR 700 |
| Cappuccino | 20 SAR | — | ZAR 40 |
| Mobile plan (monthly) | 120 SAR | — | ZAR 400 |
| Full-time domestic worker (monthly) | 2,000 SAR | — | ZAR 5,500 |
| Car insurance (annual) | 2,500 SAR | — | ZAR 18,000 |
Note: Costs are indicative and vary based on lifestyle, neighbourhood, and inflation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia does not levy personal income tax. Whether SARS taxes your Saudi salary depends on your residency status: if you remain a South African tax resident, only the first R1.25 million of foreign employment income a year is exempt (and only if you meet the 183/60-day tests) — the rest is taxed at home. If you formally cease tax residency, your foreign salary falls outside South African tax but you face a deemed capital gains exit tax. Take advice from a registered tax practitioner before you leave.
In most cases yes — South African 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 SAR/ZAR rate simply follows USD/ZAR. When the rand weakens against the dollar, your Saudi salary is worth more in rand — which is why timing larger transfers home can make a real difference.
For anything above a few thousand rand, 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. Money coming into South Africa is not restricted, but if you are still a tax resident, money going out is subject to your annual exchange-control allowances.
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. South African families generally choose the British, American or IB curriculum at one of the international schools in Riyadh, Jeddah or the Eastern Province. All are recognised by South African universities via a USAf exemption, but apply early as waiting lists are long.
Need to transfer ZAR to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
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