Before You Leave
Tax residency
Tell HMRC that you are leaving the UK using form P85 when appropriate, and check whether you will remain UK tax-resident under the Statutory Residence Test. Keep records of travel days, accommodation and work patterns, and take regulated tax advice if you retain UK income, property or company interests.
Home banking and credit cards
Keep at least one established UK current account open for existing direct debits and emergency access, subject to your bank's overseas-residency rules. Tell banks and card providers your new address, check overseas transaction fees, and keep a UK credit card with no foreign transaction charge if the provider permits it.
Pensions and savings
Review workplace and personal pension contact details before departure and understand how moving abroad affects contributions and withdrawals. Check ISA eligibility rules once non-resident, retain statements for savings and investments, and take regulated advice before transferring or restructuring a pension.
Document legalisation
Confirm the exact chain with your Saudi employer before paying for legalisation. UK degree, marriage and birth documents may need certification, an Apostille from the FCDO, and further Saudi verification or authorised translation depending on the visa and sponsoring authority.
Pets and medical records
Ask your vet early about Saudi import permits, microchipping, vaccinations and the health certificate timetable for your pet. Request copies of prescriptions, vaccination history, dental records and any specialist medical notes for each family member, while keeping essential medicines in original packaging with supporting letters.
Visas & Documents
British citizens relocating for work require an employer-sponsored Work Visa. You will need to complete a medical exam at an approved UK clinic, submit a police clearance certificate, and have your academic qualifications attested by the Saudi Cultural Bureau and the FCDO.
Once you arrive, your employer will help you obtain an Iqama (residency permit). The Iqama is your essential ID card, needed to open a bank account, rent a home, and set up utilities.
Employment & Contracts
Employment packages in Saudi Arabia often include benefits beyond the base salary, such as housing allowances, medical insurance, annual flight tickets home, and education allowances for dependents. Thoroughly review your contract to understand these provisions.
Salaries are typically paid monthly. Note that there is no personal income tax levied by the Saudi government, making the Kingdom highly attractive for expats looking to maximize their earning potential.
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 obligated to provide private medical insurance for you and your sponsored dependents. The standard of private healthcare in Saudi Arabia is excellent, with modern facilities and English-speaking medical staff widely available.
Check your policy details to understand your coverage limits, network of approved hospitals, and any required co-payments for consultations and prescriptions.
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 current account requirements, transfer controls and published charges before choosing.
What using a specialist FX provider saves you
High-street banks — in the UK and in Saudi Arabia — 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 the UK to cover the first year. On a SAR 60,000 annual rent (about £12,000), a 2–3% bank margin costs you £240–£360 before you've unpacked.
- Every month after that: Most British expats send part of their tax-free salary home for a UK mortgage, savings or family. On a monthly transfer of SAR 20,000 (about £4,000), the same margin is £80–£120 a month — £950–£1,450 a year, every year you're in the Kingdom.
For repatriating savings to the UK or managing international obligations such as a UK mortgage, transferring funds via your local bank can expose you to wide FX spreads. SummitFX helps British expats compare the real exchange cost and arrange same-day delivery. Check the live GBP/SAR rate.
Need to transfer GBP to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quoteDriving & Transport
While major cities are investing heavily in public transport (such as the Riyadh Metro), driving remains the primary mode of transportation. British citizens can convert their valid UK driving licence to a Saudi licence without a driving test, though you must pass a medical eye exam and complete the required paperwork.
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are ubiquitous and offer a reliable alternative while you settle in or wait for your local licence to be processed.
Schools & Family Life
For families, securing a school place should be a top priority. Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar offer international schools teaching British curricula as well as other programmes.
Family life in the Kingdom is centred around community activities, compound facilities and a growing entertainment sector.
British-curriculum schools
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 is vital. Respect for prayer times and modest dress (covering shoulders and knees) is expected in public spaces, though the abaya is no longer legally mandated for expat women.
The weekend runs from Friday to Saturday. Taking the time to learn basic Arabic phrases and engaging with Saudi hospitality will significantly enhance your living experience.
Community & Support
Many expats build their social circle through compound life, school parent groups, sports clubs, church or faith groups where applicable, and British Embassy community events.
Facebook groups
- 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
- British-specific groups: British community in Saudi Arabia (Saudi British Society)
- 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
Within your first few weeks, prioritize securing your Iqama with your employer's HR department. Once you have it, open a local bank account, purchase a local SIM card (STC, Mobily, or Zain), and register your address on the National Address system (SPL).
Register with your country's embassy and begin exploring your local neighbourhood and expat networks to help you settle in smoothly.
Cost of Living: Saudi Arabia vs United Kingdom
| Item | Cost in Saudi Arabia | Saudi cost in GBP | Typical cost in London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed apartment, city centre) | 4,000 SAR | — | GBP 1,250 |
| Groceries (monthly for 1) | 1,200 SAR | — | GBP 300 |
| Utilities (monthly) | 450 SAR | — | GBP 180 |
| Meal at mid-range restaurant | 100 SAR | — | GBP 35 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | 2.33 SAR | — | GBP 1.45 |
| International school fees (per year) | 55,000 SAR | — | GBP 22,000 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | 300 SAR | — | GBP 55 |
| Coffee | 18 SAR | — | GBP 3.8 |
| Mobile plan (monthly) | 120 SAR | — | GBP 18 |
| Domestic help (monthly) | 1,800 SAR | — | GBP 1,400 |
| Car insurance (annual) | 1,800 SAR | — | GBP 650 |
Note: Costs are indicative and vary based on lifestyle, neighbourhood, and inflation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Saudi Arabia currently does not levy a personal income tax on salaries. However, a 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) applies to most goods and services.
Yes, British citizens can easily convert their valid UK driving licence to a Saudi licence without having to take a driving test, though an eye test and some paperwork are required.
No, the Saudi Riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US Dollar (USD) at a rate of 3.75. The GBP/SAR exchange rate fluctuates based on the GBP/USD market rate.
Using a specialist FX broker like SummitFX is a cost-effective method. High-street banks often charge large margins on the GBP/SAR spread, while SummitFX offers highly competitive rates and same-day delivery via the SARIE network.
It is no longer legally required for expat women to wear an abaya in public. However, modest dress—covering shoulders and knees—is required.
An Iqama is your national residency permit. It is your most important document in the Kingdom, required for everything from renting a property to opening a bank account.
Currently, foreign ownership of real estate is subject to strict regulations and usually limited to specific circumstances or designated economic zones, though laws are gradually loosening.
Yes, major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar have well-established international schools offering the British curriculum.
Need to transfer GBP to SAR?
Get a bank-beating rate and same-day delivery with SummitFX.
Get a live SAR quote