Tips, how-tos and explainers on Iqama, visas, jobs, banking, driving and everyday life in the Kingdom.
If you've ever glanced at your payslip and wondered exactly what "GOSI" is and why a chunk of your salary goes toward it, you're far from alone. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what it actually is, what expats specifically pay into, and what it's for.
02 Aug 2026If you've been doing freelance or side work informally, Saudi Arabia's freelance license (Freelancer Certificate) program offers a genuine, legal pathway to formalize it — worth understanding clearly if you're an expat considering freelance work alongside or instead of traditional employment.
02 Aug 2026Saudization has been building steadily for years, but the 2026 expansion is the largest single addition yet — 69 new professions added to the 100% Saudi-only list, effective 1 April 2026, with companies given a compliance window of 6 to 12 months depending on their specific sector. If you work in Saudi Arabia in a mid-level management or white-collar role, this is worth understanding…
01 Aug 2026One detail of Saudi labor law that surprises a lot of expats — in a genuinely useful way — is that the notice period required to end an open-ended employment contract isn't symmetrical. If you're resigning, the standard requirement is different from what applies if your employer initiates the termination, and understanding this asymmetry matters whether you're the one giving notice or…
01 Aug 2026Whether you're negotiating a new job offer or just trying to understand whether your current schedule is normal, Saudi Arabia's labor law lays out clear rules on working hours, overtime, and rest periods — rules that are worth knowing precisely, since "that's just how it is here" isn't always an accurate reflection of what you're actually entitled to.
30 Jul 2026Understanding exactly what kind of contract you're on, and what rules govern ending it — whether you're the one resigning or your employer is initiating it — is one of those things that's much better to know calmly in advance than to figure out under pressure during an actual dispute.
30 Jul 2026If you've been keeping half an eye on Saudi labor news lately, you've probably noticed the Qiwa platform getting a lot busier. As of 30 June 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) put teeth into a rule that had been quietly building for months: any non-Saudi worker whose work permit has expired, or who has been absent from their job for more than three…
23 Jul 2026Saudization has been a fact of life for expat workers for years, but 2026 has turned it from a background policy into something companies and employees are watching week by week. The latest wave isn't just about banning expats from certain job titles — it's about hard percentage quotas that entire departments have to hit, on specific deadlines, or face real financial consequences.
23 Jul 2026Scroll through enough headlines about Saudization in 2026 and you could be forgiven for thinking Saudi Arabia has quietly closed its doors to expat workers. It hasn't — not even close. What's actually happening is a reshuffling: certain white-collar and clerical functions are tightening fast, while entire sectors are still desperately short of workers and actively recruiting from…
23 Jul 2026