Tips, how-tos and explainers on Iqama, visas, jobs, banking, driving and everyday life in the Kingdom.
One of the pleasant surprises for many new expats in Saudi Arabia is just how affordable fuel is compared to most of the world — but prices aren't static, and understanding how the pricing structure works helps you budget more accurately, especially if you're commuting daily across a large city like Riyadh or Jeddah.
01 Aug 2026If you're new to Saudi Arabia, National Day — celebrated every year on 23 September — is genuinely worth experiencing rather than treating as just another public holiday to get through. It's one of the most visible, joyful expressions of national pride you'll see anywhere, and it's become an increasingly big deal each year as the Kingdom's own sense of identity and confidence has grown…
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 2026If you drive in Saudi Arabia, a quiet update to the traffic fine schedule this year is worth knowing about, especially since it affects two of the most common highway speeds in the Kingdom: 120 km/h and 140 km/h roads. Whether you've been driving here for years or just got your Iqama-linked license, a few minutes understanding the current numbers can save you a genuinely unpleasant…
30 Jul 2026Every year around this time, malls and retail chains across Saudi Arabia roll out their summer discount season — a few months of markdowns across pretty much every retail category, timed to coincide with the peak summer heat when foot traffic to malls (air-conditioned, indoor, and entertainment-heavy) naturally increases. If you've been putting off buying furniture, electronics, or new…
30 Jul 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 2026For expats living in Saudi Arabia whose family members back home have always wanted to perform Umrah — but found the visa process a hurdle every single time — a recent change makes this considerably easier. Saudi Arabia now offers a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for a full 365 days, letting eligible visitors come and go for pilgrimage purposes without reapplying every time.
30 Jul 2026If you sponsor a domestic worker — a housemaid, driver, or similar household staff member — under your Iqama, a recent update has made the renewal process noticeably more flexible through Absher, cutting down on some of the friction that used to make this a more manual, in-person task.
30 Jul 2026Your first Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, whether you're Muslim or not, is a genuinely different rhythm of daily life than what most expats are used to elsewhere — and knowing what to expect ahead of time makes it far easier to settle into rather than feeling caught off guard by the shift.
30 Jul 2026