If you are successful in obtaining a job in Saudi Arabia, you are likely to benefit from a relatively high tax-free salary and a wide range of benefits and perks such as subsidized housing, healthcare and educational costs, and free trips home. However, salaries have fallen in relative terms in recent years. Most postings are fixed-term, usually for two or three years. All foreign nationals are required to have a Saudi sponsor and must obtain a work permit before entering the Kingdom. Employment permits are issued for a maximum of two years, but can often be extended. They are exchanged for a residence permit (Igama) once the employee arrives in the country.

The working week in Saudi Arabia is from Saturday to Wednesday, with some businesses also operating on Thursday mornings. Working hours in private business are usually 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Government offices are open from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. When scheduling business appointments, it is important to take into account the five daily prayer times, as well as the religious holidays of Hajj and Ramadan.

Appointment times should be regarded as approximate rather than fixed, as there is a relaxed approach to business which often results in delays. A very personal approach to business is taken, and face-to-face meetings are generally preferred to telephone conversations or written communications when negotiating deals. All deals are regulated by Sharia or Islamic law, which has many similarities with western law. A big difference between the two is that Sharia law does not make reference to precedents, and rulings made on one case are therefore not applicable to others.

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