Jobs In Saudi Arabia

Jobs in Saudi Arabia

The oil and gas sector is a major industry and the place most likely to find jobs for the Indians in Saudi Arabia. Jobs are also available in the fields of Finance, banking, and telecom. The growing emphasis on diversifying the economy and reducing constraints on ownership of international companies could also open up opportunities in healthcare, education, tourism and engineering.

Most jobs can be located in the capital city of Riyadh or Jeddah, the second-largest city. Your best option to get a job in Saudi Arabia is with multinational companies having offices located there. Though English is widely spoken and understood, Arabic is still the primary language in many businesses, and having an understanding of it and the ability to speak it will improve the chances of getting a job offer.

Leading Companies in Saudi Arabia:

• Saudi Telecom Company
• Saudi Electricity Company
• Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
• SABB Bank
• Mobily

However, Indian professionals can find it easier to secure jobs with Multinational companies that have offices in the country, such as BAE Systems, Cisco, EY, IBM, J.P. Morgan, Nestle, Procter & Gamble, PwC, Siemens and Schlumberger.

What jobs are in demand in Saudi Arabia?

As predicted, the majority of employment opportunities are in the oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia. As part of its 'Vision 2030' however, efforts are being made to grow other industries to diversify its economy and reduce its dependency on oil.

Many influential industries besides the oil and gas industries are:

• Constructions and Infrastructure
• Medical and Health care
• Education
• Industrial Manufacturing
• Telecommunication
• Mining Industry
• Banking and Finance

Looking at the industries which Saudi Arabia hopes to develop as part of 'Vision 2030' gives a good idea of the range of areas in which graduates can find work. These include defence, electricity from renewable sources and tourism.

Demanding jobs include engineering, IT, teaching, healthcare, and construction workers, so graduates have the best chance in those fields. Water resource management and transport infrastructure specialists are especially required, whilst the implementation of VAT in 2018 created a need for tax professionals.

What is the average salary in Saudi Arabia?

An individual employed in Saudi Arabia usually earns an average salary around 17K SAR per month. Wages vary from 2.5K SAR (lowest average) to 74K SAR (highest average, higher real gross salary). This is the average monthly wage for housing, transportation and other benefits. Wages differ significantly between professions.

Employees in Saudi Arabia are expected to have a pay rise of around 8 per cent each 17 months. Industries in growing sectors strive to bring higher and more regular upswings.

Exceptions do occur, but in general terms every company's situation is closely linked to the nation or region's economic situation. Such statistics appear regularly to update.

What are the working conditions in Saudi Arabia?

You would expect to work from Sunday through to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday falling on the weekend. Legally, workers are not permitted to work more than eight hours a day. Most companies stop operating during times of prayer. During Ramadan work hours are shortened to six hours a day.

Your holiday time would rely on the employer, but the legislation stipulates that workers will be granted annual leave of no less than 21 days after completing one year of employment. Employees in Saudi Arabia are given time off each year for the three public holidays: Saudi National Day, Eid al-Fitr (celebrating Ramadan's end) and Eid al-Adha (celebrating the sacrifice during Mecca's pilgrimage).

In Saudi Arabia Christmas is not acknowledged and most foreign nationals are expected to work on Christmas Day unless they book it off in advance.

What are the benefits of pursuing jobs in Saudi Arabia?

There are several factors that inspire people to work in Saudi Arabia. The top reasons you should work in Saudi Arabia as well are listed below:

• Tax Free Income - Saudi residents pay no income tax at all, while expats pay a very small fee for services in return. While a new tax law in 2018 has been introduced requiring expats to pay 100 SAR, overall taxes are negligible.
• Best Salary Packages and Career Opportunities - One of the main reasons people would migrate to Saudi Arabia for work is the great career opportunities provided by employers in this country and the incredible salary packages.
• Housing Allowances and Local Transportation - Unlike other nations, where only a handful of companies give their expat staff transportation and housing allowances, all the companies in Saudi Arabia are known for their excellent housing and transport allowances.
• Great Annual Bonus - Another justification one needs to be employed in Saudi Arabia is its annual bonus. The expatriates receive a bonus of their salary equal to two-three months.
• Annual Round Trip AirFare - The companies are authorized by law to provide free Air tickets to and fro Saudi Arabia to their expat employees every year.

What are the requirements to work in Saudi Arabia?

You will need to have a job offer in advance from a Saudi Arabian company because you can not get a work visa without one and your sponsor (employer) will have to apply for the visa on your behalf. You will get your official contract of employment in both Arabic and English language, so it is worth getting someone who can read Arabic to verify that everything is fine. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia for you to be issued a visa. You would be denied a visa if your passport suggests you have recently visited Israel, or if it is your birthplace.

As part of your visa application, you must complete a medical examination which will require assurance that you are free of infectious diseases like HIV / AIDS. You will not be permitted to travel to Saudi Arabia if you do have an infectious disease.

Is it easy to get Job in Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia there are opportunities for those with the knowledge and experience, but having a job right after university is not easy. It can be difficult to get a freshers job in Saudi Arabia, as its policy is only to allow the recruitment of foreign nationals who bring in specialist skills where there is a shortage.

You would also find it extremely difficult to obtain a job that could be filled by a Saudi Arabian citizen in a move to raise national employment levels due to the country's insistence on Saudization.

How to get Job in Saudi Arabia?

Before you leave for Saudi Arabia, you will need to have an employment offer. You may sign up with recruitment agencies that work for GCC countries as well as using online overseas job portals such as Angel Gulf Jobs.

Throughout the recruitment process, focus on all the skills, experiences and qualifications you can give and particularly on why you want to work in Saudi Arabia.