In the latest edition of the Expat Insider survey, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the second-best country in the world for expatriates, with Denmark clinching the number one spot. This ranking demonstrates the significant strides Saudi Arabia has made to enhance employment opportunities and uplift expat lifestyles.
The survey’s Working Abroad Index ranks countries based on four key subcategories:
- career prospects
- salary and job security
- work and leisure
- work culture and satisfaction
Saudi Arabia has excelled mostly in career prospects and job satisfaction, with more than half of respondents expressing positive views about the local job market. Factors contributing to Saudi Arabia’s high ranking include the robust local job market, promising career opportunities, favorable economic conditions, and job security. The survey has revealed that 75% of expats believe their move to Saudi Arabia has improved their career prospects, and 62% rate their personal career opportunities favorably.
In addition, an impressive 82% of expats expressed satisfaction with the state of the local economy as a contributing factor in Saudi Arabia achieving second place in the salary and job security subcategory. This improvement marks a significant jump from the country’s 14th position in last year’s survey, highlighting the kingdom’s ongoing economic growth and development.
The survey did however identify areas for improvement. Saudi Arabia ranked lower in expats’ working hours, placing 23rd, and work-life balance, ranking 27th globally. Expats in the Kingdom typically work an average of 47.8 hours per week in full-time positions, compared to the global average of 42.5 hours. Recently, Saudi Arabia announced initiatives to boost job opportunities for expats, particularly in professions requiring highly sought-after skills.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development launched the “professional verification” service as part of its broader “professional certification” program. This initiative aims to ensure that expatriate workers entering Saudi Arabia possess authentic academic credentials and the necessary practical experience demanded by the Saudi labor market.
The “professional verification” service operates through a unified electronic platform in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aligning academic qualifications with standards such as the Unified Saudi Classification of Professions and the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specialties. This systematic approach, mandated by Cabinet Resolution No. 195, seeks to ensure the accuracy of qualifications and skills data for expatriate workers, thereby preventing the entry of unqualified individuals into the labor market.
Saudi Arabia’s impressive ranking in the Expat Insider survey reflects its proactive efforts to improve expat experiences through better career opportunities and economic stability. While there are challenges that need to be addressed, particularly in terms of working hours and work-life balance, the Kingdom’s initiatives to verify professional qualifications demonstrate a commitment to fostering a skilled and qualified expatriate workforce.
As Saudi Arabia continues along its path of economic diversification and reform, its attractiveness as a destination for expatriates is likely to continue growing. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia achieved a position in the top 10 countries on the Expat Essentials Index, as reported by Expat Insider.
This index assesses several crucial aspects for expatriates, including visa acquisition processes, navigating local bureaucracy, opening bank accounts, housing affordability and availability, digital infrastructure encompassing online services and internet connectivity, and language accessibility, covering both learning and daily living without proficiency in the local language.
Saudi Arabia secured the 6th rank globally, surpassing countries including Singapore, Mexico, Indonesia, and Kenya in these evaluations. These indexes were compiled by InterNations, a global expatriate community. Saudi Arabia has been a popular destination for expats seeking job opportunities in the Middle East for some time now, thanks to its growing economy, favorable tax policies, and high standard of living.
The country offers high salaries and tax-free income. In 2020, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issued a ministerial decision to raise the minimum wage for Saudi workers from USD 800 (SAR 3,000) to USD 1,066.66 (SAR 4,000) per month. The Kingdom has separate minimum wages for expats and nationals in the private sector. Within the public sector, locals are generally offered higher salaries than expats.
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