Hiring in Saudi Arabia — Complete Compliance Guide for 2026

Hiring in Saudi Arabia in 2026 requires an Arabic-language employment contract (fixed-term or indefinite permitted, Arabic text legally authoritative), Iqama sponsorship with a 6–12 week end-to-end processing timeline, GOSI registration from the first month of employment at 11.75% employer and 9.75% employee for Saudi nationals and 1–2% occupational hazard only for expats, Mudad-compliant salary payment, Nitaqat Saudization tracking, and EOSB accrual at half a month of salary per year for the first 5 years and a full month per year thereafter on last drawn basic salary.