Saudi Arabia

Arabian Peninsula

Middle East

A low-tax Middle Eastern country with widely spoken English, residence by investment and a startup visa, but a long 10-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

32
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 95% data coverage
Language
Arabic
Currency
SAR
Citizenship
10 years; discretionary and points-based
Personal tax
No personal income tax on employment income
Cost of living
$1,500 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
71
Access
17%
92Residence12%
22Citizenship and passport5%
82
Earning power
25%
78Salary and work12%
86Buying power13%
76
Business and wealth
20%
90Taxes7%
72Business8%
62Investment5%
79
Daily life
25%
77Quality of life18%
85Education7%
40
Rights and institutions
13%
15Freedom6%
62Rule of law7%

Severe environmental risk (0) cut the overall score from 72 to 32.

Pros

  • Widely spoken English
  • Residence by investment
  • A startup visa

Cons

  • A long 10-year naturalisation wait
  • No dual citizenship

Best for

Low-tax relocatorsFoundersInvestors

Score profile

Access
Residence
92
Citizenship
15
Passport
51
Earning power
Salary & work
78
Buying power
86
Cost of living
76
Economy
82
Business and wealth
Taxes
90
Personal tax
100
Corporate tax
43
Business
72
Investment
62
Wealth building
76
Daily life
Safety
75
Healthcare
79
Environment
0
Infrastructure
75
Education
85
HDI
90
Rights and institutions
Freedom
15
Rule of law
62
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Excellent
92
Migrant stock40.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.71 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Low
15
Years required10 years; discretionary and points-based
Dual allowedNo
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 10 years; discretionary and points-based; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Moderate
51
101 / 198
Mobility
#51
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free62
  • On arrival35
  • eTA4
  • Visa required97

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
78
Output per worker$131,027 PPP (2024)
Unemployment3.0% (2025)
Participation65.1% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Excellent
86
GNI / person$74,400 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$29,995 PPP (2024)
Price level50 (US = 100) (2025)
Inflation2.1% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Good
76
Price level50 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$1,500 / mo (single)
CitiesRiyadh, Jeddah, Dammam
Economy
Economic strength
Excellent
82
Output & income
GDP$1.3T (2025)
GDP / person$34,537 (2025)
GNI / person$74,400 PPP (2025)
GDP growth2.0% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation2.1% / yr (2025)
Unemployment3.0% (2025)
Output per worker$131,027 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture2.6% of GDP (2025)
Industry43.0% of GDP (2025)
Services48.9% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Oil & gasPetrochemicalsMiningConstructionFinance
Top exports
Crude oilRefined fuelsPetrochemicalsPlastics
TypeHigh-income, hydrocarbon-driven
Key sectorsOil (the world's top exporter), Petrochemicals, Vision 2030 diversification
SummaryThe world's largest oil exporter, using petroleum wealth to fund an ambitious diversification into tourism and industry.
CurrencySaudi riyal (pegged to the US dollar)

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Excellent
90
PersonalNo personal income tax on employment income
Corporate20% for non-Saudi ownership; Zakat applies to qualifying Saudi/GCC ownership
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Excellent
100
PersonalNo personal income tax on employment income
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Limited
43
Corporate20% for non-Saudi ownership; Zakat applies to qualifying Saudi/GCC ownership
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Good
72
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.71 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.78 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
62
Market cap185% of GDP (2025)
Private credit50% of GDP (2017)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Good
76
Salary & work
Good
78
Business
Good
72
Investment
Moderate
62
Tax friendliness
Excellent
90
Cost of living
Good
76

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Good
75
Personal safety
Homicide rate0.9 per 100,000 (2019)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption0.75 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.05 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Good
79
Outcomes
Life expectancy79.0 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality6.0 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians3.41 per 1,000 (2023)
Hospital beds2.41 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$3,475 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Low
0
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure73.5 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress974.2% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
75
Digital infrastructure
Internet use100.0% (2024)
Internet resilience65 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed84 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed83 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses9.1% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.60 / 5 (2022)
Rail density1.4 km / 1,000 km² (2018)
Air connectivity8,180 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
85
Attainment
Expected schooling16.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment84% gross (2024)
Education spending4.5% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$5,000-25,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesArabic
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
90
HDI0.900 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy78.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling16.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$50,299 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Low
15
Freedom in the World8 / 100 (Not free)
Freedom on the Net25 / 100 (Not free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Moderate
62
Rule of Law percentile62 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comGCC: Member Statesgcc-sg.orgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.org
Quick links
Saudi Arabia visa & immigrationgoogle.comSaudi Arabia tax residency rulesgoogle.comSaudi Arabia citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Saudi Arabiagoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.