Older Expats Count Twice In Saudi Arabia

expat network

Older Expats Count Twice In Saudi Arabia

Any expat in Saudi Arabia who is 60 years of age or more will be counted as two expat staff in the Nitaqat Saudisation programme, Al-Madina Arabic newspaper has reported.

Expats registered as investors or academicians (professors, associate professors, assistant professors, lecturers) or working as doctors will not be considered as two staff even though they are above 60 years of age. Pharmacists and medical technicians will not be exempt.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development has initiated a long-term strategy to equip Saudis to dominate the job market over the period of 25 years which started in 2010.

The unemployment rate has dropped since the implementation of the strategy and in 2015 the number of unemployed Saudis was 647,000.

The plan also includes making the private sector an attractive hub for Saudi jobseekers, with an increase in the number of Saudis in the private sector to 1.7 million by 2015. That year also saw an increase in the number of employed Saudi women, the number increeasing by 21% compared to 2014.

The ministry has also started to implement a wage protection system based on seven stages to ensure that employees get their salaries on time.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.