UAE

Life and Living

World

Opinion

Business

Sports

Entertainment

Dubai World Cup

lifestyle

Travel

Reviews

Brands

Supplements

KT Events

KT APPDOWNLOAD

Saudi Arabia will have new expat fees. Here are the costs

Saudi Arabia will have new expat fees. Here are the costs

The so-called 'expat levy' will be in effect starting next year

By Web Team

Published: Sat 24 Dec 2016, 1:15 PM

Last updated: Sun 25 Dec 2016, 12:41 PM

Expats in Saudi Arabia better be ready to fork out a little extra money as the country is set to introduce an 'expat levy' this 2017. Information about the new law was confirmed during last Thursday's budget announcement, Arab News reports.
Companies who are currently paying SR200 per month for every expat employee are now going to pay amounts upwards SR800. The law only applies to companies who hire more expats compared to Saudi nationals.
The move was in a bid to ensure that more Saudi nationals get jobs in comparison to their expat counterparts.
The same report also states that from next year onwards, the levy will gradually increase for expats to encourage companies to hire more Saudis. For companies on the other end of the spectrum who hire more Saudis than expats, the fee will be discounted and no longer waived.
Fee for the dependents of expat workers are also slated to take effect by July 2017 so as not to shock families who currently have children enrolled in schools around the region. The fee for dependents is SR300.
Arab News also quotes the Saudi Finance Minister telling reporters that the new fee will not affect domestic workers such as drivers and cleaners.


More news from WORLD