Moving to Al Khobar: What to Know Before You Arrive

Al Khobar sits on the Arabian Gulf coast in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and has long been a favourite base for professionals and families drawn to its relaxed waterfront lifestyle, international dining, and proximity to the Kingdom's energy sector. Before you arrive, it helps to understand the paperwork, digital accounts, and recurring fees that shape everyday life. This guide walks you through the essentials so your first weeks run smoothly.

Residence and Employment

If you're moving for work, your employer is the engine behind most of your legal status. As a non-Saudi employee you'll need an employment contract, a work visa, a medical examination, health insurance, a work permit, and an Iqama (residence permit). Your employer handles recruitment, the work permit, Iqama issuance, and the related employment fees, and is legally responsible for the costs of issuing and renewing your Iqama and work permit.

• Verify your electronic contract on قوى before accepting or transferring a job — check the profession, salary, employer name, and contract duration.
• Your Iqama is issued and renewed through the employer using أبشر Business or مقيم after payments, insurance, medical checks, and biometric registration.

Fees to Expect

Fees vary by resident category, so always confirm the exact figure in the official payment request before paying.

• Iqama: commonly listed at around SAR 650 annually, but check the payment request.
• Work permit: a basic service fee commonly listed at SAR 100 annually.
• Expatriate levy: separate and dependent on the employer's workforce mix — commonly cited at roughly SAR 700–800 per month (about SAR 8,400–9,600 per year). Confirm in قوى before payment.
• Dependant levy: commonly cited at SAR 400 per dependant per month (about SAR 4,800 annually). Confirm through أبشر or the sponsor's payment request.

Exit and Re-Entry Visas

To travel abroad and return, you'll need an exit and re-entry visa, applied for through أبشر or your employer's مقيم account. A single visa commonly costs SAR 200 for up to two months, with SAR 100 for each additional month. Make sure the visa remains valid at the moment you return to the Kingdom.

Renew your Iqama before it expires: late renewal incurs fines, and the exact amount and payment status appear in أبشر or مقيم.

Setting Up Your Digital Identity

Almost every government service runs online, so set these up early:

• Register and activate أبشر, then activate نفاذ for identity verification.
• Get a Saudi mobile number registered to your own identity — many services require it.
• Register your home through the national-address service; registration is generally free and is needed by banks, government services, and some deliveries.

Municipal and Legal Services

For day-to-day life in Al Khobar, a few more portals are worth knowing:

• Municipal services: use Balady for licences, construction-related services, commercial activities, and complaints. Municipal complaints can also be submitted through 940.
• Legal matters: use ناجز for judicial services, powers of attorney, enforcement matters, and documentation. نفاذ authentication is typically required to access these.

A Smooth Arrival

The pattern across all of this is simple: your employer manages the employment-related steps, while you set up your own digital identity and national address. Confirm every fee in the official payment request rather than relying on general figures, keep your Iqama and visas valid, and you'll find Al Khobar an easy and welcoming place to call home.

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