Your practical guide to Saudi Arabia

1. 11. Identify the category: company employee, dependant or domestic worker; the submitting party differs.
2. 22. Coordinate with the employer or sponsor on medical, insurance and category-specific work requirements.
3. 33. The authorised party selects Iqama issuance in Absher Business or the appropriate category channel and completes the request and fees.
4. 44. Check issued permit details and validity, then complete personal services, address registration and banking.

A company employee should not use a family-member service to issue their own permit. Use the route matching your status.

1. 11. Citizens: choose family-member National ID issuance under Absher identity services, or the appropriate renewal service.
2. 22. Enter the details and complete the identification or verification required by that service.
3. 33. Attend Civil Affairs for biometric enrolment when required, then follow collection or delivery instructions.
4. 44. Residents: start with the Iqama route, then register and activate Absher using an official activation method.

A digital account does not itself issue a new identity document. National ID and resident Iqama are distinct.

1. 11. In Absher, find driving-licence issuance to book or update training at an approved school.
2. 22. Check medical and driving-assessment requirements with the school before paying for training.
3. 33. Complete the training and tests required for your assessment and licence category.
4. 44. After passing, complete the official fees, issuance and delivery steps and check licence details.

Foreign-licence exchange is separate from training registration; check eligibility for the issuing country and category.

1. 11. Register or update your National Address through SPL and check your identity details.
2. 22. Choose an account and compare fees and eligibility; the SNB example requires Absher and National Address.
3. 33. Start on the bank’s official site or app and complete customer details and required verification.
4. 44. After approval, keep the IBAN, activate digital access and check salary-transfer conditions if selected.

The example’s requirements apply to that product, not every bank or non-resident account.

1. 11. Identify the activity, investor status and legal form; check foreign-investment requirements where applicable.
2. 22. Open the Ministry of Commerce guide, then use the Saudi Business Center service for the relevant establishment or company.
3. 33. Complete the details, documents, electronic verification and approvals specified by the service.
4. 44. After registration, check sector and municipal licensing and other obligations before operating.

Commercial registration does not replace every licence. Resident employment does not automatically confer eligibility for any business.

1. 11. Request policy details, covered members and effective dates from your employer or insurer.
2. 22. Open CHI services and check insurance using the service matching your category.
3. 33. Review the provider network, co-payments and approval rules before booking non-emergency care.
4. 44. For incorrect records or cover, contact the responsible party, then use the official complaints service if needed.

Visitor cover differs from resident or employee insurance; select the correct enquiry service.

1. 11. Review rent, instalments, maintenance, deposits, landlord and property details before accepting.
2. 22. Ask the landlord or accredited broker to register the residential contract in Ejar.
3. 33. Sign in to Ejar through Nafath, review the contract sent to you and authenticate it after checking the terms.
4. 44. Keep the authenticated copy, update your National Address and confirm contractual utility responsibilities.

Contract authentication does not replace inspecting the property. Saudi Ejar and Dubai Ejari are different systems.