Jobs & Employment — Indian Expat Guide to Working in Saudi Arabia

Working in Saudi Arabia as an Indian expat means understanding your rights, your employer’s obligations, and the digital platforms that manage your employment. From Qiwa contracts to GOSI registration, this guide covers everything you need to know about your job and employment rights.

Table of Contents

• Qiwa Platform — Your Employment Hub
• Download Qiwa Contract
• Terminate Qiwa Contract
• GOSI Registration & Experience Certificate
• Sick Leave + Annual Leave
• Saudization Rules 2026
• Worker Rights Under Saudi Law

Qiwa Platform — Your Employment Hub

Qiwa (qiwa.sa) is Saudi Arabia’s digital employment platform. It manages work contracts, salary protection, and employment verification. Every expat worker’s details are registered here.

What Qiwa does:

• Stores your employment contract
• Tracks salary payments (WPS)
• Manages contract renewals
• Handles sponsorship transfers
• Provides employment certificates

Download Qiwa Contract

You can view and download your employment contract from Qiwa — useful for verifying your salary, benefits, and contract terms.

📖 Full guide: How to View and Download Qiwa Contract

Terminate Qiwa Contract

If you need to leave your job, there’s a specific process for terminating your Qiwa contract — whether you’re resigning, completing your contract, or transferring sponsorship.

📖 Full guide: Terminate Qiwa Contract Without a Notice Period

GOSI Registration & Experience Certificate

GOSI (General Organization for Social Insurance) is Saudi Arabia’s social security system. As an expat, you’re enrolled in GOSI, and you can get an experience certificate from them when you leave.

📖 Full guide: GOSI Registration, Appointment, Experience Certificate Online

Sick Leave + Annual Leave

Under Saudi labor law, you’re entitled to specific leave types. Can you combine sick leave with annual leave? Here’s what the law says.

📖 Full guide: Saudi Labor Law: Can I Combine Sick Leave with Annual Leave?

Saudization Rules 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Saudization (Nitaqat) program requires companies to hire a certain percentage of Saudi nationals. This affects expat workers — especially in sectors like procurement, retail, and IT.

Recent changes:

• 70% Saudization in procurement jobs (2026)
• Indian worker cap at 40% in some sectors
• Sun exposure ban for 3 months (labor protection)

📖 Full guides:

• Saudi Arabia Enforces 70% Saudization in Procurement Jobs
• Number of Indian Workers Limited to 40%
• Saudi Arabia Bans Working Under Direct Sun

Worker Rights Under Saudi Law

Every expat worker in Saudi Arabia has legal rights under the Saudi Labor Law. These include:

• Minimum wage: SAR 4,000/month (for Iqama renewal eligibility)
• Working hours: Maximum 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week
• Overtime: 50% extra for daytime, 100% extra for night work
• Annual leave: 21 days (first 5 years), 30 days (after 5 years)
• Sick leave: 30 days fully paid, 60 days at 75% pay
• End of service benefits: Half month salary per year (first 5 years), full month per year (after 5 years)
• Salary protection: All salaries must be paid through WPS (Wage Protection System)

🔗 Related Guides

• Iqama & Residency — Complete Guide
• Absher & Digital Services Guide
• Banking & Money — Indian Expat Guide
• Driving & Traffic — Complete Guide

Last updated: June 2026. Labor laws change — always verify with the Ministry of Labor (mol.gov.sa).