Freelance Rules Saudi Arabia — Can Expats Work Freelance? 2026

The Fundamental Rule — Work Visa Ties You to Your Sponsor

Saudi Arabia's sponsorship (kafala) system ties your legal right to work to a specific employer. Your iqama and work visa authorise you to work for your sponsor only. Taking paid work from any other party — Saudi or international — without explicit authorisation is technically illegal regardless of how it is structured.

This is the starting point that all expat freelancing discussions must begin with. The rules have evolved in recent years but the fundamental sponsorship framework remains in place.

What Is Clearly Not Permitted

• Working for another Saudi company without your sponsor's permission and without a second work permit — this is illegal and if discovered leads to deportation for the expat and penalties for the hiring company
• Setting up a Saudi business — expats cannot own or operate a Saudi business under a standard work visa. Business ownership requires specific commercial licences and investor visa categories
• Providing services for cash to Saudi clients without proper commercial registration — even consulting, tutoring or coaching without the right permit is not permitted

What May Be Permitted — The Grey Areas

• Remote online work for overseas clients — this is the most common grey area. An expat in Saudi Arabia doing freelance design, development, writing or consulting work remotely for overseas clients and being paid into an overseas bank account technically falls outside Saudi labour jurisdiction. In practice this is widely done and rarely enforced. However it is not explicitly permitted for most iqama holders and carries legal risk.
• Employer-permitted secondary activity — some employers explicitly allow employees to do freelance work in their spare time especially in creative fields. If your employer gives written permission this significantly reduces the risk. Get it in writing.

The Saudi Freelance Work Permit

Saudi Arabia launched a Freelance Work Permit through the Ministry of Human Resources to formalise freelancing. Key points for expats:

• The freelance permit is primarily designed for Saudi nationals — it enables Saudis to work independently without a traditional employer and receive government social insurance benefits
• Certain expatriate categories with Premium Residency or specific professional visa categories may be eligible — eligibility criteria are updated periodically by HRSD
• The permit is issued through the Qiwa platform and covers specific professional categories including creative services, consulting, IT, education and others
• If you believe you may be eligible check the current eligibility criteria at Qiwa.sa — the rules evolve with Vision 2030 reform and what applies in 2026 may differ from prior years

Premium Residency — The Most Flexible Option

Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency (often called the Saudi Green Card) offers the most work flexibility for long-term expats. Premium Residency holders can:

• Work for any employer without needing a sponsor transfer
• Own and operate a business in Saudi Arabia
• Engage in freelance and consulting activities more freely
• Sponsor their own family members without employer involvement

Premium Residency comes at a cost — a significant one-time fee (historically around SAR 800,000 for permanent or SAR 100,000/year for renewable) — and is not practical for most expats on standard employment packages. However for established professionals and entrepreneurs planning a long-term Saudi presence it is worth investigating.

Practical Advice for Expats Considering Freelancing

• Talk to your employer first — if you want to do any freelance work get your employer's explicit written permission. Many employers will agree for overseas clients or non-competing activities. Having permission removes most of the risk.
• Keep overseas income in overseas accounts — if doing remote work for overseas clients, receive payment in your home country account. Avoid receiving payments into your Saudi bank account from sources other than your employer.
• Check Qiwa for current eligibility — Saudi Arabia's freelancing regulations are evolving. Check qiwa.sa regularly for updates on which expat categories can obtain freelance permits.
• Consult a Saudi legal adviser — if you are serious about freelancing in Saudi Arabia commercially, a brief consultation with a Saudi labour lawyer is worth the investment before taking on clients.

Frequently Asked Questions