Saudi Arabia Sets 35,000 SAR Salary for Residency Applicants

Saudi Arabia has announced a minimum monthly salary requirement of 35,000 SAR for foreign scientific professionals applying for the country's premium residency programme. This salary threshold, approximately N12,544,734 for Nigerian applicants at current exchange rates, establishes a financial benchmark for skilled foreigners in scientific fields.

Only applicants earning at least this amount will be eligible for the residency status, which is designed to attract high-value talent and professionals who can contribute to the kingdom's economic and scientific goals. The premium residency programme, often likened to a Green Card, allows qualified foreigners to reside in Saudi Arabia without needing a local employer's sponsorship.

While the 35,000 SAR salary is a key eligibility condition, applicants must also meet additional criteria set by Saudi authorities. This requirement is significantly higher than the average salary for most expatriate workers in the Gulf region, indicating that the programme targets a narrow and highly skilled segment of the foreign workforce.