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Career intelligence for the Kingdom

Working in KSA

Salary benchmarks, CV strategy, executive roles and market intelligence — everything you need to land and grow a career in Saudi Arabia.

6
Sectors benchmarked
50+
Active mandates
Vision 2030
Aligned opportunities

01 — Salary Guides

What the market is paying

Benchmarks across key sectors for senior and executive roles. All figures are total monthly cash — housing, schooling and flights are typically additional.

Financial Services

Chief Financial Officer

SAR 65,000 – 90,000 / mo
Tax-free + housing allowance
Technology

Head of Engineering

SAR 45,000 – 70,000 / mo
Equity packages emerging in Vision 2030 firms
Hospitality

General Manager

SAR 38,000 – 58,000 / mo
Typically includes accommodation
Healthcare

Medical Director

SAR 55,000 – 85,000 / mo
SCFHS registration required
Consumer Goods

VP Marketing

SAR 35,000 – 52,000 / mo
Arabic language a strong advantage
Construction / Giga-projects

Project Director

SAR 50,000 – 80,000 / mo
NEOM, Red Sea, Diriyah premiums apply
Note: These are indicative ranges based on current market intelligence. Actual packages vary by employer, nationality, experience and negotiation. Contact us for a confidential benchmark specific to your profile.

02 — CV Advice

Position yourself for the Kingdom

A CV that works in London or New York often needs recalibrating for KSA. Here is what senior hiring managers in Riyadh look for.

01

Lead with your KSA relevance

Recruiters in the Kingdom scan for Vision 2030 alignment in the first six lines. Name the sector, the scale, and the outcome — not just the job title.

02

Quantify in SAR where possible

Budget ownership, revenue impact and headcount figures carry more weight than narrative descriptions. Convert to SAR or USD for local context.

03

Saudisation (Nitaqat) awareness

Acknowledge any experience working alongside Saudi national talent programmes. Hiring managers value candidates who understand the regulatory landscape.

04

Keep it to two pages

Senior roles in KSA still favour concise CVs. A two-page document signals editorial discipline — a quality prized at the executive level.

03 — Executive Opportunities

Current mandates

A selection of active executive search assignments. All roles are handled on a retained or exclusive basis. Discretion guaranteed.

EX-001

Chief People Officer

Giga-project Authority
RiyadhPermanent
EX-002

Managing Director — KSA

Global Asset Manager
RiyadhPermanent
EX-003

Country Head — Healthcare

International Hospital Group
JeddahPermanent
EX-004

VP Strategy & Transformation

Sovereign Wealth Portfolio Co.
RiyadhInterim / Permanent
EX-005

Chief Commercial Officer

Luxury Hospitality Brand
AlUlaPermanent
EX-006

Head of Digital & Innovation

National Utilities Company
RiyadhPermanent

Not seeing the right role? Register your interest and we will match you to mandates as they arise.

04 — Interview Guidance

How to interview well in KSA

The Kingdom has its own interview culture. Understanding it before you walk into the room is a genuine competitive advantage.

01

Research the Vision 2030 context

Every major employer in KSA frames strategy through Vision 2030. Understand which pillar your target organisation sits under and reference it naturally.

02

Prepare for relationship-first conversations

Saudi business culture values trust before transaction. Early interviews often focus on character, background and long-term commitment — not just competencies.

03

Dress and punctuality signals

Conservative, well-presented attire is expected. Arriving on time (or slightly early) is read as a mark of respect, not just professionalism.

04

Understand the compensation structure

Packages often include housing, schooling, flights and medical. Negotiate the full package — not just the base salary — and clarify what is cash vs. in-kind.

05

Follow up with a written note

A brief, personalised thank-you message after the interview is uncommon enough to be memorable. Keep it concise and reference one specific point from the conversation.

05 — Featured Jobs

Open roles, right now

A curated selection of live vacancies across sectors. New roles added weekly.

Real Estate · Riyadh

Finance Director

SAR 55k–70k/mo2 days ago
Technology · Riyadh

Head of Talent Acquisition

SAR 32k–45k/mo3 days ago
Logistics · Dammam

Operations Director

SAR 40k–55k/mo5 days ago
Retail · Jeddah

Chief Marketing Officer

SAR 48k–65k/mo1 week ago
Banking · Riyadh

Head of Compliance

SAR 42k–58k/mo1 week ago
Energy · Dhahran

VP Engineering

SAR 60k–80k/mo2 weeks ago

06 — Talent Insights

Market intelligence

Analysis and commentary from our consultants on the ground in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.

Market Pulse

Demand for bilingual executives surges across Vision 2030 sectors

Arabic-English fluency is now a differentiator at C-suite level, with a 34% increase in bilingual requirements across giga-project mandates in the past 12 months.

4 min read
Salary Trends

KSA compensation packages outpacing UAE for senior technology roles

Total compensation for VP-level technology hires in Riyadh now exceeds equivalent Dubai packages by 12–18%, driven by sovereign fund investment in digital infrastructure.

5 min read
Talent Strategy

How Saudisation targets are reshaping executive search mandates

Nitaqat compliance is no longer a back-office concern — it is shaping the brief for every senior hire. We break down what this means for international candidates.

6 min read
Relocation

The hidden costs of a KSA executive move — and how to negotiate them

School fees, compound deposits and repatriation clauses are the three most commonly under-negotiated elements of a KSA package. Here is what to ask for.

7 min read