Germany - Considering Moving to KSA - Saudi Arabia forum

Roland_H2 · 2019-02-03T09:25:22+01:00

Discover advice for Germans considering a move to Saudi Arabia. Discuss local contracts, social security, and risks of returning home.

Germany - Considering Moving to KSA

Roland_H2 Member

Member since 03 February 2019

Roland_H2Member03 February 2019 07:25:22

Hello All,

I just joined the forum as I am considering to sign a local contract in the KSA. Not as an expat, not as a delegate. I would simply break up everything in Germany and move to Ryadh.

At the moment I struggle with a couple of things related to risks, if I have to return home:

- what to do if I want/have to return back home in terms of social security/ unemployment
- how "valid" are employment contracts in the KSA with a local/government enterprise in terms of breaching contract form the employers side

Would be great, if some of my german fellows there could give me some hints.

Thank you all upfront and greetings from cold and snowy Germany

Roland

Soultaker34 Member

Member since 25 January 2019

Soultaker34Member03 February 2019 08:00:47

Hi Roland... I am not that familiar but as far as my knowledge the validity of the contract here in ksa is very strong and the government acknowledge every contract that residents has... When are you moving by the way

Roland_H2 Member

Member since 03 February 2019

Roland_H2Member03 February 2019 09:03:40

not yet sure... maybe September

XTang Bahrain/UAE/KSA Expert

Member since 22 April 2014

XTangBahrain/UAE/KSA Expert03 February 2019 10:08:33

11942

I can't answer for the German unemployment / social security benefits but on the contract side in KSA; it really varies.

For the most part, reputable organizations uphold their contracts but then again, you also hear horror stories from a lot of people who suffered - browse the forums, there are many.聽聽Contracts here are not like the west i.e. courts & procedures are not clear cut and defined.聽 Employers always have the upper hand in case of any dispute - mainly because of what I will write in the paragraph below.

The biggest problem is that your contract and your right to live here i.e. residency are linked.聽 If a company terminates your contract and your residency, for you to fight means a costly affair as well as staying illegally in the country while that battle is going on.聽聽There are also impacts on your freedom of movement e.g. an employer can report you as absconding from work "Huroob" which is a world of trouble for a non-local leading to situation where you are not able to leave Saudi or to find work or to pretty much do anything.

This whole topic is very contentious as the employer holds undue power over the employee in this part of the world.聽 While some countries like UAE and Bahrain have moved towards liberalization of employment laws and practices; others like Saudi have some ways to go.聽 As an example, in Saudi, you need permission from your employer to even travel outside the country on personal expense on a vacation - given in the form of an exit re-entry visa.聽 If they refuse to give you that visa then you cannot leave the country - immigration will turn you back from the airport.