Premium Residency on SAUDI VISION 2030 Intelligence Platform

Expat Population in Saudi Arabia

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Expat Population in Saudi Arabia 2025: Demographics and Transformation

The expat population in Saudi Arabia in 2025 remains one of the largest expatriate communities of any country. With approximately 13.4 million non-Saudi residents recorded in recent census data, expatriates account for roughly 40 per cent of the Kingdom’s total population of approximately 33.4 million. This demographic structure reflects decades of labour-driven immigration that has been fundamental to the Kingdom’s economic development, infrastructure build-out, and public service delivery.

Investor Visa in Saudi Arabia

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia Investor Visa 2026. Foreign investors generally compare two Saudi residency pathways: the MISA investment license route for operating companies and the Premium Residency programme for independent residency rights. This guide explains how each route works, what benefits it offers, and how the investor visa landscape fits the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 investment agenda.

MISA Investment License Route

The most common pathway for investors establishing a business presence is through the Ministry of Investment (MISA). Upon receiving a MISA investment license and completing company registration, the foreign investor or their designated representatives can obtain work visas and Iqama residency permits tied to the licensed entity.

Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency programme is the Kingdom’s equivalent of global golden visa schemes, offering long-term or permanent residency to foreign nationals who meet financial, professional, or talent-based criteria. Launched in 2019, the programme has attracted thousands of applicants seeking to establish roots in the rapidly transforming Saudi economy under Vision 2030 without the constraints of traditional employer-sponsored visas, supporting the Kingdom’s investment and talent attraction goals.

Two Tiers of Premium Residency

The programme offers two distinct products. Permanent Premium Residency provides indefinite residency rights for a one-time fee of SAR 800,000 (approximately USD 213,000). This is a lifetime authorization that does not require renewal, though holders must maintain compliance with basic conditions including not being absent from the Kingdom for more than one year continuously.