OFW Guide β Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia hosts the largest single-country OFW population worldwide β roughly 800,000 Filipinos, dominated by healthcare professionals (especially nurses), construction workers, and domestic workers. The Kingdom remains the #3 corridor for remittances back home. This guide focuses on Saudi-specific essentials: zero personal income tax, the SAR remittance channels (STC Pay, Tahweel Al Rajhi, Enjaz), the unusual Friday-Saturday weekend that shifts your transfer timing, and the Iqama renewal cycle that catches many OFWs off guard.
OFW population
~800,000 OFWs (largest single-country deployment)
Time zone
AST Β· 5 hours behind Manila
Currency
Ψ±.Ψ³ SAR Β· Saudi Riyal
Remittance corridor
#3 Β· ~12% of total OFW remittance
Sending money home from Saudi Arabia
Use STC Pay or Tahweel Al Rajhi for the cheapest local channels; for international transparency Wise is now available in KSA. Send Sunday-Wednesday morning AST to clear same-day in PH (Sunday is a working day in Saudi).
Common sending channels
- STC Pay
- Tahweel Al Rajhi
- Western Union
- Wise (limited)
- Remitly
- Enjaz
Taxation
Saudi Arabia has no personal income tax. Remittances to PH are not taxed. There is a 15% VAT on goods/services but not on outbound remittances.
Public holidays in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia observes Eid al-Fitr (around late March 2026), Eid al-Adha (around late May 2026), and Saudi National Day (Sept 23). Friday-Saturday is the weekend, not Saturday-Sunday.
For Philippine holidays, see the full 2026 calendar. If you plan a trip home, also check the long weekends list to maximize your time off.
Common popular jobs
- Healthcare (nurses)
- Construction
- Driver
- Domestic worker
- Engineering
- Retail
Pitfalls to avoid
- Tanseeq (placement) fees should not exceed 1 month salary. Many fall victim to illegal recruitment with higher fees.
- Exit visa was abolished in 2021 but some employers still demand contractual exit clearance β verify before signing.
- Iqama (residence permit) must be renewed annually. Late renewal triggers fines. Set a calendar reminder 30 days before expiry.
Best time to send money home β
Time your remittance around Philippine holidays, 13th month, and back-to-school.
13th month pay rules β
Understand the mandatory year-end bonus your family back home is entitled to.
Official sources for Saudi Arabia
Information on this page is sourced from the host country's official government channels and the Philippine government's consular and migrant worker agencies. Verify on the source URLs above for any payroll, taxation, or legal decisions.
- Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Developmentβ Saudi HRSD
- Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)β Saudi ZATCA
- Absher portal β Iqama services for foreign residentsβ Saudi Ministry of Interior
- Philippine Embassy β Riyadhβ Department of Foreign Affairs (PH)
Learn how we verify and update this data β Methodology & Sources