The Saudi Arabia Entrepreneur Residence is open to entrepreneurs and innovators with viable business projects that have received funding, ranging from SAR 400,000 (~US$107,000) for a 5-year, renewable residency to SAR 15 million (~US$4 million) for permanent residency, subject to job creation requirements.
To qualify for the Saudi Entrepreneur Residence, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Category 1 (5-Year Residence)
Category 2 (Permanent Residence)
Upon approval, the residence grants the holder the right to:
Naturalization for foreigners in Saudi Arabia is highly discretionary and selective. Generally, applicants are expected to demonstrate long-term lawful residence, fluency in Arabic, good conduct, a satisfactory security clearance, and a stable source of income.
Saudi Arabia has historically restricted dual citizenship, and renunciation of prior nationality may be required.
There is a formal process for applying for Saudi citizenship after 10 years of lawful residence; however, timelines are not guaranteed, and decisions ultimately rest with the authorities.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to: The Saudi Premium Residency Center (SPRC).
Legislation upon which this program is based: Royal Decree No. (M/106)
After receiving over 40,000 applications in 18 months, Saudi Arabia may further expand its Premium Residency program with Abu Dhabi-style pathways for superyacht owners and the ultra-wealthy.
The Saudi Premium Residency program approved 8,000 residents in 2024. Real estate agent Mohammed AlWahhabi said foreign residents seeking “stability and freedom” are driving the surge.
Anastasia Barna says the old rules pushed people out. Mahmoud Elwakil says the new ones finally let them in.
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.