Question 1

What are legal working hours and overtime in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

Normal work is 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week. In Ramadan it is reduced to 6 hours a day for Muslim workers. Work beyond normal hours is overtime, paid at 150% of your normal wage, meaning your hourly wage plus half again. You get a weekly rest day, normally Friday. If you are made to work overtime with no extra pay, keep a record of your hours and dates. File a complaint with the Ministry on 19911 or through the MHRSD portal. Keep your contract and any duty records as proof.

Question 2

What are the emergency and complaint numbers in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

For police call 999. For ambulance (Red Crescent) call 997. For fire (Civil Defence) call 998. For traffic accidents call 993. For labour problems like unpaid salary, a taken passport or a false huroob, call the Ministry unified number 19911, or use the MHRSD app. Save 999 and 19911 in your phone now. When you call, give your name, your location and what happened, and ask for a Bengali or English speaker if you need one. Keep your Iqama number ready. In serious emergencies, 911 also works in the main cities.

Question 3

Can my employer keep my passport in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

No. It is illegal for your employer to keep your passport, Iqama card or medical insurance card. The passport belongs to you. If your employer holds it, first ask for it back in writing and keep the message. If they refuse, file a labour-violation report through the MHRSD portal, which is free. You can also call the Ministry on 19911. Passport retention is treated as a violation with a fine on the employer. If your case also involves violence, confinement or a criminal threat, contact the police on 999 and your embassy at once.

Question 4

What is the safest, cheapest legal way to send money to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

Use a licensed exchange house or bank app, not hundi. Hundi is illegal and gives no protection if the money is lost. Licensed options in Saudi Arabia include Al Rajhi Bank's Tahweel, STC Pay and Enjaz; they give a receipt. You need your Iqama to send money. The Bangladesh government adds a 2.5% cash incentive on money sent through legal channels, paid to your family in Taka. On BDT 100,000 they get an extra BDT 2,500. For amounts over BDT 500,000 documents are needed. Keep every receipt and compare the fee and rate before sending.

Question 5

What is the cheapest way to travel daily in Riyadh?

Accepted Answer

The cheapest way is the Riyadh Metro and Riyadh Bus, run by the Riyadh Public Transport Authority. You pay with a Darb card or the Darb app. Fares are by time, not distance, and one ticket covers both metro and bus. A 2-hour ticket is SAR 4 in Regular class. A 3-day ticket is SAR 20, a 7-day ticket is SAR 40, and a 30-day ticket is SAR 140. For daily work travel, the 30-day ticket at SAR 140 is best value. Buy and top up on the Darb app or at station machines. The metro runs from early morning to midnight.

Question 6

Can I convert my Bangladeshi driving licence in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

A Bangladeshi driving licence usually cannot be swapped directly for a Saudi one. Only some countries can convert directly. As a Bangladeshi you will normally go to a driving school and pass the Saudi test. First you need your Iqama. Do not drive without a valid Saudi licence, because driving on a licence that is not accepted brings fines and trouble if you have an accident. Check the exact rule and cost through the Absher or traffic (Muroor) service before you plan. If your job needs driving, ask your employer who pays for the tests.

Question 7

What is the end-of-service benefit in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

When your job ends you are owed an end-of-service award. Under Saudi Labour Law it is half a month's wage for each of the first five years, and one full month's wage for each year after five years, based on your last wage. It should be paid at final settlement. Check the amount against your years of service and correct wage; you can cross-check with the calculators on the MHRSD and Qiwa sites. If your employer does not pay, file a complaint on 19911 or the MHRSD portal and keep your contract and pay records.

Question 8

What is huroob (absconding) and how do I clear it?

Accepted Answer

Huroob means absent from work. Your employer can report you as huroob if they claim you left the job without permission. It is serious, because your Iqama becomes invalid and you can face deportation and a re-entry ban of 3 to 5 years. Check your status on Absher or the MHRSD portal with your Iqama number. If it shows Absent from Work and it is false, act fast and file a complaint through the MHRSD portal within the first days, about 15 to 20, with proof like payslips, messages and your contract. If your employer filed it by mistake, they can cancel it through Absher or Qiwa.

Question 9

My salary is unpaid in Saudi Arabia, what is the first step?

Accepted Answer

First call the Ministry unified number 19911, or use the MHRSD portal or Qiwa to file a complaint. The first stage is a Friendly Settlement, where the Ministry calls both sides to try to agree. Bring your Qiwa contract, Iqama, bank statements and any messages showing the missing salary. If the Friendly Settlement fails within the set time, your case goes to the Labour Court under the Ministry of Justice. If your employer has not paid you for three months in a row, you can also transfer to a new employer through Qiwa without their permission. Keep your case number.

Question 10

Can I change employer in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, under the Labour Reform Initiative you can transfer through the Qiwa platform. You can transfer when your fixed-term contract ends, or after 12 months on an open-ended contract, with normal notice. You do not always need your current employer's permission. You can transfer without consent in certain cases: wages unpaid for three months in a row; a contract not authenticated on Qiwa; an Iqama or work permit that expired because the employer did not renew it; or an absent employer. The new employer pays SAR 2,000 for a first transfer. Apply on Qiwa.

Question 11

What are the housing rules for workers in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

Under the Saudi Labour Law, many employers must provide suitable housing or a housing allowance. If accommodation is provided, it must meet municipal standards, with enough space, clean water, working toilets and safety. Before you agree to a shared room, see it first and ask what is included. Ask whether it is legal accommodation, because municipalities can fine and close housing that breaks the rules. If your housing is unsafe or overcrowded, raise it with the Ministry on 19911. Keep photos and your contract, which should state the housing arrangement.

Question 12

What is Musaned and how does it protect domestic workers going to Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

Musaned is the official Saudi platform for domestic workers, run by the Ministry of Human Resources. Your contract as a domestic worker (housemaid, driver, cook, house guard) should be registered on Musaned. It sets out your job, wage and rights, and government fee caps for recruitment. From 1 January 2026, employers must pay domestic-worker salaries through approved channels, not only cash. If you have a dispute, Musaned has a complaint path. Before you travel, make sure your job and wage are recorded on Musaned and keep a copy of the contract.

Question 13

Do I have to pay the expat levy or dependent fee in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

There are two different government charges. The work-permit levy is paid by your employer for each foreign worker, and it should not come out of your salary. The dependent fee is different: if you bring your family to live with you, you pay a monthly fee for each dependent when you renew their Iqama. Check your contract to see who pays what. If your employer illegally takes the work-permit levy from your wage, keep proof and raise it with the Ministry on 19911. Budget for the dependent fee before bringing family, because it adds up each month.

Question 14

What are the summer midday work ban dates and hours in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

In summer you cannot be made to work outdoors under the sun in the middle of the day. The ban runs from 15 June to 15 September each year. During this period, work under direct sunlight is banned between 12:00pm and 3:00pm for all private-sector workplaces. If your employer makes you work outdoors during these hours, report it to the Ministry on 19911 or through its app. Rest in the shade and drink water. The ban is enforced with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health; compliance was reported at 94% in 2025.

Question 15

Where are the Bangladesh missions in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

There are two Bangladesh missions. The Embassy is in Riyadh, at 8039 Dareen Street, Al Safarat (diplomatic quarter), Riyadh 12512. The Consulate General is in Jeddah, handling the western region including Makkah and Madinah. If you live in Riyadh, Dammam or the east, use the Riyadh embassy. If you live in Jeddah, Makkah or the west, use the Jeddah consulate. Both have a Labour Wing that helps with salary disputes, lost passports, jail or hospital cases and repatriation. Bring your Iqama and passport copy, and register your details.

Question 16

How do I open a bank account and can I be paid in cash?

Accepted Answer

You should be paid through a bank, not cash. Saudi Arabia runs a Wage Protection System, and for many workers salaries are paid through the Mudad platform. To open an account you normally need your Iqama and often an employer letter. Your employer usually helps once your Iqama is issued. Check every month that your full salary arrives. If your employer pays cash with no record and does not use WPS, that is a red flag, so keep any proof of what you received. Three months of unpaid wages on WPS can let you transfer employer through Qiwa.

Question 17

What must my Saudi contract say and what should I refuse?

Accepted Answer

Your contract must state your job title, wage, hours, contract length and who pays your ticket. In Saudi Arabia it must be registered and authenticated on the Qiwa platform. A contract not on Qiwa is not enforceable in a dispute. Make sure the wage on Qiwa matches what you will actually be paid through the bank. Do not sign a contract with a blank wage or a wage lower than agreed. Keep your own copy. Since 2025 all new contracts must be documented digitally through Qiwa, so ask your employer for your authenticated Qiwa contract.

Question 18

How do I get a SIM card in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

The three networks are STC, Mobily and Zain KSA. You need your Iqama to buy and register a prepaid SIM in your name; your fingerprint may be taken. Buy from a network shop, the airport or a licensed dealer. Each network sells international calling bundles to Bangladesh, so ask for the cheapest Bangladesh pack when you buy. Prices change, so check the STC, Mobily or Zain app or shop for the current rate. Do not use a SIM registered in someone else's name, because it can cause legal trouble if misused.

Question 19

What is the Iqama, who applies and what if my employer delays it?

Accepted Answer

Your residence permit is called the Iqama. Your employer, who is your sponsor, must apply for it and pay for it. You need it to stay legally, open a bank account, get a SIM and travel inside the Kingdom. Check your Iqama status yourself on the Absher app or the MHRSD portal with your Iqama or passport number. If your employer does not issue or renew your Iqama, it is a serious problem, because you could be treated as illegal through no fault of your own. Report the delay to the Ministry on 19911 and keep proof you were working.

Question 20

Which medical tests must I do before flying to Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

You must pass a Wafid (GAMCA) medical test before your Saudi visa. Book online at wafid.com and pay the fee. The system assigns you an approved centre, so you cannot pick it. It checks chest X-ray for TB, plus blood and urine, and a physical exam. Your result must show FIT to get the visa. Results usually come in 2 to 5 days. Bring your passport and the appointment slip. If you are found UNFIT, you cannot travel, so do the test honestly and early. Keep the printed result safe.

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