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

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.