Until 2019, almost every foreign resident of the Kingdom needed a sponsor. Premium Residency changed that, and in 2024 it grew from two permits into seven. Citizenship remains a ministerial decision, with a points test on top.
Run by the Premium Residency Center. The original two permits are priced, not earned. The five newer products, launched in January 2024 with a SAR 4,000 fee each, are aimed at skills and investment. In 2024 the Center issued a record 8,074 permits.
| Unlimited (permanent) | One-off payment of SAR 800,000. |
|---|---|
| Limited | SAR 100,000 a year, renewable. |
| Special Talent (5 yrs) | Healthcare and science professionals earning SAR 35,000+ a month, researchers SAR 14,000+, executives above SAR 80,000. |
| Gifted (5 yrs) | A 5-year permit for gifted individuals; check the Center for current criteria. |
| Investor (permanent) | SAR 7 million invested and 10 jobs created. |
| Entrepreneur | SAR 400,000 for 5 years, or SAR 15 million for permanent status. |
| Real-estate owner | Property worth SAR 4 million or more, mortgage-free. |
| Language requirement | None found. |
Reuters reported plans to expand the programme in January 2026, and foreign ownership of property is opening up from 2026. check current thresholds
The 1954 nationality regulations (Article 9) let a foreigner apply after permanent residence, with good conduct and a lawful income. Article 10 lets the Minister of Interior refuse even an applicant who meets every condition. The implementing regulations add ten consecutive years on an iqama and a 33-point scale, of which you need 23 to proceed. Separately, talent naturalisation has been granted by royal decree to selected doctors, scientists and specialists since 2021.
Arabic is where Saudi Arabia is genuinely unclear. The law’s route for children of Saudi mothers (Article 8) says the applicant must know Arabic well. The general route in Article 9 has no Arabic clause in the translation we read, but a migration-research summary lists “good command of the Arabic language including speaking, reading and writing” among the conditions. not confirmed in the law text
On dual nationality: a Saudi needs the Prime Minister’s permission to hold another nationality (Article 11), and naturalisation papers deal with the nationality being given up.
Checked against the sources below in October 2026. Gulf rules change often — confirm the current figure with the official body before you act on it.
Indian citizens: taking any Gulf nationality ends your Indian citizenship automatically (Citizenship Act, Section 9). What that means, and what OCI does and doesn’t give you →