How to use this Saudi Premium Residency calculator

Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency programme has three tiers — each priced very differently. The right choice depends on how long you plan to live in Saudi, whether you have property to invest, and how it compares to UAE’s Golden Visa for the same money.

The calculator shows you all three tiers side by side plus a UAE Golden Visa comparison. Plug in your property budget, family size, planned residency duration, and the calculator does the present-value comparison automatically.

The three Saudi Premium Residency tiers explained

Tier 1 — Limited (annual). SAR 100,000 per year. Renewable. Best for short stays of 1-3 years where you don’t want to commit a one-time chunk. Fee paid each year you stay; no asset to fall back on.

Tier 2 — Permanent (one-time). SAR 800,000 paid once. Lifetime residency. No annual renewal. Crossover point versus Tier 1 is roughly 8 years — if you plan to stay longer, Permanent is cheaper. If shorter, Limited is more efficient.

Tier 3 — Investor (property route). SAR 4,000,000 minimum property purchase in approved cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, NEOM, Red Sea Project zones). Comes with 5-year renewable residency, converts to Permanent after 7 years. The property gives you a tradable asset, but you’re locking SAR 4M in real estate. RETT of 5% applies, plus legal and government fees adding ~SAR 65K on top.

How Saudi Premium Residency compares to UAE Golden Visa

UAE Golden Visa property route requires AED 2M (~SAR 2.04M) — about half the Saudi Investor tier minimum. The Golden Visa is 10-year renewable, no upfront fee, and family includes parents (Saudi excludes parents from Premium Residency; they need a separate visa).

For most foreign investors, the UAE Golden Visa is cheaper and more comprehensive on family coverage. Saudi Premium Residency wins specifically when you have direct business interests in Saudi (Vision 2030 contracts, NEOM exposure, Saudi corporate equity), or when you want to genuinely live in Saudi rather than UAE.

Hidden costs not in the calculator

Health insurance. Mandatory for all residents. The calculator includes this. Standard family plan for 4 in Riyadh runs SAR 50,000-120,000/year depending on coverage tier and provider (Bupa, Tawuniya, Medgulf are common).

School fees. If you have school-age children, international school fees in Riyadh run SAR 50,000-120,000 per child per year. This is often the largest line item for relocating families and is separate from the residency calculation.

Property maintenance. If you take the Investor route, allocate ~1.5-2% of property value annually for maintenance, security, utilities, and any building service charges.

White Land Tax. If your property is undeveloped urban land, the 10% annual White Land Tax may apply. The calculator excludes this; if you’re buying a finished apartment or villa, it doesn’t apply. Read our White Land Tax explainer.

Decision tree by your profile

You have $1.07M+ to deploy and want Saudi exposure. Tier 3 Investor. The property gives you Saudi real estate appreciation (Vision 2030 tailwind) plus residency. Pair with our Riyadh vs Jeddah vs Dammam guide to pick the right city.

You’ll stay <3 years. Tier 1 Limited at SAR 100K/year. Don’t lock in Permanent — payback period is 8 years.

You’ll stay 5-15 years and don’t want property. Tier 2 Permanent at SAR 800K once. Cheaper over time than annual Limited.

You’re choosing between Saudi and UAE. UAE Golden Visa is cheaper on the visa side. Choose Saudi only if you have specific Saudi business reasons (employer, Vision 2030 contract, family ties).

Related Middle East Insider guides

• Saudi Premium Residency 2026 Updated Guide — full process and document checklist
• Saudi Foreign Property Ownership 2026 — January 2026 law explained
• UAE Golden Visa Property Investment Guide — direct comparison route
• Saudi Foreign Investment Pillar Guide — full cluster overview

FAQ

What is the cheapest Saudi Premium Residency tier?

Tier 1 Limited at SAR 100,000/year is the lowest entry. For stays under 3 years it’s the most cost-efficient. For longer stays, Tier 2 Permanent (SAR 800,000 once) becomes cheaper.

Does Saudi Premium Residency include my parents?

No. Spouse and children under 18 are included. Parents need a separate visit visa. This is a meaningful difference vs UAE Golden Visa, which can include parents.

Can I get a Saudi mortgage as a foreigner with Premium Residency?

Yes — Saudi banks lend to Premium Residency holders at standard resident rates. Down payment requirements typically 30-40% for foreigners.

What happens if I stop paying the annual fee on Tier 1?

Residency lapses. You have a 30-day grace period to renew before the residency is cancelled. Lapse means you must reapply from scratch.

Is Tier 3 Investor better than Tier 2 Permanent?

Tier 3 gives you a tradable asset (the property) but you must commit SAR 4M minimum. Tier 2 is a pure residency cost (SAR 800K). If your alternative use of SAR 4M would earn more than 5-7% annually elsewhere, Tier 2 + invest the difference is mathematically better. If you’d hold cash anyway, Tier 3 is more attractive.

Does the property need to be in Saudi for Investor tier?

Yes, and only in approved cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, NEOM, Red Sea Project zones). Property in Mecca or Medina has separate ownership restrictions.

Last updated: 2026-05-04. Calculator uses current 2026 fee schedule and standard health insurance bands. Speak with a licensed Saudi immigration consultant for case-specific advice.