Saudi Arabia Launches Voluntary Pension Program for Foreign Workers 2025

Written by

Mynaz Altaf

Fact check by

Shreya Pandey

Updated on

Aug 26,2025

Saudi Arabia Launches Voluntary Pension Program for Foreign Workers - TerraTern

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Saudi Arabia will achieve a breakthrough in relation to the expatriate familial welfare by introducing the first-ever voluntary pension and savings program that would also be offered to non-nationals in the Kingdom. This program promises to change the face of expatriate financial sustenance in Saudi Arabia. The groundbreaking programme, called the Public Pension and Savings Programme, will reshape the planning of the economic future of the 10 million expatriates employed in Saudi Arabia.

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Revolutionary Change in Saudi's Financial Landscape

The Saudi Arabia pension program's foreign workers initiative is a significant change to the conventional policies, as the workers were not allowed to partake in the national pension program, excluding foreigners. The scheme aims to increase household savings and curb the massive remittance outflow of SR144.2 billion in 2024 alone.

This announcement is especially opportune as foreign workers in Saudi Arabia remitted 14 per cent more in 2024 than the prior year, with total remittances in the last 10 years reaching a staggering SR1.43 trillion.

Understanding the New Pension Framework

Understanding the new pension framework:

Program Structure and Benefits

Feature

Details

Program Name

Public Pension and Savings Programme

Eligibility

Saudi nationals and foreign workers

Type

Voluntary participation

Primary Goal

Boost household savings and reduce remittances

 

Key Program Components

Some of the benefits of doing a voluntary savings scheme are experienced among the expatriate workers:

  • Investment opportunities locally rather than overseas transmission of money

  • Long-term financial welfare inability within the Kingdom

  • Paid care with fraadr incrementer dec MilWeCapShULL reading grief of God

  • Tax-effective savings arrangement for employees who participate

Impact on Foreign Worker Demographics

By the first quarter of 2025, the social insurance system in Saudi Arabia had registered 12.8 million subscribers, with expatriates contributing an impressive 7 per cent of the total population of subscribers. The following demographic breakdown sheds some light on the extensive effect this program can have on the economy and the foreign worker fraternity in the Kingdom.

Remittance Trends and Economic Implications

Year

Remittances (SR Billion)

Growth Rate

2024

144.2

14% increase

2023

~126.5

-

2015-2024 Total

1,430

Cumulative

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GOSI's Expanded Role and Financial Scale

General Organisation of Social Insurance (GOSI), which will administer this expanded program, currently administers assets worth 32 per cent of the Saudi Arabian GDP. This is a substantial financial base that assures the sustainability of the program and professional management capacities.

The IMF has warmly welcomed this move, and it was found to have the potential of saving a lot of money for households and cutting down external remittances. The international organisation must also increase financial openness and invest in allocation directives.

Recent Pension Reforms Context

This latest expat pension system in Saudi system is based on significant pension reforms that were passed in July 2024 and included:

  • Raised the retirement age

  • Long contribution periods

  • Increased contribution rates

  • Reduced entitlements to Este

Such reform in the foundations was aimed at making the pension system of Saudi Arabia more sustainable in the long term, which allowed for the introduction of foreign workers into the system.

Economic Benefits and Strategic Objectives

The economic benefits and strategic objectives are:

For Foreign Workers

There are several main benefits of the program to expatriates

  • Stability in a financial state through safe savings

  • Investment opportunities locally in Saudi Arabia

  • Less reliance on the financial systems of the home country

  • Professional fund management patent institutions

For Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom is planning to attain several strategic goals:

  • Declines in a remittance flow that could retain more funds within a country

  • Higher savings levels amongst households of all kinds

  • Increased economic stability - with diversified financial participation

  • Tighter retention of the expatriates by offering them better benefits

Global Context and Comparisons

Country

Expat Pension Access

Voluntary/Mandatory

Saudi Arabia

Yes (New 2025)

Voluntary

UAE

Limited

Varies

Qatar

No

N/A

Kuwait

No

N/A

This program will make Saudi Arabia a leader in expatriate finances in the region and a role model to other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Also Read: How to Check Saudi Visa Status by Passport Number: Complete Guide

Implementation Timeline and Next Steps

Though particular launching dates cannot be confirmed yet, the IMF report suggests the collaboration will be announced soon. Industry sources believe a transition can be phased in starting at the end of 2025 and through 2026.

The Saudi Arabia pension program for foreign workers goes beyond being a financial instrument as it creates a historic change in realising the expat community as long-term stakeholders in the economic growth of Saudi Arabia. This landmark effort could transform how millions of foreign expats approach their financial planning process and support economic transformation (Vision 2030) objectives in Saudi Arabia.

Conclusion

The Saudi Arabia pension program foreign workers initiative is a breaking point in the Kingdom regarding the approach to expatriate financial inclusion. In response to the colocolossal114o 4.2 billion outflow of money in remittance annually, Saudi Arabia now aims to offer voluntary pension and savings plans to its 10 million foreign workers, who could now face a rosier future through new avenues of long-term financial security.

With its significant assets amounting to 32 per cent of GDP, this revolutionary initiative places the Kingdom among the first in the region to provide a comprehensive benefit platform to the expatriates. It facilitates achieving the overarching economic diversification agenda under Vision 2030. Contact TerraTern for more information!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies to participate in the new Saudi Arabia pension scheme for foreign workers?

Both foreign workers and Saudi nationals are entitled to the voluntary Public Pension and Savings Programme. This is the first time expatriates can participate in such a scheme in the Kingdom.

Do foreign workers have to join the pension program?

It is entirely voluntary as the program allows foreign workers to elect whether or not to participate in it in their financial plans.

What are the current remittance levels of foreign workers sent out of the country in Saudi Arabia?

In 2024, foreign workers in Saudi Arabia sent remittances of 144.2 billion (US$38.4 billion) annually, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2023.

Which organisation will administer the new pension scheme?

The program will be run by the General Organisation of Social Insurance (GOSI), which will tap assets with a value of about 32 per cent of the GDP of Saudi Arabia.

What is the schedule for launching the pension program?

No particular dates have been announced, but according to the report by the IMF, the program is planned to be announced soon, and industry anticipations reveal that a launch could happen within late 2025 or early 2026.

What are the primary objectives of the program in this pension?

The program entails increasing household savings, reducing the massive outflow of remittances abroad, and giving foreign workers local investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

How does this concern SEC pension reforms in Saudi Arabia?

This program is linked to a series of pension reforms adopted in July 2024, by which the retirement ages are rising, the contribution period has been extended, and the rate of contributions has been increased to improve the system's long-term sustainability.