Recruiting for Saudi Arabia
Manpower recruitment for Saudi Arabia from India
Saudi Arabia is where most of our orders come from right now. New cities are going up, hospitals are expanding and hotels keep opening, and a lot of the people doing that work come from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. We recruit for employers in Riyadh, along the Red Sea coast and right across the Eastern Province.
- MEA licensed agency
- All skill levels
- ₹0 charged to workers
How we work
How does KDA Hiring recruit for Saudi Arabia?
We recruit Indian workers for Saudi employers at every skill level, from helpers to engineers. Construction, healthcare, hospitality and oil and gas make up most of it.
KDA Hiring is an MEA licensed agency in Lucknow. On the Indian side we run trade tests, book the Wafid medical, help with the skills verification some trades need, get visas stamped and file eMigrate clearance. Saudi employers pay our fee. Workers don't pay anything.
Zero fee for workers. Saudi employers pay our recruitment fee. Candidates never pay us anything.
The market
Hiring Indian workers for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia hires more Indian workers than almost anywhere else, and that's been true for decades. What has changed recently is the scale. Giga-projects, new airports and whole districts in Riyadh need huge crews, and they need them on tight schedules.
The paperwork has tightened up too. Many trades now need a recognised skills test before the visa moves, and visa applicants in India give biometrics at a Tasheer centre. None of that is difficult if it's planned. It only becomes a problem when nobody mentions it until week four.
That's really where we come in. We know the Saudi steps well and plan for them from the first day of your order.
Jobs in demand
Jobs in demand in Saudi Arabia
These are the sectors our Saudi orders come from most, and the roles that keep coming up.
Construction
- Steel fixers
- Shuttering carpenters
- Masons
- Scaffolders
- Site engineers
Hospitality
- Cooks
- Waiters
- Housekeeping
- Stewards
Visa and paperwork
Visa and paperwork for Saudi Arabia, step by step
Here's how a typical Saudi order moves, from your side to ours.
Visa from the Saudi side
You get the work visa approved through the Saudi system (usually via Qiwa) and send us the visa details along with the demand letter.
Testing and selection
We test candidates in Lucknow and you pick the ones you want. Trades that need Saudi skill verification sit that test as well.
Wafid medical
Selected workers take the medical at a Wafid approved centre in India.
Biometrics and stamping
Workers give biometrics at a Tasheer centre, and we get the visa stamped.
eMigrate and departure
We file emigration clearance for ECR passport holders, arrange the PBBY insurance and brief workers before the flight.
See our full recruitment process for every stage in detail.
Local rules
What employers in Saudi Arabia should know
A few local rules and habits that affect hiring.
Saudization quotas
Under the Nitaqat system, some jobs and some company sizes have Saudi hiring quotas. Check your vacancies are open to expatriates before you send the order.
Skill verification
Many construction, MEP and automotive trades need to pass an accredited skills test. We know which ones and build it into the timeline.
Engineers need accreditation
Engineers working in Saudi Arabia generally need to register with the Saudi Council of Engineers. We help gather the documents.
Healthcare licensing
Nurses and allied health staff go through SCFHS licensing. Allow two to four months.
Rules change, so we check the current position on every order.
Where we place
Cities we place workers in
- Riyadh
- Jeddah
- Dammam
- Al Khobar
- Jubail
- Makkah
- Madinah
- Yanbu
- Tabuk
- NEOM region
Other GCC countries
Compare all six on our GCC countries overview, or browse by unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled manpower.
FAQ
Questions about recruiting for Saudi Arabia
Hiring for Saudi Arabia?
Tell us the roles and numbers. We'll reply within a day with a plan for Saudi Arabia.
How long does it take to recruit workers for Saudi Arabia?
Usually three to six weeks from the demand letter for most trades. Skill verification can add a little, and licensed healthcare roles take two to four months.
Do Indian workers need a skills test for Saudi Arabia?
For many trades, yes. Saudi Arabia's Skill Verification Program covers a range of construction, MEP and other technical jobs. We prepare candidates and book the test.
Where do workers give biometrics for a Saudi visa?
At a Tasheer centre in India. We book the appointment and make sure workers bring the right documents.
Is a Wafid medical needed for Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Every worker takes the Wafid medical at an approved centre in India before the visa is stamped.
Can you recruit nurses for Saudi hospitals?
Yes. They need SCFHS licensing, which involves document verification and an exam. We start that paperwork as soon as candidates are shortlisted.