More than 40,000 people have applied for Saudi Premium Residency between January 2024 and July 2025, marking a remarkable increase in demand for the scheme, according to Gulf News.
The Saudi Premium Residency represents an outstanding program that allows talented individuals, investors, entrepreneurs and high-value workers to work and live in the Kingdom without requiring a local sponsor.
The platform has recently received 40,163 applications from both local and international applicants. The Kingdom issued 8,074 Premium Residency permits in 2024.
The “exceptional competence” category secured the largest portion with 5,578 permits, followed by the “talent” category with 348, and the remainder distributed across real estate ownership, entrepreneurship, and investment.
Saudi Arabia has expanded the program from two to seven categories in early 2024. As a result, the program now includes exceptional competence, talent, investor, entrepreneur, real estate owner, as well as limited-duration and unlimited-duration residency options.
Those who obtain the premium residency visa holders enjoy a wide range of privileges, such as permanent or time-limited residency for themselves and their families, property ownership rights, visa-free travel, and exemption from expat levies.
Notably, the program grants residents usufruct rights to properties in Mecca and Medina for up to 99 years, along with access to citizen-designated airport lanes.
The scheme serves as a major part in Saudi Arabia’s strategy to enhance its global competitiveness by offering a more appealing environment for both living and business in line with Vision 2030.
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