The complete Saudi Arabia entry guide

Riyadh Expo 2030

Your team in Riyadh.
Ready before the world arrives.

Expo 2030 will draw 40 million visitors and billions in contracts. MENA BIG ensures that your company is established, compliant, staffed, and operational, long before opening day.

Your team in Riyadh.
Ready before the world arrives.

Expected visitors 2030
10 M+
Participating countries
20 +
Estimated economic impact
$ 0.5 B
Employees managed by MENA BIG today
50 +

Saudi Arabia is building the world's most ambitious event.
The window to position your company is now.

Until Expo opens, the procurement and hiring cycle starts today
1 Years
Countries MENA BIG recruits from, your talent pipeline is global
5 +
Average time to full company setup in KSA with MENA BIG
~ 1 Months
Compliance failures across all MENA BIG client engagements
0

Every type of company working on Expo 2030 has a different challenge. We have the answer for each.

International Contractors and Construction Firms

You have won, or are bidding for, infrastructure, construction, or facilities contracts at Expo 2030. To execute, you need a legal entity in KSA, a large multi-national workforce, and airtight compliance. Fast.

How MENA BIG delivers

Business Setup
Company formation in ~3 months

MISA license, Commercial Registration, Chamber of Commerce, ZATCA, full entity activation managed end-to-end.

Deploy your workforce under our sponsorship

Avoid building your own HR structure. MENA BIG employs your workers under our EOR, managing all Iqama, GOSI, and WPS obligations.

150K+ candidate database, 35+ source countries

From Saudi nationals to specialist engineers, we source, screen, and mobilize your full workforce.

Saudization planning from day one

We calculate your Nitaqat band, build your national hiring plan, and manage Saudization compliance throughout the project.

Country Pavilion Operators and International Delegations

Your government or agency is responsible for a country pavilion at Expo 2030. You need a rapid, compliant setup, a small team on the ground in Riyadh, legally employed and ready to represent your nation.

How MENA BIG delivers

EOR: Employer of Record
Your team, legally employed in KSA, without a local entity

MENA BIG acts as the legal employer. Your delegation is fully compliant with KSA labor law from day one.

Visa, Iqama, and QIWA, all handled

We manage MUQEEM, QIWA, GOSI and all government portal interactions so your team can focus on the pavilion.

WPS-compliant payroll from month one

Accurate, on-time salary disbursement with full Wage Protection System integration and GOSI contributions managed.

Hospitality, Retail and F&B Brands

Expo 2030 represents a landmark opportunity to enter the Saudi market. You need to establish your brand on the ground, recruit service staff at scale, and open on time, with full compliance.

How MENA BIG delivers

Recruitment
High-volume service staff, shortlist in 1–2 weeks

Sourced from our 150K+ database across 35+ countries. Culture-first screening to match your brand standards.

Saudi nationals, pre-selected for your sector

We supply qualified Saudi professionals to meet Saudization requirements, trained and ready to deploy.

ZATCA compliance, VAT, and bookkeeping

Full accounting, e-invoicing, VAT returns, and audit management aligned to Saudi financial regulations.

Technology, Media and Professional Services Firms

You are providing AV, IT infrastructure, consulting, or media services to Expo 2030. You need a small, specialized team in Riyadh, senior professionals who can work fast without a bureaucratic setup holding them back.

How MENA BIG delivers

EOR for Expat Professionals
Senior specialist deployment in weeks, not months

We map each role to the correct visa profession, manage MOFA approvals, and handle Iqama issuance end-to-end.

KSA labor law guidance for your leadership team

Working hours, contract types, end-of-service calculations, expert guidance before you sign a single employment contract.

Flexible project-based staffing

Hire specialist labor on a per-hour or short-term basis, ideal for event-phase deployments without long-term commitments.

Six pillars. One partner.
Every stage of your Expo journey covered.

Saudi arabia tower
01

Business Setup

End-to-end company constitution for foreign entities entering KSA. Zero compliance failures across all engagements.

  • MISA investment license
  • Commercial registration
  • ZATCA and tax activation
  • Industrial and engineering licenses
02

Recruitment

From senior executives to technical specialists. Shortlist delivered in 1–2 weeks using our 150K+ candidate database.

  • Executive search and headhunting
  • High-volume bulk recruitment
  • Multi-channel sourcing (35+ countries)
  • Culture-first candidate screening
03

Admin & PRO

All government portal interactions, visa processing, and ongoing employee compliance handled by our Riyadh team.

  • Iqama issuance and renewals
  • QIWA, MUQEEM, GOSI portals
  • E-contracts & labor documentation
  • Visit and work visa management
04

Staffing & EOR

Deploy your workforce under MENA BIG's legal sponsorship. Manage 1,500+ employees today with zero employment liability transferred to you.

  • Employer of Record (EOR)
  • National staffing (Saudi nationals)
  • Manpower per-hour billing
  • Ajeer management & WPS payroll
05

HR & Labor Advisory

Expert guidance on Saudization, Nitaqat, and KSA labor law. We build your compliance strategy before you hire your first employee.

  • Saudization forecast and planning
  • Nitaqat band management
  • HR strategy and org design
  • Labor law due diligence
06

Accounting & Tax

Full financial compliance from day one. ZATCA e-invoicing, VAT returns, and audit management for your KSA entity.

  • Bookkeeping and financial reporting
  • VAT and withholding tax declarations
  • ZATCA e-invoicing compliance
  • Audit management consultancy

Don't miss the window. Companies that move early win the contracts.

Expo 2030
2025

Entity & Strategy

Establish your KSA legal entity. Set up banking, licenses, and Saudization plan.
 
2026

Bid & Win

Submit bids under your KSA entity. Secure contracts and define workforce requirements.
 
2027
2028

Recruit & Mobilize

Deploy your core teams. Begin recruitment, Iqama processing, and EOR structuring.
 
2029

Scale Up

Full workforce ramp. Manpower at scale, training programs, and compliance audits.
 
2030

Expo Opens

Your team is operational, compliant, and delivering. MENA BIG manages all HR in the background.

We have done this before, for one of Saudi Arabia's most complex infrastructure projects.

A leading international metro operator needed to deploy and sustain a fully compliant, multi-national operational workforce in KSA under an active concession, with zero disruption to live services.

MENA BIG structured a full EOR model: workforce planning, Saudization compliance, multi-nationality visa management, Iqama issuance, GOSI registration, WPS-compliant payroll, and ongoing employee administration, all under a single governance framework.

The client retained full operational control. MENA BIG transferred all employment liability, regulatory risk, and compliance overhead, with no impact on service continuity.

ZERO

Nationalities managed under one EOR

Operational disruptions during full lifecycle
50 %
Multi-nat.

Nationalities managed under one EOR

Markup on employment costs, full transparency
0 %