The question we hear most is "how much does it cost?" — and the honest answer is that it is two questions, not one: what you pay once, and what you pay every month afterwards. Confusing the two is the root of most disputes.

First: the one-off cost

This is the "contract value" the office publishes, and it typically covers:

  • The source-country office fee — the largest single item, and the main reason prices differ between nationalities.
  • Visa and government fees on both sides.
  • Medical examination and attestations in the source country.
  • The flight to the Kingdom.
  • The local office fee, covering processing, reception and handover.

Second: the recurring monthly cost

This is not part of the contract value, and many people leave it out when comparing offers:

  • The monthly salary agreed in the Musaned contract.
  • Accommodation and food — a statutory obligation on the employer.
  • Healthcare as required by the regulations.
  • The return ticket at the end of the contract or for leave, as the contract specifies.

Why do prices differ between nationalities?

The difference is not "quality", as is often claimed. It comes down to three things: what the partner office in that country charges, what its government charges, and how supply compares to demand. A country with longer procedures and higher demand produces a higher price — and that says nothing about any individual's competence.

Where do the surprises usually appear?

The rule: if an amount is not written down before you sign, assume it has not been agreed — and ask about it explicitly.

The items most often forgotten:

  • Fees for issuing or renewing the residency permit after arrival.
  • Transfer fees if you later move the worker off your sponsorship.
  • Price differences if processing is delayed and the source country changes its fees.
  • The cost of a replacement outside the statutory period.

How to compare two offers honestly

Do not compare two bare numbers. Ask each office for three things in writing: the all-in contract total, what is explicitly excluded, and the replacement terms and period. An office that gives you all three in writing saves you more than a few hundred riyals of headline difference ever will.

Finally: cheapest is not always least expensive

A contract that is a thousand riyals cheaper but ends in a stalled replacement or a three-month delay costs you more — in time and peace of mind — than a slightly higher one that completes on schedule. Measure cost across the whole experience, not at the moment of signing.