Saudi Aramco Benefits

Saudi Aramco provides a highly competitive benefits package for international employees working in Saudi Arabia on the Pound Sterling and Euro payrolls. These include:


Annual Benefits Supplement

This is an annual cash payment equal to 19% of annual base salary provided to finance individual insurance and retirement/savings arrangements in addition to the benefits provided by Saudi Aramco. The employee is free to choose how he spends this payment.

Medical Coverage

While in Saudi Arabia, medical care (including most prescription medications) is available for company employees and their eligible dependents at company operated medical facilities. 

In all Saudi Aramco communities, basic health care is provided through clinics. Employees and dependents can visit a clinic just as they would a family doctor. A rotating staff of general practitioners perform examinations and prescribe care on an outpatient basis.  All of the clinics have facilities and laboratories for basic diagnostic testing.

Each clinic provides ambulance service and emergency-room care, and each has a pharmacy where most prescriptions can be filled at no charge. In general, the community clinics are designed to take care of ordinary medical needs. More significant health problems are handled at the Dhahran Health Centre.

The Dhahran Health Centre consists of a 483-bed hospital, with an eight-bed intensive care unit, plus various outpatient services. In addition to general medicine and surgery, the Health Centre provides a full complement of medical care. The medical practioners at the hospital are multinational, but many of the specialists are U.S. Board Certified or the U.K.'s equivalent. The Dhahran Health Centre is accredited by Joint Commission International. Saudi Aramco's blood bank is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks. Liaison relations exist with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, for immediate consultation regarding diseases of international significance.

The company also provides dental care in Saudi Arabia, but there is a charge for it. The costs are about the same as in most European countries.

Annual Vacation

Employees on single or family status earn a vacation entitlement of 38 calendar days and employees on bachelor status (married with family remaining in home country) receive 50 calendar days.

Repatriation Leave 

Employees on single and family status are eligible for a cash repatriation allowance in connection with their annual vacation. This covers round-trip economy airfare for the employee (and eligible dependents) to return to the point-of-origin. Bachelor status employees are eligible for three paid trips home per year. An additional 25% payment on top of the airfare is provided for miscellaneous travel expenses to all employees.

Insurance Plans

Employees may enrol in a voluntary program providing life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage equal to 12, 18, 24 or 30 times monthly base pay. Favourable group rates keep the premium low.

Short Term Disability

Short-term disability income benefits are provided to employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury. The benefit is 30 days full pay and 60 days at three-quarters pay in any one year period.

Severance Award

In accordance with Saudi labour law, a severance award is payable by the Company to employees who leave after two years or more satisfactory service.  The severance award is based on length of continuous service and final pay (base salary, standard over base and annual benefits supplement).  The severance award can be a substantial benefit for longer service employees. For example, an employee with ten years of service would receive a severance award equal to 7.5 times monthly final pay.

Education Assistance Program (EAP)

Employees hired on family status are eligible for the EAP when they have eligible dependents. Family status employees who live in a Company community are eligible to send their children to the Saudi Aramco School system or to a local 'international school'. The Company generally pays 100% of costs. EAP also provides for 90% of tuition, room and board costs (up to an established maximum) for eligible dependents to attend boarding or day schools. EAP also covers travel costs for a specified number of round trips between Saudi Arabia and the school location.

Personal Effects Shipment 

The company pays for and arranges the shipment of personal effects from the employee's point of origin to Saudi Arabia, and returns them when employment in Saudi Arabia is terminated. 

Surface shipment authorizations include:  

  • 2,275 Kg for the employee 
  • 2,275 Kg for the spouse
  • 475 Kg for each dependent
  • or alternatively, the employee can opt to take a cash in lieu payment.  This is calculated based on current company approved shipping rates.  The payment will be 50% of the actual cost of the shipment.

Additionally, the company pays for an excess baggage voucher so that employees can bring certain essential personnel effects to Saudi Arabia.

Settling-in Allowance

Employees receive a settling-in allowance in their first or second pay check.

  • Family status employees receive one month base pay.
  • Single/Bachelor employees receive 60% of one month base pay.

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