Are you also looking for a job in Saudi Arabia as a software engineer, or do you want to work as a software engineer in the Gulf countries near Saudi Arabia? Then today’s video is for you. Whether you are a fresher or have two to three years of experience, watch this video till the end. I will explain the full process step by step with my own experience. So Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, welcome back to my channel, Shajan Ali, where we talk about jobs in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi visa process, and life there. So, brother, today’s topic is: can freshers also get a job as a software engineer in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
If you have recently graduated or have zero to two years of experience and want to settle in Saudi Arabia as a software engineer, then watch this video till the end, because in today’s article, I will explain everything step by step. Which companies hire, where to apply, and how to stand out. First, let’s clear one thing. Many people think that only experienced professionals are hired in Saudi Arabia. That is partly true, but not completely true. Experienced candidates are preferred more, but freshers are also hired, though the percentage is very low. Saudi Vision 2030 is underway. As you know, many new tech projects are starting, many startups are emerging, and the government is becoming digitized. For all this, they need junior developers, freshers, or trainee engineers. So, brother, freshers do have opportunities. You just need to search the right way. If you follow the steps I will share in today’s video, you will definitely get a job, Insha’Allah, or at least an internship.
Now, let’s talk about which companies hire freshers more. We will divide companies into categories. First category: government-linked IT companies, such as Ara company, which is a very large company in Saudi Arabia, Neomtech, a huge project underway, and STC, which is the Saudi Telecom Company. These are heavily promoting Vision 2030 and investing heavily in its 30 projects. They have a great need for freshers, and there are plenty of jobs available for freshers.
Second category: consulting and system integration companies, such as Accenture Saudi Arabia, Deloitte Saudi Arabia, IBM Saudi Arabia, or Capgemini. These are international companies that hire freshers for Saudi locations.
Third category: local Saudi startups. Many startups are growing in Riyadh and Jeddah these days. They are budget-conscious, so they prefer hiring freshers because freshers are hired at lower salaries.
Fourth category: Indian IT joint ventures with Saudi offices. You can also try these Indian companies that have offices in Saudi Arabia, such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and SCL. These are big joint ventures from India with offices in Saudi Arabia. You can apply to those offices. How do they work? They hire in India and deploy you to Saudi client projects. This means you can be hired for Saudi projects and sent to Saudi Arabia to work on them. Entering this way is easier compared to other categories.
Let’s talk about where to apply. The main platform for applying to jobs in Saudi Arabia or any Gulf country is LinkedIn. I have explained in many videos how to apply for jobs on LinkedIn. There is a full video on my YouTube channel. You can click here to watch it. Watch that video to learn how to apply it on LinkedIn. Many people just search for jobs randomly and don’t find jobs related to their field. They want a Saudi Arabia location, but can’t find location-specific jobs. There is a proper way to apply on LinkedIn. Then you will see Saudi-related jobs and can apply there. Saudi recruiters are very active on LinkedIn. So what should you do? Keep your profile optimized. Set it to “Open to Work” on your LinkedIn profile. If you are a hiring manager, it shows “Hiring.” If you want to be hired and are open to work, it shows “Open to Work.” You need to show “Open to Work” there. Also, you must mention Saudi Arabia’s location on your profile so that Saudi recruiters know you are ready to come to Saudi Arabia.
Second platform: Bayt.com. This is the largest job portal in the Middle East. There are plenty of IT jobs here. You can create a free account and apply daily.
Third platform: NaukriGulf.com. If we talk about India, Naukri.com is a very popular job platform. For Gulf countries, NaukriGulf.com is a perfect platform for Indians. Many Saudi companies post jobs here. You can try this too.
Apart from these job portals, I will tell you another method: go directly to the company’s career pages and apply. For big companies, definitely visit their career pages and apply. For example, if you see a job on LinkedIn or NaukriGulf, before applying there, go to that company’s job portal. Check if the same job is available there, then apply from there as well. This will increase your chances.
Now, let’s talk about what skills you will need as a fresher to start working as a software engineer in Saudi Arabia. In terms of programming languages, Python, JavaScript, Node.js, and ReactJS are very much in demand right now. For cloud skills, AWS and Azure are also a big plus. If you know mobile development, such as Flutter, React Native, or any native language, you can get a job in Saudi startups.
For native Android development: if you know Java or Kotlin, you can get a job. For iOS development: if you know Swift or SwiftUI, you can also get a job as a fresher. But keep one thing in mind: whichever language you are learning, learn it properly. Don’t just learn a little Java and a little Python. Instead, pick one language, build a good command over it, try to build two to three projects using it, and upload them to GitHub so recruiters can see your projects live. Another thing you can do: get certifications. For example, AWS cloud certification. Any certification related to your field should be mentioned in your resume. It is a plus point.
So, as I said, upload projects to GitHub. Build one or two real projects. Whether they are internship projects, college projects, or personal projects, you must upload them to GitHub. Keep this in mind: you need to build projects and upload them to GitHub. In the case of freshers, Saudi recruiters definitely check your portfolio. What is your status on GitHub? Have you uploaded any projects or not? Have you built your portfolio or not? So pay attention to these things. Pick one language, master it well, and use that language to upload at least two to three projects on GitHub.
Now let’s talk about salary and what expectations you should have. The starting salary for fresh software engineers in Saudi Arabia is approximately 4,000 to 7,000 Saudi Riyals per month. Roughly converting to Indian Rupees, that would be around 80,000 to 1.5 lakh rupees as a fresher. Another plus point in Saudi Arabia is that there is no tax. It’s tax-free, so you get the full in-hand salary in your account. If you come to Saudi Arabia through Indian joint ventures, your package may be slightly different in those cases. As your experience grows, your salary increases. Keep in mind that salary also depends on the company role and negotiation. When you apply and receive an offer letter, you can verify it then.
Now, let me give you an action plan that you can follow starting today. Step one: update your LinkedIn profile. This means put a professional photo. In the headline, you can write “Software Engineer” and “Open to Saudi Arabia.” If you add this, recruiters from Saudi companies will know that you are a software engineer, looking for a job in Saudi Arabia, and open to work. Also mention your skills on your LinkedIn profile. If you are in backend development, mention all the languages you know. Also, mention any certifications you have completed. You can also add links to your projects on your profile. So step one is LinkedIn.
Step two: create accounts on Bayt.com and NaukriGulf.com as well. After creating accounts, apply the Saudi Arabia filter, select the IT and software category. Once you select that category, you will only see software engineering jobs in Saudi Arabia, and you can apply to those jobs.
Step three: upload at least two to three projects on GitHub and keep your portfolio ready.
Step four: create a good, ATS-friendly resume. One page or a maximum of two pages. Highlight relevant skills and upload them everywhere: on LinkedIn, Bayt.com, and NaukriGulf. Your updated resume should mention your skills, include links to your projects, and be one to two pages long.
Step five: If you work at an Indian IT company, you can ask your manager about transferring to Saudi projects. For example, if someone works at TCS and wants to move to Saudi Arabia at TCS’s office, they can talk to their manager. If there is a Saudi project, they can come this way. But if you are a fresher, use the portals I mentioned and also apply directly on the Saudi company job portals.
Step six: You can connect with recruiters or professionals in Saudi Arabia on LinkedIn and ask them for referrals. So, brother, you understand the steps. First, update your LinkedIn profile. Second, update your profile on Bayt.com and NaukriGulf and upload your resume there. Upload your updated resume on all three platforms: LinkedIn, Bayt.com, and NaukriGulf. Your resume should mention your projects and be one to two pages long. Also mention project links on LinkedIn, NaukriGulf, and Bayt.com. After doing all this, you can connect with HR and professionals of those companies on LinkedIn and send them a polite message asking for referrals. If you get a referral, it will greatly benefit you. It will make getting a job here much easier. But if you don’t have a referral, you can apply normally.
So, brother, this was today’s complete guide on how freshers can get a software engineering job in Saudi Arabia. If you have any specific questions, whether related to the visa process, interviews, or any specific company, please let me know in the comments.