In many countries, “visa sponsorship” is a perk that only some employers offer. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia it works differently. The standard way to work there is on a residence visa that your employer applies for. So the real questions are: will the company hire you from abroad, and will it help you relocate?
This page lists companies on our board that do. The list updates automatically from our data.
How visa sponsorship works in the Gulf
UAE
- Mainland companies. The employer applies for your work permit and residence visa. The official UAE portal says “the employer must apply for the standard work visa”, and the visa is valid for two years and renewable (u.ae).
- Free zone companies. Free zone employees are sponsored by the free zone authority, not by the employer directly. Each free zone has its own employment rules (u.ae). Ask the company which authority will sponsor your visa.
- Golden Visa. A long-term residence visa of 5 or 10 years. Holders don’t need a sponsor (u.ae). Skilled professionals who already work in the UAE can qualify if their job and salary meet the criteria.
Saudi Arabia
- Standard work visa and iqama. The employer requests the work visa and then issues your residence permit (iqama) after you arrive. The steps are in our work visa guide.
- Premium Residency. Special Talent Residency lets qualifying professionals live in Saudi Arabia with their family and move freely from one employer to another (Premium Residency Center).
So when a Gulf job ad says “visa sponsorship”, it usually means the company will run the standard employer visa process for you. That is normal. What differs between companies is whether they hire people who live abroad, and how much relocation help they give.
How we choose these companies
A company appears on this list only if:
- We have approved it. We review every company by hand.
- Its visa sponsorship is verified. We only mark a company as “verified” when a public page, such as its careers page or a job ad, says it sponsors visas for tech roles.
- It has open tech roles on our board right now.
Visa policies can change and can differ from role to role. Always check the job ad, and confirm with the recruiter.
Companies that sponsor visas
Live data from the jobs and companies on this board, as of 27 September 2026.
| Company | City | Visa sponsorship | Relocation support | Open jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Finder | – | Verified | – | 7 |
| Cobblestone Energy | – | Verified | Verified | 1 |
| The Exploration Company | – | Verified | Verified | 1 |
| Tamara | – | Likely | – | 2 |
You can also browse individual jobs with visa sponsorship and jobs you can apply for from abroad.
Questions to ask a Gulf employer about your visa
- Will you hire me while I live abroad, or only if I’m already in the country?
- Who pays the visa, medical test and Emirates ID or iqama fees? In the UAE, recruitment and residence permit costs must be paid by the employer (u.ae). In Saudi Arabia, confirm this in your offer.
- Can you sponsor my spouse and children, or do I sponsor them myself?
- Do you pay for flights and temporary housing when I arrive?
- How long does your visa process usually take?
- Would I qualify for the UAE Golden Visa or Saudi Premium Residency in this role?
Frequently asked questions
Do all tech employers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia sponsor visas?
Most do, because the standard way to work there is on a residence visa your employer applies for. The real differences are whether a company hires people who live abroad and how much relocation help it gives. Policies can change and differ from role to role, so check each job ad and confirm with the recruiter.
Who pays for a work visa in the UAE?
The employer. The UAE government says recruitment costs and the cost of getting your residence permit must be paid by the employer. In Saudi Arabia, confirm in your offer who pays the visa, medical test and iqama fees. Ask about your family’s visas and fees too, because rules and employer policies vary.
Can I live in the UAE without an employer sponsor?
Yes, with a Golden Visa. It’s a long-term residence visa of 5 or 10 years, and holders don’t need a sponsor. Skilled professionals who already work in the UAE can qualify if their job and salary meet the criteria. Our work visa guide lists the conditions and the documents you need.
Is a free zone visa different from a mainland visa?
Yes, in who sponsors you. At a mainland company, the employer applies for your work permit and residence visa, which is valid for two years and renewable. In a free zone, the free zone authority sponsors you, and each free zone has its own employment rules. Ask the company which authority will sponsor you.
Can I change employers in Saudi Arabia without a new sponsor?
With Special Talent Premium Residency, yes. The Premium Residency Center says holders can move freely from one employer to another and live in Saudi Arabia with their family. On a standard work visa and iqama, your employer sponsors you, so ask how changing jobs would work before you sign.
How do you verify that a company sponsors visas?
We only mark visa sponsorship as verified when a public page, such as the company’s careers page or a job ad, says it sponsors visas for tech roles. We also review every company by hand and only list those with open tech roles on our board. Visa policies change, so always confirm with the recruiter.