Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) registration is how engineers get the professional accreditation they need to work in Saudi Arabia. The law is strict: an engineering profession “may not be practiced without obtaining a professional certification”, and practising without it can bring a fine of up to SAR 1 million. For foreign engineers, SCE requires a recognised engineering degree and, under its current rules, at least five years’ experience. For tech workers, the key question is the job title on your iqama: an “engineer” title usually means SCE, while titles such as programmer or developer usually don’t.
This guide explains who needs SCE membership, how registration works, what it costs, what changed with exams, and what it means if you’re a software, data or cloud engineer moving to Saudi Arabia. It’s general information, not legal advice. SCE’s rules and fees change, and its website (saudieng.sa) is the place to confirm them. In our checks the SCE site didn’t load from outside Saudi Arabia, so you may need to open it from within the Kingdom or ask your employer for help.
What the law says
Two laws matter:
- The Law of the Saudi Council of Engineers (Royal Decree No. M/36 of 1423H, last amended in 1443H). It sets up SCE to advance the engineering profession and raise its standards, including setting licensing requirements. Non-Saudi engineers practising in the Kingdom can be members (Qanoniah).
- The Engineering Professions Practice Law (2017, with implementing regulations from April 2018). It says an engineering profession may not be practised without professional accreditation, which SCE issues (Saudipedia).
To be accredited under the Practice Law you need (Saudipedia):
- an engineering degree from a Saudi university, or an equivalent degree from a recognised university;
- legal competence and a commitment to the Engineers’ Code of Ethics;
- no relevant criminal convictions or revoked certification;
- to pass the technical aptitude tests set under the law.
Penalties
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Practising engineering without professional accreditation | Fine up to SAR 1,000,000 |
| Running an engineering office or company without a licence | Fine up to SAR 1,000,000 |
| Knowingly hiring someone without accreditation | Fine up to SAR 1,000,000 |
| Getting accreditation by false means, or claiming a professional grade you don’t hold | One year in prison and a fine up to SAR 1,000,000 |
Source: Saudipedia.
These penalties are enforced. In August 2024, a Riyadh criminal court gave an engineer six months in prison and a SAR 50,000 fine for practising without accreditation, and fined his employer SAR 100,000. SCE found the violation on an inspection, and its Secretary General said 30 cases had been referred to prosecutors in recent months (Gulf News).
Do software engineers need SCE registration?
This is the question most tech workers ask, and the official answer isn’t spelled out in one place. What we can say:
- SCE accreditation is about practising engineering and holding an engineering title. The law requires an engineering degree.
- Your iqama profession drives the check in practice. If your iqama or work visa says “engineer”, expect to need SCE membership. SCE has a separate procedure for engineers whose residence permit shows a non-engineering profession, and procedures for changing between engineering and non-engineering professions through the labour office.
- IT job titles are not on the published technician lists. A September 2024 summary of the technical professions that need SCE registration for iqama renewal lists surveying, mapping, drafting, building, road and lab technician roles, and none are IT or software roles (KSA Expats).
In practice:
- Ask your employer which profession will go on your work visa and iqama before they apply.
- If they plan to use “engineer”, check that you hold an engineering degree (a bachelor of engineering or equivalent) and meet the experience rule below. A computer science degree may not count as an engineering degree.
- If you don’t qualify, ask for a non-engineering title that matches your work. Don’t take a job titled “engineer” without accreditation; the penalties above apply to you and to the employer.
We couldn’t find an official SCE list that says which IT titles do or don’t need accreditation. If your employer is unsure, they should check with SCE or the Ministry of Human Resources before your visa is issued.
SCE membership for foreign engineers
At the time of writing, SCE’s website described three membership routes for non-Saudis. We couldn’t open the SCE site directly from outside Saudi Arabia, so treat these details as a guide and confirm them on saudieng.sa:
| Route | Who it’s for | Duration and fee shown by SCE |
|---|---|---|
| Expat engineer | Non-Saudi engineers whose residence permit or visa says “Engineer” | 3 years, SAR 1,250, grade “Engineer” |
| Expat engineer with a non-engineering profession | Engineers whose residence permit shows another profession | 3 years, SAR 1,250 |
| Non-resident foreign engineer | Engineers abroad invited by a Saudi employer | 3 years, SAR 1,250 |
The five-year experience rule
SCE states that registration isn’t accepted for people with less than five years’ experience, unless they are Saudi or Bedoon. A 2019 report on SCE’s online registration also described “mandatory five years of experience and passing a professional exam” for foreign engineers (BAL). So if you’re a foreign engineer with under five years’ experience, expect your application for an “engineer” title to be refused.
Professional grades
SCE also grades engineers by experience in the same field. SCE’s pages have shown slightly different numbers, so check the current figures:
| Grade | Typical minimum experience shown by SCE |
|---|---|
| Associate Engineer | 4 years |
| Professional Engineer | 8 years |
| Consultant Engineer | 16 years |
How to register with SCE
- Get your documents ready: passport, residence permit or visa, engineering degree and transcripts, and proof of experience (employment letters). Have your degree attested; SCE verifies qualifications, and that can take weeks.
- Create an account on SCE’s e-services portal and choose the right membership type.
- Sign the authorisation and agreement SCE requires.
- Upload your documents and wait for verification. SCE checks your degree and experience.
- Pay the membership fee when SCE asks you to.
- Take the professional exam if it applies to you (see below).
- Keep your membership valid. It runs for a fixed term and must be renewed. Your iqama renewal can be blocked if an engineering profession isn’t backed by valid SCE membership.
SCE registration from outside Saudi Arabia
The non-resident route exists for engineers invited by a Saudi employer, and the 2019 online process lets foreign engineers register and pay online before the work visa steps (BAL). Start early: degree verification is often the slowest part.
Professional exams
SCE runs professional examinations, including exams developed with the US NCEES (the body behind the US FE and PE exams). In 2025 SCE announced a gradual approach to professional exams, under which exams became optional for some earlier graduates. The details depend on your graduation year and grade, so check SCE’s latest announcement before you book.
SCE membership check, login and renewal
- Login and services: through SCE’s e-services portal and app.
- Membership check and verification: SCE offers verification of membership; employers and government systems also check your status when your iqama is issued or renewed.
- Renewal: renew before your membership expires, and keep your experience records up to date if you’re applying for a higher grade.
If SCE’s website isn’t working for you, it may be because you’re outside the Kingdom. Ask your employer’s government relations team to help.
What this means for your job search
- Read the job title. Many Saudi tech ads say “engineer” (DevOps engineer, cloud engineer, data engineer). That’s normal in English job ads, but the profession on your visa is what matters. Ask your recruiter early.
- Senior engineers with engineering degrees can usually register. If you have the degree and five or more years’ experience, SCE membership is a routine step.
- Premium Residency doesn’t remove the need for accreditation if you practise engineering, but it does let you change employers freely. See our guide to Saudi Premium Residency for tech talent.
Browse current tech jobs in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Dammam. On Gulf Dev Jobs on 16 October 2026, Riyadh alone had 278 open tech jobs. For the wider picture, see the UAE and Saudi job market for tech in numbers, and for security roles in industrial companies, cybersecurity jobs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Our work visa guide explains how your Saudi work visa and iqama are issued.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Saudi Council of Engineers?
SCE is the body set up under Royal Decree No. M/36 to develop the engineering profession in Saudi Arabia and set its standards. Under the Engineering Professions Practice Law, it issues the professional accreditation that engineers need to practise in the Kingdom.
Is SCE registration mandatory for foreign engineers?
Yes, if you practise engineering or hold an engineering profession on your iqama. The law says an engineering profession may not be practised without professional accreditation. Practising without it, or knowingly hiring someone without it, can bring a fine of up to SAR 1 million.
What are the SCE registration fees?
At the time of writing, SCE’s site listed SAR 1,250 for a three-year membership for non-Saudi engineers, in each of its three expat routes. Exams, if they apply, cost extra. Confirm current fees on the SCE portal before you pay.
Can I register with SCE with less than five years’ experience?
Under SCE’s current rules, registration isn’t accepted from non-Saudis with less than five years’ experience. If you’re early in your career, ask your employer to use a non-engineering job title that matches your work.
Do software developers need SCE membership in Saudi Arabia?
Usually only if the profession on your iqama is an engineering title. Published lists of technical professions that need SCE registration don’t include IT or software roles. Confirm the visa profession with your employer before they apply.
How do I check my SCE membership?
Use SCE’s e-services portal or app, which offers membership verification. Your status is also checked when your iqama is issued or renewed.