UX Designer Salary in Saudi Arabia: Complete Compensation Guide 2026

UX Designer Compensation in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is undergoing the most ambitious digital transformation in the history of the Middle East, and UX Designers sit at the very centre of this revolution. Vision 2030, the kingdom’s sweeping modernization programme, has channelled hundreds of billions of dollars into technology-driven megaprojects, digital government services, entertainment platforms, e-commerce ecosystems, and smart city infrastructure. The result is an unprecedented surge in demand for design professionals who can shape experiences that serve a rapidly changing society — one where smartphone penetration exceeds 98%, where government services are migrating to mobile-first platforms at breakneck pace, and where an overwhelmingly young population (over 60% under 35) expects seamless, beautifully designed digital interactions.

For UX Designers, Saudi Arabia offers a rare combination: the opportunity to work on projects of extraordinary scale and national significance, salaries that have risen sharply as demand outpaces supply, and a cost of living that — outside of luxury segments — remains substantially lower than Dubai, London, or San Francisco. The kingdom’s design market is maturing rapidly, with dedicated UX teams now embedded within government ministries, telecom operators, fintech startups, and the mega-projects that define the Vision 2030 landscape.

Salary Overview by Experience Level

UX Designer salaries in Saudi Arabia are denominated in Saudi Riyal (SAR), which is pegged to the US dollar at SAR 3.75 = USD 1. Salaries have increased 15–25% over the past three years as the digital transformation agenda intensifies and competition for design talent accelerates. The following ranges represent monthly base salaries for 2026.

Entry-Level (0–2 years): SAR 7,000–11,000 per month. Junior UX Designers entering the Saudi market typically join agencies, government digital units, or the design teams of established companies. Candidates with strong Figma portfolios, demonstrable user research skills, and formal UX education command the upper end. Saudi nationals with UX skills are particularly sought after due to Saudization (Nitaqat) requirements that mandate minimum percentages of Saudi employees across sectors. International candidates at the entry level are less common, as most employers reserve visa sponsorship for mid-level and senior hires where the talent gap is most acute.

Mid-Level (3–6 years): SAR 11,000–20,000 per month. Mid-level designers are expected to manage complete design projects independently, conduct user research, build and maintain design systems, and present design rationale to stakeholders. The wide salary range reflects the gap between traditional companies adapting to digital (SAR 11,000–14,000), established tech companies and government digital entities (SAR 14,000–17,000), and top-tier employers like NEOM, STC Digital, and well-funded startups (SAR 17,000–20,000). Designers with Arabic RTL expertise and the ability to create bilingual interfaces earn at the higher end consistently.

Senior Level (7–10 years): SAR 20,000–32,000 per month. Senior UX Designers, Lead Designers, and UX Managers in Saudi Arabia are responsible for design strategy, team leadership, and ensuring design quality across large-scale projects. Government digital transformation projects — such as the National Unified Portal (Nafath), Absher, Tawakkalna, and new e-government platforms — require senior designers who can navigate complex stakeholder environments and deliver accessible, bilingual experiences that serve the entire population. NEOM and other megaprojects are particularly aggressive in recruiting senior design talent, with packages at the upper end of this range plus substantial project completion bonuses.

Executive Level (10+ years): SAR 32,000–48,000 per month. Design Directors, Heads of Design, and VP-level design leaders who shape design strategy for major Saudi organizations command premium compensation. The scarcity of executive design talent in the kingdom means that international candidates with strong track records can negotiate exceptional packages. These roles frequently include relocation bonuses, project completion incentives, and annual performance bonuses that add 20–40% to base compensation.

NEOM, Giga-Projects, and the Design Talent Surge

Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects represent some of the most ambitious design challenges on the planet, and they are reshaping the kingdom’s UX salary landscape. NEOM, the USD 500 billion smart city project, requires UX Designers to conceptualize interfaces for urban systems that have never existed before — autonomous transit networks, AI-driven energy management, biometric access systems, and integrated citizen experience platforms. THE LINE, NEOM’s linear city concept, envisions a technology-first urban experience where virtually every resident interaction is mediated through digital interfaces.

Other giga-projects with massive design requirements include the Red Sea Global tourism development, Qiddiya (an entertainment megacity), ROSHN (a national housing developer with smart home integration), and Diriyah Gate (a cultural and hospitality destination). Each of these projects maintains dedicated design teams and contracts with international design consultancies, creating a sustained demand for UX talent at all levels.

The financial scale of these projects translates to generous compensation. NEOM UX salaries for mid-level designers range from SAR 18,000–24,000 with additional project-based bonuses, compound accommodation, and comprehensive benefits. Senior designers at giga-projects routinely earn SAR 28,000–38,000 with relocation packages valued at SAR 30,000–60,000 for international hires. The remote locations of some projects (NEOM is situated in the Tabuk region of northwestern Saudi Arabia) necessitate additional lifestyle incentives including furnished housing, regular flights to Riyadh or Jeddah, and enhanced leave allowances.

Government Digital Transformation: A Major Employer

The Saudi government is one of the largest employers of UX Designers in the kingdom, driven by the mandate to digitize all government services and create world-class citizen experiences. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) oversees Tawakkalna, the platform that became the kingdom’s de facto digital identity and services gateway. The National Information Centre (NIC) manages Absher, the platform for government transactions. The Digital Government Authority (DGA) drives broader e-government strategy.

These entities and their partner organizations employ hundreds of designers collectively, and the UX challenges are substantial: designing Arabic-first interfaces that serve Saudi citizens and residents across all demographics, ensuring accessibility for users with disabilities in compliance with Saudi government accessibility standards, integrating biometric authentication and digital identity flows, and creating experiences that handle the volume spikes that accompany government service deadlines and seasonal events.

Government UX roles in Saudi Arabia offer exceptional job stability, generous leave policies (typically 25–30 working days annually), end-of-service gratuity, and benefits packages that rival the private sector. Salaries tend to be 5–15% below top private sector employers, but the total value proposition — including stability, regular working hours, and comprehensive benefits — makes government design roles highly attractive.

Key Factors Affecting UX Designer Salaries

Saudization and Nationality: Saudi Arabia’s Nitaqat programme requires companies to employ minimum percentages of Saudi nationals. UX Design is considered a skilled profession where Saudi talent is still developing, so many companies can sponsor international designers. However, Saudi nationals with UX skills are in exceptionally high demand and often command salaries 10–20% above market rates for equivalent experience levels, as employers seek to meet Saudization targets with qualified local talent. International designers should expect competitive market-rate offers, but the premium for Saudi nationals is a market reality.

City and Location: Riyadh is the primary design hub, hosting the largest concentration of UX roles across government, tech companies, and startups. Jeddah has a growing design scene oriented toward entertainment, hospitality, and Red Sea Global projects. NEOM and other giga-project locations offer premium salaries to compensate for remote locations. Riyadh salaries for UX Designers are typically 5–10% above Jeddah for equivalent roles, reflecting the capital’s concentration of headquarters and government entities.

User Research Capabilities: Designers who combine visual and interaction design skills with robust user research capabilities are particularly valued in Saudi Arabia, where many organizations are still establishing formal research practices. The ability to plan and execute usability studies, contextual inquiries, and survey research — particularly with Arabic-speaking users — commands premiums of 10–15%.

Design Systems Expertise: As Saudi organizations scale their digital products, the need for design systems architects is growing rapidly. Designers who can build enterprise-scale Figma component libraries, establish design token systems, and create governance frameworks for design consistency across large teams earn significant premiums. STC Design, Tamara, and Salla have invested heavily in design system maturity.

Benefits That Boost Total Compensation

Housing Allowance: SAR 3,000–10,000 per month depending on seniority. Riyadh housing is substantially more affordable than Dubai, with a modern one-bedroom apartment in desirable areas like Olaya, Al Malqa, or King Abdullah Financial District costing SAR 3,000–6,000 monthly. Some giga-project employers provide furnished compound accommodation at no cost.

Transport Allowance: SAR 1,000–2,500 per month. A car is essential in Saudi Arabia given the limited public transit (though the Riyadh Metro is opening). Petrol is heavily subsidized, making driving costs low.

Medical Insurance: Mandatory employer-provided coverage. Class A medical insurance at top employers covers the employee and dependents with comprehensive benefits including dental, optical, and maternity. The Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) regulates minimum standards.

Education Allowance: SAR 15,000–50,000 per child annually. International schools in Riyadh and Jeddah are well-established, with institutions like the American International School, British International School, and Riyadh Schools offering quality education.

Annual Flights: Return flights to home country for employee and dependents. Typically economy class for mid-level roles and business class for senior positions. Value: SAR 2,000–10,000 annually.

End-of-Service Gratuity: Saudi labour law mandates half a month’s salary per year for the first five years and one month’s salary per year thereafter, calculated on the last drawn salary. A designer earning SAR 20,000 who stays five years receives approximately SAR 50,000.

Annual Bonuses: Performance bonuses of one to three months’ salary are common at tech companies and government entities. Giga-projects often include project completion bonuses that can equal two to four months’ salary.

Top Employers for UX Designers in Saudi Arabia

• STC Design: Saudi Telecom Company’s design team works on consumer apps, enterprise platforms, and digital services reaching millions of users. STC has invested heavily in building an in-house design capability, and the team works on products spanning connectivity, payments (STC Pay), entertainment, and IoT. Competitive salaries with full corporate benefits.
• NEOM UX: The megacity project maintains a large design team working on urban experience interfaces, transit systems, energy management dashboards, and citizen services platforms. Premium compensation packages with project-based bonuses and compound accommodation.
• Tamara: Saudi Arabia’s leading buy-now-pay-later fintech has built a strong design-led product culture. UX Designers work on consumer checkout experiences, merchant tools, and financial management interfaces. Startup equity participation alongside competitive base salaries.
• Salla: The e-commerce enablement platform empowering thousands of Saudi merchants to build online stores. Design challenges span merchant dashboard UX, storefront customization, payment flows, and logistics integration. Strong product design culture with a focus on Arabic-first experiences.
• Saudi Tourism Authority Digital: The authority responsible for promoting Saudi Arabia as a tourism destination maintains a digital team designing booking platforms, destination guides, and visitor experience tools. Combines government stability with creative design challenges.
• Elm: A government-backed digital services company that builds and operates many of Saudi Arabia’s most-used platforms. Designers work on high-impact civic technology serving millions. Competitive government-adjacent compensation with strong stability.
• Mozn: An AI and analytics company building products for financial crime detection, regulatory compliance, and intelligent document processing. UX Designers tackle complex data visualization and enterprise interface challenges. Startup environment with competitive packages.

The Rise of Riyadh as a Design Hub

Riyadh is rapidly developing into a world-class design hub, driven by several converging factors. The government’s requirement that multinational companies establish regional headquarters in the capital has brought design teams from global firms including Oracle, SAP, PwC Digital, and Deloitte. The Riyadh Design Commission, established as part of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, is investing in design education, public space design, and the city’s overall creative infrastructure.

King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and the upcoming New Murabba project are creating purpose-built innovation and business districts where tech companies and design agencies cluster. Riyadh Season, the annual entertainment festival, has demonstrated the city’s capacity for large-scale experience design. Co-working spaces, design meetups, and creative communities are emerging throughout the city, creating the ecosystem ingredients that support a thriving design profession.

For UX Designers considering Riyadh, the city offers a unique combination of massive project scale, growing creative community, lower cost of living than Dubai, and the opportunity to shape digital experiences for one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies. The lifestyle is evolving rapidly as entertainment, dining, and cultural offerings expand under Vision 2030, though it remains more conservative than Dubai or Bahrain.

Salary Negotiation Strategies for Saudi Arabia

• Emphasize scale and impact. Saudi employers value designers who can demonstrate experience with large-scale products and complex stakeholder environments. Case studies showing design leadership on projects serving millions of users resonate strongly.
• Highlight Arabic and RTL design skills. Native-quality Arabic interface design is the single most valuable specialization in the Saudi market. If you can design fluently in Arabic, lead with this capability.
• Negotiate project-based bonuses. Saudi megaprojects and government transformation initiatives frequently offer completion bonuses. Ensure these are documented in your contract.
• Factor in Riyadh’s lower cost of living. When comparing Saudi offers to Dubai alternatives, calculate net savings. Riyadh rent is 30–40% below Dubai for equivalent housing, significantly boosting your savings rate.
• Request comprehensive relocation packages. International hires should negotiate temporary accommodation (one to three months), shipping allowances, settling-in bonuses, and Iqama (residency permit) processing support. Total relocation packages of SAR 20,000–50,000 are achievable at top employers.
• Leverage the talent shortage. The demand for experienced UX Designers in Saudi Arabia significantly exceeds supply. If you have five or more years of experience with a strong portfolio, you have substantial negotiating leverage.

Visa and Residency

UX Designers moving to Saudi Arabia require employer-sponsored work visas (Iqama). The process typically takes four to eight weeks and is managed by the employer. The Saudi Premium Residency programme offers long-term residency for high-earning professionals, providing flexibility to change employers without re-sponsorship. The kingdom has also introduced freelance visas for certain professions, though most UX Designers work under traditional employment sponsorship.

Saudi Arabia has no personal income tax, making your gross salary your take-home pay. The kingdom does levy 15% VAT on goods and services, but this does not apply to employment income. Social insurance contributions (GOSI) of 2% of salary are deducted for non-Saudi employees, with the employer contributing an additional 2%.

Cost of Living and Lifestyle

Riyadh’s cost of living is substantially lower than Dubai’s, making Saudi salaries go further than headline comparisons might suggest. A modern one-bedroom apartment in upscale areas costs SAR 3,000–6,000 monthly, compared to AED 5,000–9,000 (SAR 5,100–9,200) for equivalent Dubai accommodation. Groceries, dining, and transportation are similarly more affordable. A mid-level UX Designer earning SAR 16,000 per month with housing covered can save SAR 10,000–12,000 monthly (approximately USD 2,700–3,200), representing a savings rate of 60–70%.

The lifestyle in Saudi Arabia has transformed dramatically under Vision 2030. Entertainment options have expanded enormously, with concerts, festivals, cinema, and sporting events now regular features of social life. Riyadh Season and Jeddah Season offer world-class entertainment programming. The dining scene has exploded with international and local restaurants, and the coffee culture is thriving. However, Saudi Arabia remains more conservative than the UAE in certain respects, and designers should research lifestyle considerations carefully before relocating, particularly regarding social norms, gender dynamics, and recreational options.

Detailed Employer Salary Benchmarks

Access exact salary ranges at top Saudi design employers, including STC Design, NEOM, Tamara, Salla, Elm, and major government digital entities. Data covers base salary, housing, bonuses, project incentives, and total compensation by experience level. Updated quarterly from verified employee data.

NEOM and Giga-Project Application Guide

Get insider tips on applying to NEOM and other Saudi megaprojects, including portfolio expectations, interview processes, compound living details, and the unique lifestyle considerations of working at remote project sites.