CAIRO: As Saudi Arabia competes globally for highly specialized talent, employers are increasingly recognizing that attracting top professionals requires more than competitive salaries.
For many international experts considering relocation to the Kingdom, the decision often hinges on two practicalities — where their family will live and where their children will study.
Housing and schooling benefits are therefore emerging as critical tools in Saudi Arabia’s talent strategy, particularly as the country accelerates economic diversification under Vision 2030.
A recent analysis from Mercer highlights how these benefits are evolving across the region. The firm’s 2025 Middle East Housing and Schooling Report shows that many employers are re-evaluating these policies as competition for specialized talent intensifies.
“Candidates increasingly treat housing and schooling support as core components of the offer, not peripheral benefits,” Aleksei Kolesnik, career products manager at Mercer Middle East, told Arab News.
