Going to Saudi Arabia for work: pre-departure checklist every Bangladeshi worker should follow

Every year, more than 600,000 Bangladeshi workers travel to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Malaysia. Many of them arrive with little information about their own rights and obligations. This checklist — used by every Shahi Air International worker — covers what you should do, in order, before you board the flight.

Two weeks before departure

1. Re-read your employment contract. Verify the job title, basic salary, overtime rate, working hours, weekly leave and the duration. The contract you signed at BMET must match exactly with the agreement at our office.
2. Visa stamp verification. The visa in your passport should show the same employer name as the contract. If there is any difference, do not travel — contact our recruitment desk immediately.
3. Open a bank account in Bangladesh (Islamic or conventional) that can receive remittance. Sonali, Islami Bank, Dutch-Bangla and BRAC are all reliable. Activate the account in your name with proper KYC.
4. Inform your family of the bank account details, the employer's name and the company address in Saudi Arabia. Leave a photocopy of your passport and visa with someone you trust.

One week before departure

1. Pre-departure orientation at our office. This four-hour session covers your rights under Saudi labour law, how Iqama renewal works, how to use the Absher app, and what to do if your employer mistreats you.
2. Vaccination card update. Meningitis ACWY, COVID booster (if applicable), seasonal influenza — and yellow fever if you are transiting through certain African airports.
3. Mobile arrangement. Switch your Bangladeshi SIM to international roaming for the first 48 hours. Pre-book a Saudi SIM (STC or Mobily) for collection at the destination airport — both have desks at Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.
4. Carry small denominations of Saudi Riyal for the first 3–4 days. SAR 500–800 is enough.

Day of departure

1. Reach Hazrat Shahjalal Airport five hours before flight time. BMET smart card check, immigration and security take longer than the airline counter.
2. Keep the following in your hand luggage: passport, visa stamp, employment contract, BMET smart card, vaccination card, three passport photographs, copies of your educational certificates, the employer's Saudi address printed in Arabic and English.
3. Do not pack anything for someone else. Refuse politely if asked at the airport — even a sealed envelope.
4. Drink water, eat lightly. The flight is 6–8 hours depending on destination.

Arrival in Saudi Arabia

1. Follow the "Workers" lane at immigration. Have your passport, visa and employer's name ready in Arabic transliteration.
2. Collect your bag. Look for the company representative at the arrivals area — they should be holding a sign with your name. Do not leave the airport with a stranger. Call our Dhaka office immediately if no one comes.
3. The employer will take you to the company accommodation and start the Iqama (residence permit) process. By Saudi law, the Iqama must be issued within 90 days of your arrival.
4. Open a Saudi bank account in your name as soon as the Iqama is issued. Receive your salary through the WPS (Wage Protection System) — this is the law and protects your right to be paid on time.

What to do if something goes wrong

• Employer takes your passport — by Saudi law, this is illegal. Ask politely for it to be returned and contact our Dhaka office to mediate. If it continues, file a complaint at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate in Jeddah.
• Salary delayed by more than 30 days — file a labour complaint through the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources (MoHRE) at the Musaned portal or our Dhaka office will assist.
• Health emergency — every worker is enrolled in the mandatory Saudi health insurance. Free treatment at government hospitals.
• Need to return home for family emergency — keep our Dhaka office in the loop. We can assist with employer permission and emergency ticket booking.

Sending money home

Use only official channels — Western Union, MoneyGram, bank-to-bank transfer, or the apps of Sonali Bank, IBBL or BRAC. Hundi (informal) remittance is illegal, taxable, and risky — both for you and for your family.

Stay connected to home

Stay in regular touch with your family. Phone call once a week, send remittance regularly. We host a quarterly Saudi-side check-in for every Shahi Air International worker — please join it. If you bring your younger brother or cousin to Saudi later, that is the highest compliment you can give us, and we will look after him exactly the way we looked after you.

May Allah protect every Bangladeshi worker overseas and reward their hard work. Sehat thakun, niraapad thakun. (Stay healthy, stay safe.)