An expatriate employee in Saudi Arabia is a foreign national working legally under a valid work visa, Iqama and employment contract registered on the Qiwa platform. Expatriate employees are covered by Saudi Labor Law with the same core rights as Saudi nationals including annual leave, end-of-service benefits and WPS payroll protections. Employers are responsible for maintaining valid Iqamas, processing renewals and managing visa quotas within their Nitaqat compliance band. The proportion of expatriate to Saudi national employees directly affects a company's Nitaqat classification and visa issuance rights.