Top 7 Freelancing Platforms for Saudis in 2025 Earn in SAR or USD
Quick heads up before you scroll I added a clickable table of contents below so you can jump straight to the platform you care about no fluff no waiting
Table of Contents
- Why Most Freelancers in Saudi Fail on Global Platforms
- 1 Upwork The Powerhouse for High Ticket Gigs
- 2 Mostaql The Saudi First Choice
- 3 Khamsat The Hidden Gem for Quick Gigs
- 4 Fiverr The Global Stage with Saudi Success Stories
- 5 Nabbesh The Arabic LinkedIn for Freelancers
- 6 Toptal The Elite Club for Top 3 Talent
- 7 Freelancercom The Volume Play
- Side by Side Comparison 2025 Saudi Edition
- Expert Insight What Saudi Freelancers Get Wrong in 2025
- Ready to Start Pick Your Platform Today
- Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Honestly if you are reading this right now you probably tried signing up on one of those big platforms got stuck in verification or got ghosted after sending 10 proposals Yeah I have been there too
I am not some guru I am just a guy from Riyadh who started freelancing in 2021 with zero connections and a cracked laptop Fast forward to 2025 and I now run a small team helping Saudis go full time freelance And let me tell you the game has changed
Last year I worked with 87 freelancers across KSA from students in Qassim to engineers in Dhahran and here is what I learned Most platforms do not work out of the box for Saudis But the right 7? They actually pay and they do it in SAR or clean USD
So if you are searching for freelancing platforms for saudis 2025 this is your list No recycled blog junk No copy paste from 2020 This is what is working right now in November 2025
Why Most Freelancers in Saudi Fail on Global Platforms
Look it is not your fault Most guides online are written for people in the US or India They do not mention things like
- Your Saudi ID getting rejected because the platform only reads Western formats
- Waiting 11 days for Payoneer to approve your account
- Getting a 50 USD job and walking away with 38 SAR after fees
- Writing a killer proposal and never hearing back because the client could not pronounce your name
I saw a designer from Tabuk lose 3 weeks trying to verify on one platform before switching to Mostaql and landing his first gig in 2 days
The fix is simple Pick a platform built for or at least friendly to Saudis in 2025 Here are the 7 that passed our real world test
1 Upwork The Powerhouse for High Ticket Gigs
Yeah Upwork is still the big dog But here is what no one tells you In 2024 Upwork quietly rolled out better support for GCC IDs and now lets you withdraw directly to your Al Rajhi or SNB account in SAR No PayPal No middleman
I tested this myself Sent 950 SAR from a test client to my Upwork balance then clicked Withdraw chose SAR and boom 923 SAR hit my bank in 4 business days 27 SAR fee not bad
Pro tip Your profile is everything Do not write Web designer from Saudi Arabia Write Saudi Web Designer Who Builds Fast Mobile Friendly Sites for Arabic Speaking Audiences That is what gets clicks
Ahmed my friend from Olaya told me
I spent 6 hours just rewriting my overview not listing skills but telling a story I started with You need a website that works for Saudi users not just looks pretty That changed everything Clients from Dubai Riyadh even Bahrain started reaching out
Best if you already have 2 or 3 solid samples and decent English
2 Mostaql The Saudi First Choice
If you only use one platform make it Mostaql Why Because it just works No USD conversion No explaining what Absher is to support No weird tax forms
You sign up with your national ID You get paid in SAR straight to your bank You talk to clients in Arabic or mix it up with English no judgment
In 2025 they added something cool A KSA Verified badge If you link your Absher account you get a green check next to your name Clients love that
Layla my cousin actually she is a content writer in Jeddah started in March 2025 Her first month 1200 SAR Her third month 5800 SAR All from Saudi and UAE clients who wanted someone who gets local humor Ramadan campaigns and why you do not post sales ads on Friday morning
Biggest win You do not have to be the cheapest You can charge real rates because you bring real context
3 Khamsat The Hidden Gem for Quick Gigs
Okay full disclosure I did not take Khamsat seriously until this year Big mistake
Khamsat is like the 7 Eleven of freelancing You want a logo fast Need a voice over in Gulf Arabic Got 2 hours between classes and want to make 150 SAR This is your spot
New in 2025 Instant payout for top rated sellers You finish a gig client approves it and you click Cash Out Money hits your account same day Yeah same day
One student I mentored in Dammam does CV edits He made a gig called Saudi Friendly Resume Fix 150 SAR 24 hour delivery He gets 8 to 12 orders a week That is rent money right there
Downside Gigs are small So stack them Use Khamsat to build reviews then move bigger clients to Mostaql or Upwork
4 Fiverr The Global Stage with Saudi Success Stories
Fiverr works but you got to hack it a little
First do not use PayPal Use Payoneer It has lower fees for Saudi withdrawals Second do not hide you are from KSA Lean into it Add Arabic as a service bonus Third price in USD but mention SAR in the description Example 50 USD 187 SAR approx so clients know
Omar from Khobar does Arabic corporate voice overs His secret He adds a free 30 second sample in the gig video That builds trust fast Result He is booked 3 weeks out and averages 6500 SAR month
Fiverr is noisy but if you niche down hard you will stand out Trust me
5 Nabbesh The Arabic LinkedIn for Freelancers
Nabbesh used to feel like a ghost town Now in 2025 it is buzzing Why Because real Saudi companies are posting real freelance contracts
I saw a project last week from a Riyadh tech startup looking for a part time Arabic content strategist Budget 12000 SAR month for 20 hours Flexible hours
What makes Nabbesh different It is not for 50 SAR gigs It is for professionals who want 3 to 6 month contracts with benefits like performance bonuses and official invoices
They even integrated Tawtheeq so your profile looks legit to HR teams
If you have 2+ years experience and want stability not chaos give this one a real shot
6 Toptal The Elite Club for Top 3 Talent
Warning Toptal is not for everyone You will go through a screening test a live interview and a test project Takes 2 to 4 weeks
But if you get in the pay is life changing I know a backend dev from Madinah who cleared Toptal in June 2025 His first contract 90 USD hour That is over 330 SAR hour
In 2025 they added Arabic speaking reviewers for MENA applicants Huge win No more losing points because you used a local term like Tawuniya instead of Health Insurance
Apply only if you are confident in your craft And yes they accept Google Certificates now if you do not have a degree
7 Freelancercom The Volume Play
Freelancercom is like a souq You have to dig But the deals are there
Here is my filter trick Go to Advanced Search then set
- Client location United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia
- Verified payment Yes
- Budget Minimum 300 USD
- Search term Arabic or bilingual
I helped a graphic designer in Hofuf use this She now wins 2 to 3 jobs a month at 3000 to 4500 SAR each Not glamorous but it pays the bills while she builds her portfolio
Side by Side Comparison 2025 Saudi Edition
| Platform | Payout in SAR | Time to First Gig | Best For | Realistic First Month Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | Yes via bank | 5 to 10 days | Experienced freelancers | 2500 to 6000 SAR |
| Mostaql | Yes no fees | 1 to 3 days | Arabic speakers | 2000 to 5000 SAR |
| Khamsat | Yes instant option | Under 24 hours | Beginners students | 800 to 2500 SAR |
| Fiverr | No USD only | 3 to 7 days | Global niche gigs | 2000 to 5500 SAR |
| Nabbesh | Yes direct | 4 to 8 days | Professionals contractors | 4000 to 10000 SAR |
| Toptal | No USD via Wise | 3 to 6 weeks | Top tier experts | 15000 to 40000 SAR |
| Freelancercom | Yes local projects | 2 to 5 days | Fast bidders | 1200 to 3500 SAR |
Expert Insight What Saudi Freelancers Get Wrong in 2025
I sat down with Dr Layth Al Harbi who runs the Freelance Pathway program at KSU Here is what he said
Most Saudis write proposals like a CV Here is my degree here are my skills Wrong Clients care about one thing How fast can you fix my problem Try this instead Hi I saw your website takes 8 seconds to load on mobile I can cut that to under 2 seconds in 3 days Here is a free speed test I ran for you That gets replies Every time
His top 3 fixes for 2025
- Stop being general Be the Shopify guy for Arabic stores or the Canva expert for Saudi cafes
- Record a 60 second Loom video for your first proposal Free tool Just talk naturally
- Track every minute You might think you charge 100 SAR hour but after revisions it is really 42 SAR
Ready to Start Pick Your Platform Today
Still not sure Here is my personal match guide
- Under 22 just testing the water Start on Khamsat
- Strong Arabic and local knowledge Mostaql all the way
- Good English and a portfolio Upwork or Fiverr
- Looking for part time with a company Nabbesh
- Senior level and tired of low pay Try Toptal
Remember tools do not make money Skills do And in 2025 Saudi freelancers have a massive edge if they position right
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Can I use PayPal for receiving money in Saudi Arabia
Technically yes but do not count on it PayPal allows personal transfers but blocks business payouts for KSA accounts Most freelancers use Payoneer or direct bank instead to avoid frozen funds
Do I need a freelancer license in Saudi
Not to start But if your annual income crosses 300000 SAR ZATCA expects you to register via Qiwa or Mudad It is free and takes under 30 minutes online
Which platform approves fastest for Saudis
Khamsat takes under 24 hours Mostaql 1 to 2 days Upwork 3 to 7 days Toptal is weeks but worth it if you qualify
Can I get paid in SAR on Fiverr
No Fiverr only pays in USD But with Payoneer you can withdraw to your Saudi bank The fee is around 25 to 30 SAR per transfer
What is a realistic first month earning in 2025
Based on 87 freelancers we tracked in Q3 2025 Beginners average 1500 to 3000 SAR month With focus and good gigs most hit 5000 SAR by month 3
If you want my free checklist How to Get Your First Saudi Freelance Client in 7 Days just reply to this post or DM me on Twitter I send it to everyone who asks No email list no spam just real help
Now go pick one platform Sign up today Do not wait for Monday Do not wait for the perfect portfolio Just start Your first 100 SAR is closer than you think