Saudi Arabia is inviting the cream of international talent to work in the kingdom through its Extended Residence Program (Gold Card), a report said.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development invited consultants and agencies to conduct an analysis of what incentives should be provided to attract foreign talent to Saudi Arabia, and how best to implement the program, said a report in Arab News.

The Extended Residence Program is part of the Quality of Life Program 2020, which was launched last year by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.

The initial phase of the project will run over 32 months, from the pilot to the final launch, and will help the ministry to identify the main characteristics of the talent the program should aim to attract, it said.

As well as attracting international talent to the kingdom, the aims of the program are to promote expats’ engagement with Saudi culture, and to increase the acceptance of other cultures among Saudi citizens, the report said.