palm.hr

What palm.hr does

palm.hr (legal entity PalmHR LLC) is a Saudi Arabia-based cloud HR and payroll SaaS platform serving small and medium enterprises across the Middle East and GCC region. The company offers an all-in-one workforce management system combining employee profile management, GPS- and biometric-enabled time and attendance tracking, WPS-compliant payroll processing, and labor-law compliance tooling for UAE and Saudi Arabia — including Emirates ID tracking, GPSSA pension calculations, end-of-service benefit automation, and integration with regional government platforms (GOSI, MOHRE, Muqeem, QIWA, Mudad, Absher). The product is organized into core modules (People, Time, Pay, Platform) and add-on modules (Performance Management with OKR tracking, an AI-assisted Applicant Tracking System, and Project Time Tracking), with an Outsourced HR managed-service line staffed by certified professionals for companies that lack in-house HR capacity.

The platform is cloud-native with native iOS and Android mobile applications and a REST API with granular read/write permissions that supports real-time integration with ERPs (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics 365, NetSuite), accounting platforms (Xero, QuickBooks, Zoho, Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo, Tally), biometric hardware (ZKTeco, CAMS), and Zapier-driven connectivity to 5,000+ additional applications. AI usage is limited to text generation (job descriptions) and keyword retrieval (CV search) inside the ATS module, with no evidence of proprietary models or AI-native architecture. Revenue is generated through tiered annual SaaS subscriptions (Starter at 1,000 AED/year for up to 15 employees, with quote-based Core, Professional, and Enterprise tiers), add-on module fees, and Outsourced HR services.

The company employs 51–100 staff across offices in Riyadh (legal HQ, governed by Saudi law) and Dubai (regional hub serving UAE), with primary go-to-market across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt. palm.hr has raised a $5 million Pre-Series A round in February 2023 co-led by Speedinvest and Raed Ventures (with Wamda Capital participating), alongside earlier undisclosed rounds from Nama Ventures and DAAL, and is led by Co-CEO Christoffer Haraldsson.

Name

palm.hr

Legal name

PalmHR LLC

Website

https://palmhr.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

palm.hr is a Saudi Arabia-based cloud HR and payroll SaaS platform serving small and medium enterprises across the Middle East. Its unified system covers employee management, time tracking, payroll, and GCC labor law compliance, complemented by outsourced HR services and accounting integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HR & Payroll Software

NAICS

Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Payroll Services (541214)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACAPAA

Core HR & HRIS

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Human Capital Management (HCM) & HR Tech

SECONDARYBPACAIAB

Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Payroll Services & Workforce Administration

SECONDARYBPACAKAD

Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/HR Outsourcing (HRO) & Shared Services

SECONDARYBPACAKAC

HR Operations Administration (HRIS Admin, Records, Employee Data Mgmt)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/HR Outsourcing (HRO) & Shared Services

SECONDARYFSAMAKAB

Employer of Record (EOR) & Global Payroll

Financial & Insurance/Payments & Transaction Processing/Payroll & Payouts / Disbursements

Keywords

• HR payroll software
• Workforce management
• Employee management
• GCC compliance software
• Time attendance tracking

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription Plans: Tiered subscription model with four tiers: Starter (1,000 AED/year, up to 15 employees), Core (minimum 10 employees), Professional, and Enterprise. Plans include core HR features with escalating capabilities around payroll, multi-company management, custom permissions, and priority support. Annual billing offers 20% savings compared to monthly.
2. Add-on Module Revenue: Additional revenue from optional modules including Biometric Device Integration (CAMS and ZKTeco), Project Time Tracking, Performance Management, and ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that extend base subscription functionality.
3. Outsourced HR Services: HR Concierge service providing certified HR professionals to manage payroll, compliance, documentation, insurance, and employee requests. Delivered as a managed service with dedicated HR specialists, offering senior-level expertise at a fraction of full-time HR staff costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

palm.hr is a cloud-based SaaS HR and payroll platform purpose-built for SMEs in the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, GCC). It unifies employee management, time and attendance, payroll (with WPS/GPSSA compliance), performance, recruitment, and project time tracking in one system, complemented by an optional Outsourced HR Concierge service staffed by certified HR professionals.

Product overview

palm.hr is an all-in-one HR and payroll platform built specifically for SMEs in the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, GCC). The platform operates as a unified system combining core modules (People Management, Time & Attendance, Payroll Processing, and Platform administration) with optional add-on modules (Performance Management, ATS, and Project Time Tracking) and Outsourced HR Services. All modules share a common data layer enabling integrated workflows between employee management, time tracking, payroll, and compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• palm.hr All-in-One HR & Payroll Platform Unified cloud-based HR and payroll platform for SMEs in the Middle East, combining employee management, time tracking, payroll processing, performance, recruitment, and compliance into one integrated system with tiered subscription plans (Starter, Core, Professional, Enterprise).
• Performance Management Add-on OKR and goal tracking module with cascading objectives, KPI creation using To-Do / Range / Task measurement types, structured 1-on-1 meetings, approval workflows, and automated check-in reminders.
• Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Add-on end-to-end recruitment module with AI-generated job descriptions, visual Kanban candidate pipeline, customizable application forms, collaborative team hiring with ratings, career page publishing, recruitment analytics, and automated email notifications.
• Project Time Tracking (Billable Hours) Add-on billable time tracking module with project setup, flexible billing rates (standard, per-person, compensation package), timer or timesheet entry, multi-level approval workflows up to 5 steps, budget vs. actual insights, and resource utilization reporting.
• Outsourced HR Services (HR Concierge) Managed HR service providing dedicated certified HR professionals who manage payroll, compliance, documentation, insurance, onboarding/offboarding, leave administration, regulatory compliance (MOHRE, GPSSA, TASHEEL), and employee requests — delivered via the palm.hr platform for companies entering or operating in the GCC.
• Wafeq Accounting Integration Native integration that automatically syncs palm.hr HR and payroll data (payroll journals, end-of-service provisions, leave accruals, pension entries, employee expenses) into Wafeq's Arabic-first accounting and e-invoicing platform for MENA businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced payroll processing time from days to minutes through one-click automated payroll
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• WafeqflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025Strategic partnership announced October 2025 connecting palm.hr HR and payroll data with Wafeq's accounting and e-invoicing platform. The integration enables automatic sync of payroll journals, end-of-service provisions, leave accruals, pension entries, and employee expenses. Joint go-to-market with executive quotes from both Co-CEO Christoffer Haraldsson (palm.hr) and VP Maher Aoun (Wafeq).
• ZKTecocoreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration with ZKTeco biometric hardware (fingerprint, face, palm verification terminals) for real-time attendance data sync. Eliminates manual attendance tracking and buddy punching. Setup completed directly from within palm.hr platform.
• CAMScoreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration with CAMS cloud-based biometric attendance system featuring fingerprint, face recognition, and RFID support. Real-time attendance sync with palm.hr. Device verification and server configuration required for setup.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationAccounting integration enabling automated journal entries for payroll, end-of-service accruals, leave provisions, and pension entries to sync directly to Xero accounting software. Part of palm.hr's accounting integration marketplace.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationAccounting integration for automated financial data sync between palm.hr payroll and QuickBooks. Enables payroll accuracy validation against chart of accounts and seamless expense management.
• NetSuitecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Oracle NetSuite cloud ERP platform for enterprise-grade financial operations. Enables bidirectional sync of employee and payroll data for organizations using NetSuite as their accounting system.
• ZohocoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Zoho Books for automated payroll journal entries and expense synchronization. Part of comprehensive accounting integration support for Zoho ecosystem users.
• Dynamics 365coreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Dynamics 365 ERP integration for enterprise customers requiring advanced financial operations capabilities. Enables payroll data sync and compliance reporting within the Microsoft ecosystem.
• QoyodcoreTechnology or IntegrationSaudi-focused cloud accounting integration with Zakat and tax compliance built-in. Provides localized accounting solution for palm.hr customers operating in Saudi Arabia.
• OdoocoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Odoo open-source ERP platform. Enables palm.hr HR and payroll data to sync with Odoo's modular business management applications.
• ZapiercoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomation integration via Zapier enabling palm.hr to connect with 5,000+ apps including Slack, Gmail, Google Sheets, Google Drive, Notion, Calendly, and Trello. Users create automated workflows without code for HR notifications, document workflows, employee onboarding, and data sync.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bayzat: UAE-based HR, payroll, and employee benefits platform serving SMEs and enterprises across the GCC. Directly competes with palm.hr on payroll, HRIS, and insurance administration for the same regional customer base.
• ZenHR: MENA-focused cloud HR and payroll platform serving SMEs across the Middle East. Closely comparable in target segment (regional SMEs), feature set (payroll, leave, attendance), and compliance focus.
• PeopleStrong: HR technology and payroll SaaS platform targeting emerging markets with localized compliance. Comparable in positioning (HCM SaaS for non-US markets) and mid-market customer focus.

Emerging players

• Darwinbox: Global HCM platform that expanded from India into Southeast Asia and MENA. Competes in the same mid-market HR SaaS category with comparable modular product architecture.
• Deel: Global EOR and payroll platform rapidly expanding into MENA. Overlaps on multi-country payroll and global employer-of-record services for companies hiring in Saudi Arabia and UAE.
• Remote: Global EOR and payroll provider competing for cross-border hiring into MENA. Overlaps with palm.hr's multi-country payroll and Outsourced HR capabilities.
• Globalization Partners: Global EOR platform with established MENA presence. Directly comparable on managed payroll and employer-of-record services for companies entering GCC markets.

Broad incumbents

• BambooHR: Leading global SMB HRIS platform with established brand. Comparable on core HR/employee record focus and SMB tier, though lacks palm.hr's GCC compliance depth.
• Zoho People: Broad suite HR module from Zoho, widely adopted by SMBs globally. Competes on employee management and attendance, though limited regional compliance features.
• Rippling: Global HR + IT platform combining payroll, benefits, and device management. Expanding internationally with well-funded go-to-market; broader feature set but lacks GCC-specific compliance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/palmhr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about palm.hr