Saudization in Saudi Arabia: Rules, Rates and Nitaqat
Saudization is Saudi Arabia's policy requiring private-sector employers to hire Saudi nationals. It works through two separate tests set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD): Nitaqat, which rates every employer from Platinum to Red by its share of Saudi staff, and profession rules, which set a minimum Saudi share for named roles, such as 70% in procurement, 60% in marketing and sales, and 30% in engineering.
Is your profession covered by a Saudization rule?
Check before your next deadline
Rates, thresholds, salary floors and effective dates for every decision we track, each one linked to its MHRSD source.
Open the rates databaseStart Here →
Reading paths for your role
HR leader in KSA
Stay green, meet every profession rule and plan headcount ahead of each deadline.
→ How to meet Saudization targets→ How Nitaqat is calculated→ 90-day readiness checklistMore for HR leaders
→ How to improve your Nitaqat band→ Nitaqat vs profession rules→ How to hire Saudi talent→ Retaining Saudi employees→ Map job titles to occupation codes→ Salary thresholds by profession→ Violations and penalties→ Cost of Saudization→ Hadaf wage support→ Ajeer and temporary workers→ Holding groups and multiple entities→ Special economic zones and RHQs→ How to get a Saudization certificate→ HR and recruitment roles→ Saudization calendarBuilding your career
Which roles employers must now fill with Saudis, and the skills they look for.
→ Careers opening under Saudization→ Project management careers before 2027→ Engineering careers and SCE accreditationPlanning ahead
A factual check of your role against current and announced rules.
→ Is my profession affected?→ Project management changes in 2027→ Professions reserved 100% for SaudisSaudization Percentage by Profession and Sector, 2026 →
The minimum Saudi share each rule requires, usually verified* against the MHRSD website, last checked 9 October 2026
| Rule | Saudi share | Applies to | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project management | 70% | 3+ workers in the 3 targeted professions (entity level) | 14 Feb 2027 |
| Procurement | 70% | 3+ workers in the 12 targeted professions | 31 May 2026 |
| Marketing | 60% | 3+ workers in the 10 targeted professions | 19 Apr 2026 |
| Sales | 60% | 3+ workers in the targeted sales professions (9 occupation codes in the procedural guide) | 19 Apr 2026 |
| Engineering | 30% | 5+ workers in the 46 targeted engineering professions | 30 Jun 2026 |
| Accounting | 50% | 5+ workers in covered accounting professions | 40% since 27 Oct 2025; 50% from 27 Oct 2026 |
| Administrative support | 100% | 1+ worker in the 69 targeted professions | 5 Apr 2026 |
| Housing supervisors | 100% | Collective housing for 20+ residents | 1 Feb 2026 |
| Rule | Saudi share | Applies to | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | 55% | Private-sector establishments with 3+ workers in dental specialties | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Wellness centers and spas | 100% | Administrative roles, 30 job titles | 11 May 2026 |
| Tourism | Phased | Private tourism establishments; 41 professions over three phases (28 in phase 1) | Phase 1: 22 Apr 2026; phase 2: 3 Jan 2027; phase 3: 2 Jan 2028 |
| Gyms and sports centers | 15% | Gyms and sports centers with 4+ workers; 12 sports trainer professions | 18 Nov 2026 |
These profession and sector rules apply on top of Nitaqat, the company-wide Saudization rating. See the full Saudization rates database with salary floors, decisions and sources →
Explore by Topic →
Every page sourced to MHRSD decisions
Regulation Tracker →
Essential Guides →
The pages to read first
The Saudization Hub is StrongYes's reference guide for employers and professionals in Saudi Arabia.
Researched, fact-checked guides on Nitaqat, profession rules, sector rules, salary thresholds and Saudi careers, updated as MHRSD decisions change. Every figure is checked against the official decision where one is available, with secondary sources labelled. Part of StrongYes, a workplace intelligence publication for HR, talent and HRTech leaders in the Middle East.
About StrongYesHow we verifySaudization FAQs
01What is Saudization?
Saudization (also spelled Saudisation; the wider Arabic term for localization is Tawteen) is Saudi Arabia's policy of requiring private-sector employers to hire Saudi nationals. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) runs it through two tests: Nitaqat, which rates each employer by its overall share of Saudi staff, and profession rules, which set a minimum Saudi share for named job titles.
Read more: What Is Saudization? Meaning, Rules and How It Works
02Which professions are Saudized in 2026?
Active profession rules include procurement (70%), marketing (60%), sales (60%), engineering (30%), accounting (40%, rising to 50% on 27 October 2026), 69 administrative support roles (100%) and housing supervisors (100%), with project management (70%) announced for 14 February 2027. Sector rules cover dentistry, pharmacy, tourism, wellness centers and gyms.
Read more: Saudization Rates by Profession: Current Rates and Effective Dates
03What are the Nitaqat bands in 2026?
The Developed Nitaqat program uses five bands: Platinum, High Green, Medium Green, Low Green and Red. Platinum and the upper green bands have full access to ministry services. Low Green and Red carry restrictions.
Read more: Nitaqat Bands 2026: Platinum, High Green, Medium Green, Low Green and Red
04How is the Nitaqat percentage calculated?
Under Developed Nitaqat, the required Saudi percentage follows a logarithmic formula, Y = M ln(X) + C, where X is the size of your workforce and M and C are constants set for each economic activity and band. The threshold therefore changes continuously with workforce size, using activity-specific and band-specific constants, instead of jumping between size brackets.
Read more: How Is Nitaqat Calculated? Formula, Rules and Examples
05What salary does a Saudi employee need to count toward Nitaqat?
A Saudi employee earning SAR 4,000 or more a month counts as one full employee. One earning SAR 3,000 to 3,999 counts as half. Below SAR 3,000, the employee does not count toward the Saudization percentage.
Read more: How Do Saudi Employees Count Toward Saudization and Nitaqat?
06Which jobs are reserved 100% for Saudis?
Roles at 100% include 69 administrative support professions, housing supervisors in collective housing for 20 or more residents, administrative roles in wellness centers and spas, and four tourism front-desk roles (receptionist, hotel receptionist, information clerk and switchboard operator). Older restrictions also cover roles such as HR managers, personnel clerks and cashiers. Coverage follows occupation codes, not informal job titles.
Read more: 100% Saudization Professions in Saudi Arabia: Current List
07What are the penalties for not meeting Saudization rules?
Employers that miss a profession rule face penalties under MHRSD's Schedules of Violations and Penalties. Falling into Low Green or Red also restricts visas, profession changes and, in Red, work permit renewals for non-Saudis.
Read more: Saudization Violations and Penalties: Fake Saudization and Inspections
08What Saudization deadlines are coming up?
The next dates are 27 October 2026 (accounting, 50%), 18 November 2026 (gyms and sports centers, 15%), 3 January 2027 (tourism phase 2) and 14 February 2027 (project management, 70%).
Read more: Saudization Calendar 2026 to 2028: Key Effective Dates
09Where can I check my Nitaqat band?
Your official band is shown on the Qiwa platform, which also offers MHRSD's Nitaqat calculator. The calculator asks for your economic activity and your Saudi and non-Saudi headcount. Treat third-party calculators as estimates only.
Read more: Nitaqat Calculator: How to Calculate Your Band Using Qiwa
10Is my profession affected if I am an expat in Saudi Arabia?
Check your registered occupation against the current and announced profession rules. If your role is covered, your employer has to meet a Saudi percentage for that role; a 100% rule means the role is reserved for Saudi nationals.
Read more: Saudization and Expat Jobs: How to Check If Your Profession Is Affected