Project Management Saudization for Expatriates: What Changes in 2027

Project management Saudization for expatriates changes the mix of people allowed in three project management occupations from 14 February 2027, not the right of non-Saudis to work in the field. Employers with three or more people in those occupations must fill 70% of them with Saudis. This page explains what that means for a non-Saudi project manager. It describes the rule and gives no immigration advice.

What changes for expat project managers on 14 February 2027?

The employer's required Saudi share rises to 70% in three occupations. The non-Saudi share is capped at what remains.

MHRSD issued Ministerial Decision No. 41454 on 13 August 2026 and announced it on 16 August 2026. A six-month grace period ends on 14 February 2027. The full detail is on our project management Saudization page.

What does 70% mean for the non-Saudi share?

Take the number of people in the three occupations, multiply by 70% and round to the nearest whole number. That is the number of Saudis the employer needs. Everyone else can be non-Saudi.

MHRSD's own example is five employees: 5 multiplied by 70% is 3.5, which rounds to four Saudis. Small teams feel the rounding most.

Example: a team of six

An entity has six people registered in the covered occupations: two Saudi and four non-Saudi. The rule requires four Saudis, so the maximum non-Saudi share is two. Keeping the team at six, the employer is two Saudis short. Adding Saudi hires without changing the rest raises the headcount, so the requirement must be recalculated, as MHRSD's guide notes. How it closes that gap is its decision: hiring, developing internal Saudi staff, or restructuring roles. The rule does not name any individual.

Example: a team of two

An entity has two project managers in Riyadh and none elsewhere in the entity. The rule applies only to establishments with three or more workers in the covered roles, so the decision does not apply. If the entity later grows to three, the threshold is met.

Example: branches

An entity has two covered project managers in Riyadh and two in Jeddah, in the same economic activity. The guide counts at entity level across branches, so that is four people. Four at 70% is 2.8, which rounds to three Saudis.

Which expat project managers are not covered?

Four situations fall outside the decision.

One caution: MHRSD says the decision applies to the listed occupational titles and to actual duties. A project manager registered under another code but doing covered work may still fall under the rule, and MHRSD's guide treats assigning covered duties to a non-Saudi under a different title as a violation. See how to map job titles to occupation codes.

How do I check my own position?

Five checks, in order:

1. Find your registered occupation on your iqama, Absher or Qiwa profile and compare it with codes 121314, 214909 and 242108.
2. Ask HR how many people are in those occupations across the whole entity, including all branches.
3. Work out the required Saudis using the multiplication and rounding rule above.
4. Ask HR about the plan and the timing relative to 14 February 2027.
5. Check your duties against your registered occupation, and tell HR if they differ.

The wider checks for any profession are in the expat guide.

What are the key dates for expat project managers?

Until 14 February 2027, nothing in the decision applies to employers. After it, the employer is measured against the rate. See the full Saudization calendar for other rules, and the Saudization 2027 overview for what else is coming. You can compare with the procurement rule, which also sits at 70% but covers a different set of roles.

What about the employer's side?

Employers must meet the rate once the rule applies, and may use MHRSD-listed support: recruitment assistance, training support, employment support and priority access to localization support programs. The employer-side steps are in the 90-day readiness checklist. Employers may hire Saudi project managers, so demand for Saudi talent rises; see project management careers for Saudis.

What if my situation is unclear?

Ask your HR team first, since it holds your registration and the entity's headcount. For the rule itself, MHRSD's decision and procedural guide are the primary sources. Your residence and work authorization depend on your personal circumstances, so speak to your employer or a qualified adviser. This page is an information resource, not legal or immigration advice. Dates for other rules are in the Saudization calendar.