Engineering Saudization: 30% Rate, 46 Professions and SCE Accreditation

What is the Saudization rate for engineering jobs in 2026?

Engineering Saudization is a 30% localization requirement across 46 targeted engineering professions. It applies to establishments with five or more workers in those roles and took effect on 30 June 2026.

MHRSD announced the decision in early 2026, in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, alongside the procurement decision. It set a six-month grace period. It differs from the project management, procurement, marketing and sales rules in two ways. The rate is lower, at 30%, and counting is tougher: a Saudi engineer counts only with a salary of at least SAR 8,000 and professional accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE).

Which professions does it cover?

The decision covers 46 engineering professions under the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations. MHRSD's announcement names these as examples:

Law firm summaries describe the wider scope as covering civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, architectural, environmental, industrial and mining disciplines. MHRSD's announcement does not print all 46 titles, and we do not publish occupation codes for this rule because we have not verified them in a procedural guide. Use the official list to check each registered occupation. Our job title mapping guide explains how to match titles to codes.

Which employers must comply?

The rule applies to establishments employing five or more workers across the 46 covered engineering professions. The trigger is the covered engineering headcount, not total staff. That is a higher threshold than the three-worker trigger in most other profession rules, so small practices with four engineers are outside it.

MHRSD describes the minimum wage as applying in the private and non-profit sectors. Contractors, consultancies, utilities, manufacturers and developers with five or more registered engineers are the typical employers in scope.

How do you calculate the 30% requirement?

Saudi engineers required = workers in the covered professions x 30%. Only Saudis paid at least SAR 8,000 a month and holding SCE accreditation count toward the rate. Other Saudis stay in your headcount but not in the compliant total.

MHRSD's guides for its marketing, sales and project management decisions round to the nearest whole number, with 0.5 and above rounding up. We have not verified the same wording in the engineering guide, so the table below is an illustration that assumes the same rounding. Confirm it against the guide before relying on it.

Here is a worked example. A firm has 20 engineers, of whom 5 are Saudi. Three of those five earn SAR 8,000 or more and hold SCE accreditation. One earns SAR 7,500. One has no SCE accreditation yet. The firm needs 6 qualifying Saudis and has 3, so it is 3 short, even though 5 of 20 looks like 25%. See salary thresholds for how this differs from the Nitaqat pay rules.

How does the SCE accreditation requirement work?

A Saudi engineer must hold professional accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers to count. MHRSD states the requirement in its announcement. Law firm summaries add that the engineer should hold a recognized engineering or technical bachelor's degree with valid SCE registration.

Accreditation is a personal credential, not a company one. The employer cannot confer it, but it can support the process. The accreditation process is run by SCE, not MHRSD, so check SCE's current requirements before planning a pipeline.

How does this rule relate to Nitaqat?

They are separate tests and an employer must pass both. Nitaqat bands the entire establishment on its overall Saudi share. The engineering rule looks only at the 46 covered professions and applies its own salary and accreditation conditions. The pay conditions differ too: for Nitaqat, a Saudi earning SAR 4,000 or more counts as one, while for engineering a Saudi must earn SAR 8,000 or more. MHRSD's project management guide states that Nitaqat classification does not affect a profession rate. See Saudization vs Nitaqat. The Saudization certificate page explains what the certificate is and who gets one, and the Nitaqat overview covers the bands.

Key dates

See every upcoming effective date in the Saudization calendar.

What happens if an establishment does not comply?

MHRSD says establishments that do not comply face statutory penalties after the grace period. Its supervisory teams monitor the targeted professions. MHRSD has not published fine amounts in its engineering announcement. Our guide to Saudization penalties and inspections explains how enforcement works across decisions.

What should employers do now?

1. List all workers registered in the 46 professions, across all branches.
2. Record each Saudi engineer's salary and SCE status. Only those at SAR 8,000 or more with accreditation count.
3. Calculate the gap using the formula and table above.
4. Plan accreditation and pay. Decide who can be accredited, and when, and which hires are needed.
5. Check titles against actual duties. Correct genuine errors; do not reclassify roles to avoid the rule.
6. Use available support. MHRSD points to recruitment support, training programs and Hadaf (HRDF) benefits. See Saudization support programs.

The 90-day readiness checklist turns these steps into a plan.

What does it mean for Saudi professionals?

Saudi engineers with SCE accreditation and the right experience are now more valuable to employers, because they are the only Saudis who count toward the rate. Accreditation, chartered status and project experience improve prospects. Our engineering careers guide covers SCE accreditation, roles and pathways. The rule increases demand but does not guarantee any individual a role.

What does it mean for expat engineers?

The rule does not ban non-Saudi engineers. At 30%, most covered roles can remain non-Saudi, for example up to seven of ten. Establishments with fewer than five covered workers are outside the decision, as are roles registered under other codes. Our expat guide explains how to check whether a profession is affected.

What support is available?

MHRSD states that eligible businesses can access recruitment support, training programs and Hadaf benefits. See Hadaf wage support and the rates database for how engineering compares with other profession rules.