Hadaf Wage Support: How It Supports Saudization

Hadaf wage support is the HRDF Employment Support product. The Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) pays part of the monthly wage of a Saudi you hire in the private sector, which lowers the cost of meeting your Saudization targets. These are the terms published by HRDF in its 2026 program guide and on its website.

How does Hadaf wage support work?

HRDF starts with a fixed 30% of the employee's monthly wage, for up to 24 months. The wage used is the one registered with GOSI. HRDF may add more for categories that it wants to encourage. The support is paid to the establishment, not to the employee.

The wage band starts at SAR 4,000, the same figure as the Nitaqat full-count line, so a hire registered at SAR 4,000 or more is inside both. Read the counting rules for the conditions that decide whether the same person counts in your Nitaqat percentage.

What extra support can an employer get?

HRDF adds up to 10% for each of these categories:

• Medium, small and micro establishments.
• Non-major cities.
• Targeted occupations and job titles.
• Targeted economic sectors.
• Persons with disabilities.
• Female employees.

The extra support depends on HRDF's targeted campaigns and lists. HRDF publishes a document of targeted activities and professions, which employers should check before assuming a bonus applies. The cap applies to the total, so stacked bonuses cannot take support above SAR 3,000 a month or 50% of the wage.

How much would an employer actually receive?

The table applies HRDF's published rules to illustrative salaries. These are worked examples of the formula, not predictions of what HRDF will approve for any employer.

At SAR 12,000 the base alone exceeds the SAR 3,000 cap, so higher salaries receive a smaller effective percentage. For a SAR 6,000 hire with no extras, 24 months at 30% would total SAR 43,200 at most. Our cost model shows how to treat this offset.

Who is eligible for Hadaf wage support?

The employee

• A Saudi national aged 18 to 60.
• Registered on the HRDF platform and on Jadarat.
• Employed full-time. Part-time and remote work are excluded; see part-time and flexible work.
• Earning SAR 4,000 to 15,000 a month.
• Registered with GOSI at your establishment for at least 90 days. Requests are accepted from day 91 to day 180.
• Not a student, trainee, retiree, business owner or person employed elsewhere.
• Not already supported for 24 months in total, and not in an employment-related training program at the same time.
• Not employed by the same establishment within six months of earlier deregistration.

The establishment

• A private-sector or non-profit establishment.
• Not on the suspension list of the Ministry or HRDF.
• Willing to accept HRDF's terms electronically and register an IBAN.

How do you apply for Hadaf wage support?

1. Register in HRDF e-services using your existing Ministry credentials.
2. Open the Employment Support product.
3. Accept the terms and conditions electronically.
4. Enter the bank name and the establishment's IBAN.
5. Complete the employer and employee data.
6. Submit the request between day 91 and day 180 of the employee's GOSI registration.

HRDF lists a contact line on 8001222030 and the address info@hrdf.org.sa. Processing takes 30 to 180 days, so plan cash flow on the assumption that the first payment arrives well after the hire's start date.

Do the percentages and caps change?

HRDF can change terms and runs targeted campaigns. The figures on this page come from HRDF's February 2026 program guide and its Employment Support pages, as read in October 2026. Before you rely on them for a budget, check the current terms on hrdf.org.sa. If a figure on HRDF's site differs from ours, HRDF's is the authority.

How does wage support relate to Saudization compliance?

Wage support makes a hire cheaper but does not make the hire count. For Nitaqat, the Saudi still needs a documented Qiwa contract and a counting salary. For a profession rule, the salary must also clear the floor, such as SAR 5,500 for marketing or SAR 8,000 for engineering. The salary thresholds page lists them, and the rates database shows which rules apply to your roles.

HRDF's other programs, including Tamheer graduate training and strategic partnership support, are on the support programs overview.

For the full employer plan, see the employer guide, and for dates, the Saudization calendar.