Administrative Support Saudization: 4 October 2026 Phase 2 Deadline

On 4 October 2026, the grace period ended for administrative support Saudization phase 2. Fifty of the 69 administrative support professions that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) localized at 100% in April 2026 are now subject to the full Saudi-only requirement. The other 19 professions have applied since April.

What happened on 4 October 2026?

A six-month grace period came to an end. MHRSD's update to its administrative support localization decision took effect on 5 April 2026 and was announced through the Saudi Press Agency on 6 April. It added 69 professions at a 100% rate. For 19 of them, the requirement applied at once. For the remaining 50, MHRSD allowed six months, which ended on 4 October 2026.

BAL describes 4 October as the end of the grace period, and MHRSD announced on 4 October 2026 that the decision took effect that day. Fragomen gives 5 October as the date the requirement applies to the remaining 50 roles. The practical position is the same: the 50 professions are now covered.

Who is affected?

Private-sector establishments with one or more workers in a covered profession. The decision sets no minimum headcount beyond one, so one covered employee is enough to bring an establishment into scope. At 100%, every worker in a covered profession must be a Saudi national.

A single decision covers all sectors. Wellness centers and spas also have their own activity-specific rule, covered in our wellness center and spa Saudization page.

Which professions came into force in October?

The 50 professions that had a grace period include office, HR, logistics and public relations roles. Fragomen's examples are inventory movement clerk, shipping clerk, receptionist, public relations specialist, HR consultant and recruitment specialist. MHRSD's procedural guide holds the full list.

The first 19, in force since 5 April, include data entry operator, secretary, executive secretary, personnel manager and labor affairs manager. The administrative support Saudization page sets out the full structure of the decision, and our list of 100% Saudization professions shows where it sits among the Saudi-only roles.

What should employers check now?

This is a description of what the rule asks, not legal advice. Employers with staff in these roles may want to work through the points below.

1. Compare your registered occupations to the guide's 69 professions, including branches. The job title mapping guide explains how occupation codes work.
2. Check actual duties against registered occupations. Law-firm alerts note that giving a Saudized occupation's duties to a non-Saudi under another title may lead to penalties.
3. Review contracts on Qiwa so that Saudi employees are recorded correctly.
4. Plan any gaps. MHRSD lists recruitment assistance, training, qualification, employment support and programs through Hadaf. See Saudization support programs.

MHRSD states that regulatory penalties apply to violators. How inspections and penalties work is explained in our guide to Saudization violations and penalties.

What does it mean for Saudi job seekers?

All covered administrative support roles are now reserved for Saudis. That includes office, HR administration, reception and logistics clerk positions. Saudi candidates with these skills now have a defined set of roles that expat applicants cannot fill.

What does it mean for non-Saudi staff?

Non-Saudi employees in a covered profession are affected by the 100% rate. Whether a specific role is covered depends on its registered occupation. Our expat guide explains how to check whether a profession is affected.

What comes next?

The next major dates on the Saudization calendar are 27 October 2026 for accounting (50%), 18 November 2026 for gyms and sports centers and 3 January 2027 for tourism phase 2. See the Saudization calendar for the full list.