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Saudized Jobs List 2026

Is this role restricted to Saudi nationals, and what share must be Saudi?

Checked against HRSD rules · reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · next review 1 Jan 2027

Every Saudized profession group with the Saudi share required today, the next step and when it starts. Search a job title, or check whether your role and headcount trigger a rule.

How to read the Saudized jobs list

Each row is one HRSD localisation decision. 'Saudi share now' is the percentage of workers in that job group who must be Saudi on today's date; 'Next step' shows a scheduled increase or a rule that hasn't started yet. 'Applies with' is the minimum number of workers in the group before the rule bites. Saudis needed are always rounded up: 5 accountants at 40% means 2 Saudis. Some decisions also set a minimum salary for a Saudi to count.

Saudization (Saudisation): Saudi Arabia's private-sector localisation policy, set by HRSD.
Localisation decision: A ministerial decision that reserves a share of a profession for Saudis from a set date.
Nitaqat: The establishment-wide Saudization band system, based on the weighted share of Saudis.
Qiwa: The labour platform where contracts are documented and where Nitaqat bands are shown.

Check before you hire

Each decision covers a specific list of job titles. Match the exact title on the worker's contract and Qiwa record, not just the group name.
Dates marked 'about' follow a grace period announced with the decision; HRSD can extend or bring them forward.
Minimum salary rules marked as secondary sources come from law-firm summaries until the official guide is confirmed.
This list covers profession decisions only. Your overall Nitaqat band is checked separately on Qiwa.

Data Sources

Hiring Saudis for these roles

Post the role free on MenaJobs with "Saudi nationals preferred" in the description, written with our job description generator. Hiring in the UAE as well? Check your quota with the Emiratisation calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Saudized job?

A Saudized (localised) profession is one where a Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) decision requires a minimum share of the people doing that job to be Saudi nationals. At 100% the job is reserved for Saudis only; at 30–70% you need that share of Saudis among everyone in the job group. Each decision lists the exact job titles it covers.

Which jobs are 100% Saudi-only?

Remote customer service jobs (call centre, chat, email and social media support) have been 100% Saudi since 2021, and 19 core administrative roles such as secretary, data entry and HR clerk are reserved for Saudis. From 5 October 2026 a further 50 administrative roles — including receptionist, public relations, recruitment and HR specialist — become 100% Saudi-only as well.

Does Saudization apply to small companies?

Many profession decisions only apply once you have a minimum number of workers in that job group — for example 3 or more in marketing, sales or procurement, 4 in optics and 5 in accounting, engineering and pharmacy. The table shows the threshold for each group, and the checker below the table tells you whether your headcount triggers it.

How is this different from Nitaqat?

Nitaqat sets the overall Saudi percentage your whole establishment needs for its activity and size, which decides your band. Profession Saudization decisions apply on top of that, to specific job groups. A company can be in a good Nitaqat band and still breach a profession decision, so check both.

Do Saudis need a minimum salary to count?

For some professions, yes: engineers count only with a GOSI-registered wage of at least SAR 8,000 and Saudi Council of Engineers accreditation; accountants with SAR 6,000 (bachelor's) or SAR 4,500 (diploma); dentists SAR 9,000 and pharmacists SAR 7,000 under the reported decisions. Where we rely on a secondary source we say so in the row.

How often is this list updated?

Saudization decisions change several times a year, so we re-check every profession at least every three months and on each decision's start date. The trust line under the table shows when the list was last reviewed and when the next review is due. Always confirm the exact job titles in HRSD's procedural guide or on Qiwa before you hire.

Hiring nationals? Every month a role stays open costs you.

Post your roles free in about 2 minutes and say in the description which nationality you prefer. We review every post; once approved it goes live to job seekers across the GCC.

Post a nationals-preferred role

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Free HR tool · No sign-up

Saudized Jobs List 2026

Is this role restricted to Saudi nationals, and what share must be Saudi?

Checked against HRSD rules · reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · next review 1 Jan 2027

Every Saudized profession group with the Saudi share required today, the next step and when it starts. Search a job title, or check whether your role and headcount trigger a rule.

AllIn forceUpcoming

Showing 14 of 14

Administrative support — 19 core roles (secretary, data entry, HR clerk, personnel manager…)
In force
Saudi share now
100%
Next step
—
Applies with
Any
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 14 Apr 2026HRSD — 100% Saudization of 69 administrative support professions (Fragomen)
Administrative support — 50 added roles (receptionist, PR, recruitment, HR specialist…)
Upcoming
Saudi share now
Not yet
Next step
100% from 5 Oct 2026
Applies with
Any
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 5 Oct 2026HRSD — 100% Saudization of 69 administrative support professions (Fragomen)
Remote customer service (call centre, chat, email, social media)
In force
Saudi share now
100%
Next step
—
Applies with
Any
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 1 Feb 2021HRSD — 100% Saudization of remote customer service (Argaam, Feb 2021)
Marketing (managers, specialists, designers, PR)
In force
Saudi share now
60%
Next step
—
Applies with
3+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 19 Apr 2026HRSD — 60% Saudization in marketing and sales professions (Erickson Immigration Group)
Sales (managers, retail and wholesale reps, IT sales)
In force
Saudi share now
60%
Next step
—
Applies with
3+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 19 Apr 2026HRSD — 60% Saudization in marketing and sales professions (Erickson Immigration Group)
Procurement (purchasing, contracts, tenders, warehouse, logistics)
In force
Saudi share now
70%
Next step
—
Applies with
3+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 31 May 2026HRSD — 70% Saudization in procurement professions from 31 May 2026
Accounting (44 roles: accountant, financial manager, auditor…)
In force
Saudi share now
40%
Next step
50% from 27 Oct 2026
Applies with
5+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
SAR 6,000
Effective 27 Oct 2025SPA / HRSD — Localization decisions for 269 professions (dental, pharmacy, accounting, engineering)
Engineering (46 technical engineering professions)
In force
Saudi share now
30%
Next step
—
Applies with
5+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
SAR 8,000
Effective 27 Jul 2025SPA / HRSD — New Saudization measures for engineering and procurement (SAR 8,000 counted wage)
Dentistry
In force
Saudi share now
55%
Next step
—
Applies with
3+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
SAR 9,000
Effective 27 Jan 2026SPA / HRSD — Localization decisions for 269 professions (dental, pharmacy, accounting, engineering)
Pharmacy — community pharmacies and medical complexes
In force
Saudi share now
35%
Next step
—
Applies with
5+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
SAR 7,000
Effective 27 Jul 2025SPA / HRSD — Localization decisions for 269 professions (dental, pharmacy, accounting, engineering)
Pharmacy — hospitals
In force
Saudi share now
65%
Next step
—
Applies with
5+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
SAR 7,000
Effective 27 Jul 2025SPA / HRSD — Localization decisions for 269 professions (dental, pharmacy, accounting, engineering)
Pharmacy — other pharmacy activities
In force
Saudi share now
55%
Next step
—
Applies with
5+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
SAR 7,000
Effective 27 Jul 2025SPA / HRSD — Localization decisions for 269 professions (dental, pharmacy, accounting, engineering)
Optics (optometrist, optical technician)
In force
Saudi share now
50%
Next step
—
Applies with
4+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 18 Mar 2023HRSD — Optics sector Saudization resolution enters into force
Project management (manager, engineer, specialist)
Upcoming
Saudi share now
Not yet
Next step
70% from 14 Feb 2027
Applies with
3+ in the group
Min. Saudi salary
—
Effective 14 Feb 2027SPA / HRSD — 70% Saudization of project management professions

Profession group	Saudi share now	Next step	Applies with	Min. Saudi salary	Source
Administrative support — 19 core roles (secretary, data entry, HR clerk, personnel manager…)In force	100%	—	Any	—	Effective 14 Apr 2026Source
Administrative support — 50 added roles (receptionist, PR, recruitment, HR specialist…)Upcoming	Not yet	100% from 5 Oct 2026	Any	—	Effective 5 Oct 2026Source
Remote customer service (call centre, chat, email, social media)In force	100%	—	Any	—	Effective 1 Feb 2021Source
Marketing (managers, specialists, designers, PR)In force	60%	—	3+ in the group	—	Effective 19 Apr 2026Source
Sales (managers, retail and wholesale reps, IT sales)In force	60%	—	3+ in the group	—	Effective 19 Apr 2026Source
Procurement (purchasing, contracts, tenders, warehouse, logistics)In force	70%	—	3+ in the group	—	Effective 31 May 2026Source
Accounting (44 roles: accountant, financial manager, auditor…)In force	40%	50% from 27 Oct 2026	5+ in the group	SAR 6,000	Effective 27 Oct 2025Source
Engineering (46 technical engineering professions)In force	30%	—	5+ in the group	SAR 8,000	Effective 27 Jul 2025Source
DentistryIn force	55%	—	3+ in the group	SAR 9,000	Effective 27 Jan 2026Source
Pharmacy — community pharmacies and medical complexesIn force	35%	—	5+ in the group	SAR 7,000	Effective 27 Jul 2025Source
Pharmacy — hospitalsIn force	65%	—	5+ in the group	SAR 7,000	Effective 27 Jul 2025Source
Pharmacy — other pharmacy activitiesIn force	55%	—	5+ in the group	SAR 7,000	Effective 27 Jul 2025Source
Optics (optometrist, optical technician)In force	50%	—	4+ in the group	—	Effective 18 Mar 2023Source
Project management (manager, engineer, specialist)Upcoming	Not yet	70% from 14 Feb 2027	3+ in the group	—	Effective 14 Feb 2027Source

Does my role trigger it?

Job title

Staff in this job group (all nationalities)

Type a job title to check it against the Saudized professions list.

Checked against HRSD rules · reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · next review 1 Jan 2027Sources: HRSD — 70% Saudization in procurement professions from 31 May 2026 · SPA / HRSD — Localization decisions for 269 professions (dental, pharmacy, accounting, engineering) · HRSD — Procedural manual, Saudization of technical engineering professions · SPA / HRSD — New Saudization measures for engineering and procurement (SAR 8,000 counted wage) · HRSD — Optics sector Saudization resolution enters into force · SPA / HRSD — 70% Saudization of project management professions · HRSD — 100% Saudization of 69 administrative support professions (Fragomen) (secondary) · HRSD — 100% Saudization of remote customer service (Argaam, Feb 2021) (secondary) · HRSD — 60% Saudization in marketing and sales professions (Erickson Immigration Group) (secondary)

How to read the Saudized jobs list

Saudization (Saudisation): Saudi Arabia's private-sector localisation policy, set by HRSD.
Localisation decision: A ministerial decision that reserves a share of a profession for Saudis from a set date.
Nitaqat: The establishment-wide Saudization band system, based on the weighted share of Saudis.
Qiwa: The labour platform where contracts are documented and where Nitaqat bands are shown.

Check before you hire

Each decision covers a specific list of job titles. Match the exact title on the worker's contract and Qiwa record, not just the group name.
Dates marked 'about' follow a grace period announced with the decision; HRSD can extend or bring them forward.
Minimum salary rules marked as secondary sources come from law-firm summaries until the official guide is confirmed.
This list covers profession decisions only. Your overall Nitaqat band is checked separately on Qiwa.

Data Sources

Hiring Saudis for these roles

Frequently asked questions

What is a Saudized job?

Which jobs are 100% Saudi-only?

Does Saudization apply to small companies?

How is this different from Nitaqat?

Do Saudis need a minimum salary to count?

How often is this list updated?

Hiring nationals? Every month a role stays open costs you.

Post your roles free in about 2 minutes and say in the description which nationality you prefer. We review every post; once approved it goes live to job seekers across the GCC.

Post a nationals-preferred role