Saudi Arabia boosts citizen employment with new admin job rules

07/04/2026 03:44 AST

Saudi Arabia has expanded its Saudization program to cover 69 additional administrative support professions in the private sector, mandating full nationalization of those roles from April 5.

The move, announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, extends 100 percent Saudization to a wider set of job categories, including secretarial work, translation, data entry and other administrative functions. The decision applies to all establishments employing at least one worker in the covered professions.

The ministry said the update aligns with job definitions under the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations and is part of broader efforts to boost national workforce participation and create more employment opportunities across the Kingdom.

The Saudization program, introduced in 2011, requires private firms to meet hiring quotas for nationals under the Nitaqat system, supporting Vision 2030 goals to boost local employment and private sector participation. "The update comes as part of the ministry's efforts to enhance the participation of national talent in the labor market and to provide stimulating and productive job opportunities for citizens across the Kingdom's regions," HRSD said in a release.

Companies will be required to comply with the new rules under updated procedural guidelines published by the ministry, with penalties in place for violations. The ministry has published the updated procedural guide on its website, outlining details of the new professions and implementation mechanisms, and urged all establishments to comply with the decision.

Saudi Arabia has continued to expand and tighten its nationalization framework under its broader labor market strategy, with measures issued in January targeting marketing and sales professions in the private sector.

Arab News