The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, has announced two decisions to raise Saudization rates in specialized professions, aiming to enhance Saudi participation in the labor market and provide quality job opportunities.
The first decision increases Saudization in engineering professions to 30 percent and raises the minimum wage to $2,132.93 (SAR 8,000) in the private and non-profit sectors.
It applies to establishments with five or more employees in 46 specified roles, including architect, power generation engineer, and industrial engineer, with accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers required. Implementation begins six months after issuance.
The second decision raises Saudization to 70 percent in procurement professions within the private sector. It applies to establishments employing three or more workers in 12 key roles, such as procurement manager, contracts manager, and warehouse keeper. This decision also allows a six-month preparation period before enforcement.
The ministry also emphasized that these measures will improve the work environment, expand job opportunities for Saudi citizens, and increase participation in vital sectors.
A procedural guide has been published on the ministry’s website, detailing targeted professions, Saudization calculation methods, and compliance steps. Establishments are urged to adhere to the requirements to avoid penalties.
The ministry explained that private sector establishments will benefit from the package of incentives provided by the human resources and social development system, which includes support for recruitment, training and qualification, employment, job stability, and priority access to localization support programs and the Human Resources Development Fund “Hadaf”.
