Saudi Arabia has announced the expansion of its Saudization policy to fully localize dozens of additional private sector jobs from April 5, 2026. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) announced that the updated decision will cover an additional 69 occupations, all of which require 100% employment of Saudi nationals. The move includes administrative support roles such as secretarial work, translation, data entry and related functions, in line with the Saudi Unified Occupational Classification. The requirement will apply to all businesses that employ one or more employees in these positions. HRSD has also published detailed procedural guidance on its website outlining the newly added job titles and implementation mechanisms. The ministry urged businesses to comply with the decision to avoid regulatory penalties. The ministry said the update was part of its ongoing efforts to localize professional roles in the private sector. Businesses affected by the decision will be able to benefit from support programs and incentives designed to simplify implementation. Saudization is a government initiative aimed at increasing the participation of Saudi nationals in the private sector. It sets recruitment targets for companies to ensure greater participation of local talent across various industries. The latest move builds on an earlier decision announced in January to increase the level of Saudization of engineering and procurement roles. The Saudiization rate for engineering majors will be increased to 30%, while the minimum monthly salary in the private and non-profit sectors will be set at 8,000 Saudi riyals. As part of the second phase of the plan, the ministry also implemented a 55% Saudization requirement for the dental profession in the private sector from January 27. The measure covers 20 dental professionals and a previous phase, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, proposed a target of 45%, which will come into force on July 27, 2025.
