Saudi Arabia

Saudisation, Labour Law and Saudi HR News

Saudi HR news, workforce policy and hiring intelligence for employers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Workforce nationalisation in the Kingdom operates under the Nitaqat system, requiring private sector employers to maintain mandated Saudisation ratios across tiered colour bands to secure work visas and operational permits. Regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) alongside HADAF, Saudisation is enforced through sector-specific localisation decrees and managed digitally via the Qiwa platform. Saudisation is also written Saudization.

Private sector employment is governed by the Saudi Labour Law issued under Royal Decree No. M/51 of 2005, substantially amended by Cabinet Decision No. 117 of 6 August 2024 and Royal Decree No. 44 of 12 August 2024, in force since 19 February 2025, with updated Implementing Regulations effective 20 February 2025. The amendments revised 38 articles, removed seven and added two, overhauling probation rules, standardising termination and severance, extending maternity leave to 12 weeks, introducing paternity and bereavement leave, mandating employer training obligations for Saudi nationals, and strengthening MHRSD powers to withhold work permit renewals for Saudisation breaches.

StrongYes covers HR, hiring, labour policy, executive appointments and workplace technology across Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, NEOM and the special economic zones, for CHROs, HR heads and recruiters who need to know what is changing and what it means for their workforce.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Saudisation quotas, Nitaqat bands and sector-specific localisation decrees
  • Saudi Labour Law updates, Implementing Regulations and MHRSD compliance deadlines
  • Qiwa contract authentication, work permits and transfer rules
  • HADAF wage subsidies, training programmes and employer incentives
  • Wage Protection System (WPS), Mudad and GOSI compliance
  • End-of-service award (EOSA), notice periods and termination procedures
  • Executive appointments, C-suite movements and hiring trends

Key topics: Saudisation, Saudization, Nitaqat, Saudi Labour Law, Royal Decree No. 44 of 1446H, Implementing Regulations, MHRSD, HADAF, Qiwa, Mudad, Wage Protection System, End-of-Service Award, GOSI, Vision 2030.

Essential Reading

Saudization 2026: The Complete Compliance and Strategy Guide for HR Leaders in Saudi Arabia,  everything employers need on targets, incentives and compliance.