Compiled from Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development decisions — separate from the activity-based Nitaqat system
Last reviewed: 28 September 2026
General principle: when a profession is targeted by more than one decision at different rates, the higher rate always applies, and profession decisions apply regardless of the establishment's Nitaqat band.
Confirmed: rate/date/wage documented on the Ministry's official page or an official statement attributed to it. Pending verification: the decision exists, but the exact figure still needs a direct check of the procedural guide — the link is given instead of a guessed number.
1 — Cross-sector decisions (most establishments)
Administrative support professions (secretarial, translation, storekeeping, data entry)100%Confirmed
Rate
100% (full nationalization) of the targeted professions
Applies to
Any number of workers in the targeted professions, per the latest update
Minimum wage
SAR 5,000 (confirmed for translation and storekeeper roles — other roles not confirmed)
Effective
Original decision: 8 May 2022 · Update (+69 professions): 5 April 2026, grace period until 4 October 2026 for the added professions
Targeted professions: Secretarial, translation, storekeeping and data-entry roles, plus 69 further administrative-support professions added in the 2026 update (full list in the procedural guide).
Source:Ministry statement and Saudi Press Agency statement of 6 April 2026.
Marketing professions30%Confirmed
Rate
30%
Applies to
Establishments with 5 or more workers in marketing roles
100% — covers establishments providing customer service as a main or supporting activity or through outsourcing
Effective
December 2022 (general decision) — plus a newer decision for remote customer service (phone, email, chat, social media): full 100% reservation, 180-day grace period, fines up to SAR 20,000 per violation
Telecommunications & IT professionsPending verification
Ministerial decision 28889 exists jointly with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, but the exact rate is not yet confirmed from a primary source.
2 — Engineering & technical decisions
Engineering professions (general)30%Confirmed
Rate
30% (raised from the previous rate)
Applies to
Establishments with 5 or more workers in engineering roles — jointly with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
Minimum wage
SAR 8,000
Effective
Increase approved: 31 December 2025 · in force: 30 June 2026
The rate was raised in the January 2026 wave of decisions (12 procurement professions alongside 46 engineering ones), but the exact figure is not yet confirmed from a primary source — check the procedural guide on hrsd.gov.sa before relying on it.
3 — Health sector
Health professions (laboratories, radiology, physiotherapy, clinical nutrition)65–80%Confirmed
Targeted professions: Medical optics technician, physics laboratory technician (light & optics), optics technician — professional accreditation from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties required.
Ministerial decision 103111 exists with a published procedural guide, but the exact rate is not yet confirmed from a primary source. Procedural guide (Ministry of Health).
22 April 2026 — 100% for 4 professions, 70% for 12, 50% for 12
Phase 2
3 January 2027 — 30% for one profession
Phase 3
2 January 2028 — 50% for 12 leadership professions
Targeted professions: Examples (full list in the procedural guide): hotel manager, hotel operations manager, hotel inspection manager, travel-agency manager, planning & development manager, tourism development specialist, tourist guidance specialist, tour organizer, hospitality specialist, site guide, procurement specialist, sales specialist, hotel receptionist.
Minimum wages for professions already nationalized under other decisions apply as set in their original decision. Official decision page.
Customs clearance professions70–100%Confirmed
Rate
100% for specific roles · 70% of all workers across customs-clearance activities
Minimum wage
SAR 5,000 for customs broker and customs tariff classifier roles
Targeted professions: At 100%: customs broker, assistant customs broker, tariff classifier, customs-clearance intermediary, general manager.
The exact rate is not yet confirmed from a primary source.
Retail outlets in specific regions (Al-Baha, Northern Borders)100%Confirmed
Rate
Fully reserved for Saudi nationals in specific retail activities
Effective
5 August 2019
Targeted professions: Al-Baha: car dealerships & showrooms, auto spare parts, malls, electrical & electronic appliances, restaurant accountants. Northern Borders: car dealerships, malls, fruit & vegetable markets, mobile carts, livestock markets, charities.
Similar decisions may exist for other regions and were not confirmed in this research.
Method note: This reference is built on the Ministry's official pages and statements attributed to it directly, not on third-party sites. “Pending verification” items are real decisions whose exact figure needs a check of the official guide before relying on it for a hiring decision. Several decisions have been updated more than once; the figures here are the latest update observed. The Ministry issues new nationalization decisions frequently, so hrsd.gov.sa should be reviewed regularly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between profession nationalization decisions and Nitaqat?
Nitaqat classifies the establishment as a whole by its overall nationalization rate, while profession decisions impose a specific rate inside a given profession or group of professions and apply regardless of the establishment's band.
What if a profession is targeted by more than one decision?
The higher rate always applies; this rule is repeated in the official procedural guides.
Is the minimum wage a condition for counting an employee toward the rate?
Yes. Decisions that set a minimum wage require it for a Saudi employee to be counted toward the profession's nationalization rate.
How often is this reference updated?
It is reviewed periodically whenever the Ministry issues new decisions; the last-review date is shown at the top of the page.