Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced tougher Saudisation targets to strengthen national employment in key private-sector professions. Under new rules effective late 2025, companies must now ensure at least 30 % Saudi nationals in engineering roles and 70 % in procurement professions, with a six-month grace period for compliance.
The engineering Saudisation requirement applies to firms with five or more employees in 46 designated engineering jobs, from architects to industrial and power generation engineers — and includes a minimum salary floor of SR8,000 for Saudi engineers in private and non-profit sectors.
Meanwhile, procurement roles such as purchasing managers, contracts managers, warehouse supervisors and logistics specialists must now be staffed predominantly by Saudi citizens under the upgraded 70 % localization quota for companies with three or more eligible employees. Companies will have six months from the issuance of each rule to adjust workforce structures and comply.
Officials say the measures are designed to improve job quality, boost participation of Saudi professionals, and support broader national development goals by increasing local talent presence in specialized and strategic sectors.
