List of Professions
under Saudization
Saudi Arabia's Saudization policy requires private sector companies to hire a proportion of Saudi nationals. Specific rules apply to certain jobs and sectors. The guide below covers the professions affected by these national hiring requirements — essential reading for businesses, HR teams, and Saudi jobseekers.
Saudization guides
Saudization Guide
What is Saudization in Saudi Arabia?
Requirements Guide
What are Saudization requirements?
Professions Guide
List of professions — You are here
What professions are Saudized?
Saudized professions are jobs where employers must follow specific national hiring rules. The rules may require that a role is filled by a Saudi national, that a company hires a certain percentage of Saudi employees in that profession, or that Saudi employees meet certain salary or employment conditions to be counted.
Depending on the profession and sector, this may mean:
- A role must be filled by a Saudi national
- A company must hire a certain percentage of Saudi employees in that profession
- A sector must increase Saudi employment over time
- A Saudi employee must meet certain salary conditions to be counted
Some jobs may be fully restricted to Saudi nationals. Others may only require employers to hire a certain percentage of Saudi employees. Employers should not rely on one general rule for all roles — rules vary by profession, sector, and company size.
For an overview of how the compliance system works, read our Saudization requirements guide.
Saudization professions by sector
Saudization in Retail and Customer Service
Retail is one of the most visible sectors affected by Saudization. Large teams across sales, customer service, and store management are all potentially in scope.
Affected roles may include
For employers, these requirements can affect hiring plans, staff training, and branch operations. Investing in Saudi employees helps ensure strong customer service and sales performance.
Saudization in Marketing and Sales
Marketing and sales are important areas for Saudization. These roles help businesses grow and give Saudi nationals the chance to build strong commercial skills.
Affected roles may include
In April 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that Saudization rates for marketing and sales roles would be increased. Saudi employees in these roles bring valuable local market knowledge.
Saudization in HR and Administration
Human resources and administration cover the internal functions that keep a business running. Both areas are an important focus under Saudization.
Affected roles may include
Having Saudi nationals in HR and administrative roles can be particularly valuable for businesses operating in the Kingdom, given their knowledge of local systems and culture.
Saudization in Healthcare and Technical Roles
Some healthcare and technical professions are also included in Saudization plans. These roles may require specialist training, qualifications, or licences.
Affected roles may include
These sectors may have their own Saudization percentages and implementation dates. For Saudi nationals, these sectors offer strong long-term career paths.
Recent Saudization plans cover
269
professions in the private sector
This reflects how broadly localisation applies across the Saudi labour market — from professional and technical roles to healthcare, commercial, and administrative positions.
How businesses can check affected jobs
Businesses can check which roles are affected by reviewing official labour platforms and Ministry of Human Resources announcements. Key factors to review include:
- Company activity and sector
- Number of employees
- Job titles and profession classifications
- Sector-specific rules and required Saudization percentages
- Salary conditions for Saudi employees to be counted
- Start dates for new or updated rules
Businesses should also make sure job titles are accurate. Incorrect job titles can cause compliance issues. Working through these details in advance helps companies identify which roles are covered and reduces last-minute pressure when deadlines approach.
Common challenges for employers
Skills gaps
Some roles need specific experience or qualifications. Employers may need to invest in training to help Saudi employees grow into these positions.
Recruitment and workforce planning
In sectors where demand for Saudi talent is high, recruitment can be slow. Companies may also need to revisit job titles, salary structures, and employee records to stay compliant.
Keeping up with new rules
Localisation rules can change by profession and sector. HR teams should stay informed and act early when new decisions are announced.
Become more employable with ISM Training
At ISM, we support workforce localisation by helping people build practical workplace skills. Our training programmes focus on communication, leadership, sales, customer service, and digital skills — all useful across many Saudization affected jobs.
Whether you are starting your career or developing your workforce, our courses can support long-term success.
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