What is Saudization and how can I comply with Saudization targets?
What is Saudization (Nitaqat)?
Saudization is the Saudi government’s mandatory program that requires private companies to employ a minimum percentage of Saudi nationals instead of relying solely on foreign workers.
It is part of Vision 2030 to create more job opportunities for Saudi citizens.
How is your required Saudization percentage calculated? Your exact quota is automatically determined based on three factors:
- Number of Saudi employees on your payroll
- Total number of employees in your organization
- Your registered economic activity or sector (as per your commercial registration)
Special rules that affect your Saudization score
Some employment situations count differently toward your Nitaqat score:
| Situation | How it counts toward your quota |
|---|---|
| Saudi earning < SAR 4,000/month | Counts as 0.5 employee |
| Saudi employee with a registered disability | Counts as 4 employees |
| GCC national (UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar) | Counts as a full Saudi |
| Saudi working for two employers | Only the first employer gets the credit |
How to check your Nitaqat classification
Enter your company’s details in the Nitaqat Calculator on Qiwa.sa, the official portal of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Based on your compliance with the above rules, Qiwa assigns your company to one of six Nitaqat bands.
Nitaqat Bands
| Band | Meaning | Visa & Government Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | Excellent compliance | Full benefits |
| High Green | Very good | Full benefits |
| Medium Green | Good (safe zone) | Normal benefits |
| Low Green | Barely compliant | Limited benefits |
| Yellow | Non-compliant | Serious restrictions |
| Red | Very low compliance | Heavy penalties |