Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), will increase Saudization rates within the private sector in healthcare and tourism roles.
Healthcare Sector
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), MHRSD has announced the commencement of the initial phase of its decision to increase Saudization rates across four healthcare professions within the private sector. This implementation is effective from April 17, 2025, and adheres to officially recognized professional definitions and titles.
- This first phase targets specific Saudization percentages: 65% for radiology, 80% for both clinical nutrition and physiotherapy, and 70% for medical laboratory. The stipulated minimum monthly salaries are SAR 7000 for specialists and SAR 5000 for technicians within these roles.
- The initial implementation covers all establishments, regardless of size, located in the major cities of Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam, and Al-Khobar. Large and mega-sized companies in other regions are also included in this first phase.
- The second implementation phase, which will encompass the remaining establishments throughout the Kingdom, is scheduled to begin on October 17, 2025.
MHRSD has stated that comprehensive procedural guidelines outlining the decision and the mandatory Saudization rates are available on its official website. It urges all relevant establishments to comply with these regulations to avoid potential legal penalties.
Tourism Sector
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, has issued a resolution mandating the localization of 41 professions within private sector establishments in the tourism industry, as part of efforts to generate more job opportunities for Saudi nationals in all regions of the Kingdom.
The resolution will be implemented in three phases, encompassing 41 leadership and specialized professions, notably including hotel manager, tourist guide specialist, sales specialist, and hotel receptionist. The first phase is set to commence on April 22, 2026, with the second phase beginning on January 3, 2027, and the third on January 2, 2028. All private sector tourism establishments are subject to this decision.
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