Qiwa Sets 5-Contract Yearly Limit for Nitaqat

Employers and Saudi employees face a new rule for how Saudi staff are counted under the Nitaqat program. Starting 15 April 2026, a Saudi employee will count toward an establishment's Nitaqat classification only when their employment contract is electronically documented through the قوى platform.

Under the finalized rule, an employee's contracts must not exceed five during the preceding 52 weeks for that person to continue counting as one Saudi employee in Nitaqat. In addition, a Saudi employee may hold a maximum of two active employment contracts at the same time. Anyone wishing to begin an additional job while already holding two active contracts must first terminate one of the existing contracts before signing a new one.

What employers need to do

Establishments should log in to قوى, open the Employment Contracts or Contract Management section, and create or update the Saudi employee's contract. The employee then reviews and electronically accepts the contract through the platform, completing the documentation step.

The available information does not mention any ريال سعودي fee for documenting contracts on the platform, and no separate validity period for the documentation is stated. The 52-week limit applies specifically to the number of contracts counted for Nitaqat purposes.

Employers who want to check their current standing can use the Nitaqat Calculator through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, which requires the establishment's sub-economic activity, its Saudi employee count, and its non-Saudi employee count.

No changes to أبشر, مقيم, ناجز, نفاذ, or توكلنا have been identified in connection with this rule. Businesses in الرياض, جدة, and across the Kingdom have until the April 2026 start date to ensure all Saudi contracts are properly documented so their workforce continues to be counted correctly.

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