Saudi employers will see the wage thresholds used to count Saudi employees in Saudization calculations rise over the next two years, under revisions set to take effect in 2027 and 2028.
Under the current 2026 general rules, a Saudi employee earning SAR 4,000 or more is counted fully toward Nitaqat quotas. Those earning between SAR 3,000 and SAR 3,999 are counted as half, while salaries below SAR 3,000 do not count at all. For an employee to count toward Saudization, their employment contract must be documented through قوى.
Starting 25 April 2027, the wage level required for an employee to be counted fully will rise to SAR 5,000 From 25 April 2028, that full-count threshold increases again to SAR 6,000
It is important to note that these revisions change only how employees are counted within Saudization quotas. They do not directly require employers to raise salaries, but businesses relying on lower-paid Saudi staff for their quota may need to review their wage structures to maintain compliance.
Profession-specific rules
Some sectors already carry higher requirements in 2026. Marketing and sales professions face a 60% Saudization requirement at establishments with at least three workers in the relevant roles, with a minimum Saudi wage of SAR 5,500 for a worker to count toward the quota. Engineering professions require a minimum wage of SAR 8,000 along with the applicable professional accreditation.
Employers in الرياض, جدة and across the Kingdom are advised to plan ahead for the 2027 and 2028 changes to ensure their Saudi workforce continues to count toward their targets.
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