After US, Muslim country imposes job ban, pre-verification mandatory for Indians
Riyadh (The Uttam Hindu) – Following the United States, Saudi Arabia has also tightened visa and employment rules for foreigners. As part of its ambitious Vision 2030 plan, the Saudi government has made major changes to its employment and work visa policy, prioritizing local citizens. Under these new rules, four key professions have been reserved exclusively for Saudi citizens.
New rules implemented through Qiwa portal
The Saudi government has implemented these changes through its labor portal Qiwa. After this, neither new expatriates will be able to be appointed to these positions nor will the designation of any foreign employee be changed. According to the new rules, only Saudi citizens will be appointed to important positions such as general manager, sales representative, marketing specialist and procurement manager.
Limited options for expatriates
The government has clarified that foreign employees already holding general manager positions have been advised to adopt alternative designations such as CEO or Chairman, subject to strict conditions. Increasing the number of Saudi employees in sales representative positions has been made mandatory, while at least 60 percent of marketing specialist positions will be required to be Saudi nationals. The position of procurement manager has also been reserved solely for Saudi nationals, with the aim of strengthening local control over the supply chain.
Strict minimum wage requirements:
Under the new regulations, Saudi employees working in sales and marketing departments must be paid at least 5,500 Saudi riyals per month. The minimum wage for technical and engineering positions has been set at 8,000 riyals per month. The government has warned that if companies fail to comply with these requirements, such employees will not be included in the Saudization quota.
Direct Impact on Migrant Workers
These changes will have the greatest impact on migrant workers. New work visas will no longer be issued for certain positions, nor will job designations be permitted. Companies will not be able to hire additional migrant workers after the set limit is reached. The government has given companies a three-month grace period to comply with the regulations.
Qualification verification mandatory for Indians
Indian workers going to Saudi Arabia will be required to undergo pre-verification of their educational and professional qualifications from January 2025. According to Saudi Labour Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi, these decisions are aimed not only at increasing the number of jobs but also at bringing Saudi citizens into leadership and decision-making roles.
The signal is clear: opportunities for expatriates will be limited.
The government believes that the private sector should gradually be handed over to the country's youth and foreign dependence should be reduced. This decision clearly indicates that opportunities for expatriates in Saudi Arabia, especially in administrative and managerial positions, may be limited in the future. On the other hand, these changes could open up new employment opportunities for Saudi youth.