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Saudi Arabia is intensifying its focus on nationalization, strategically emphasizing enhancing employment opportunities for Saudi nationals across diverse sectors.

To empower its citizens, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has unveiled a bold nationalization initiative targeting key workforce sectors.

This marks the end of a grace period and signals a firm commitment to boosting Saudi participation in the workforce.

This initiative focuses on professions crucial to the country’s economic ecosystem, including sales, procurement, and project management.

The directive mandates a minimum of 15% Saudi nationals as sales professionals, wholesale managers, and ICT equipment salespeople.

Procurement professionals, encompassing managers, specialists, and tender experts, see an even higher target of 50% localization.

The project’s first phase also tackles the crucial field of project management, aiming for a 35% Saudi presence among specialists, business services professionals, and communications project managers.

The department affirmed its commitment to supporting the private sector in hiring Saudi nationals through incentives, aiding recruitment, and facilitating career advancement. 

They aim to assist in employee attraction, training, and recruitment processes while allowing companies access to nationalization support programs.

The ministry issued a detailed guide outlining the localization decisions and their implementation, stressing compliance to avoid penalties.