Saudization Qualifying Roles Saudi Arabia 2025 — Which Jobs Count for Nitaqat
Not every Saudi National employee counts toward the Nitaqat band calculation. MHRSD (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Saudi federal body responsible for private sector employment regulation and Saudization enforcement) defines a qualifying role by two criteria: the Saudi National must be registered with GOSI (General Organisation for Social Insurance) and the role must meet MHRSD’s minimum monthly salary threshold. A Saudi National employed below the salary threshold, or not registered with GOSI, does not count toward the company’s Saudization percentage — even if the employee appears on the payroll. This is the most common source of employer miscalculation in Nitaqat band shortfalls.
The MHRSD Qualifying Role Definition: Two Criteria That Must Both Be Met
Criterion 1 — GOSI registration: the Saudi National employee must be registered with GOSI (General Organisation for Social Insurance) from the first day of employment. MHRSD uses GOSI data to verify Saudi National headcount. An employee not registered with GOSI does not appear in the Nitaqat calculation. Criterion 2 — Salary threshold: the role must pay at or above MHRSD’s minimum monthly salary for qualifying roles. The threshold applies to the basic salary component, not total package. An employee paid below the threshold does not count toward the Saudization percentage regardless of GOSI registration status.
Both criteria must be met simultaneously. GOSI registration alone is not sufficient if the salary is below threshold. Salary above threshold alone is not sufficient if GOSI registration was delayed. The Nitaqat calculation uses only employees who meet both requirements at the time of band assessment.
Common miscalculation: Many Saudi employers count every Saudi National on their payroll toward Saudization, unaware that employees below the MHRSD salary threshold are excluded. An employer with 10 Saudi Nationals on the payroll but 3 earning below the threshold has an effective qualifying headcount of 7 — which may put the company in a lower Nitaqat band than expected.
Which Roles Do NOT Count Toward Saudization
| Role Type | Counts Toward Nitaqat? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi National below MHRSD salary threshold | No | Salary threshold not met |
| Saudi National not registered with GOSI | No | GOSI verification missing |
| Domestic workers | No | Excluded from Nitaqat scope |
| Company owner (sole owner) | No in some cases | MHRSD rules on owner-counted employees vary — verify current rules |
| Saudi National in a training-only role below threshold | No | Salary threshold not met |
| Saudi National correctly registered and above threshold | Yes | Both qualifying criteria met |
Part-Time Saudi Nationals: Do They Count Toward the Quota?
Part-time Saudi National employees may count toward the Nitaqat band calculation but at a proportional value rather than full headcount, depending on MHRSD’s current rules for part-time registration. Part-time employees must still be registered with GOSI and employed at a salary that proportionally meets the threshold. The Qiwa platform calculates the contribution of part-time employees automatically based on the registered hours. Employers planning to use part-time Saudi National hires as part of a Saudization strategy should verify the current part-time Nitaqat counting rules with MHRSD before building headcount plans around part-time arrangements.
Sectors Where Qualifying Saudi National Talent Is Available
RFS HR Consultancy maintains an active pipeline of qualifying Saudi National candidates across five MHRSD-designated sectors: healthcare, financial services, technology and IT, legal services, and tourism and hospitality. The depth of the Saudi National candidate pool varies by sector and seniority. Healthcare and financial services have the most established Saudi National professional pipelines at mid and senior levels. Technology roles at developer and analyst level are the fastest-growing segment of the Saudi National private sector candidate market as Vision 2030 STEM education programmes produce graduates.
Find Qualifying Saudi National Candidates for Your Sector
RFS maintains an active Saudi National pipeline across five sectors and delivers an initial shortlist within 48 to 72 hours of engagement — all candidates pre-verified for GOSI eligibility and salary threshold compliance.
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What is the minimum salary for a Saudization qualifying role?
MHRSD sets a minimum monthly salary threshold that a role must pay for the Saudi National in that role to count toward the Nitaqat band calculation. This threshold applies to basic salary, not total package. The current threshold should be verified at the Qiwa platform or MHRSD official portal as it is subject to change with Vision 2030 policy updates.
Does GOSI registration need to happen on the first day of employment?
Yes. GOSI registration must occur from the first day of employment for the Saudi National to be counted in the Nitaqat calculation from day one. Delayed GOSI registration means the employee does not appear in the band calculation for the period before registration — which can affect compliance position at the time of assessment.
Do female Saudi Nationals count the same as male Saudi Nationals toward Saudization?
Yes. Female Saudi Nationals count equally toward the Nitaqat band calculation provided they meet both qualifying criteria — GOSI registration and salary threshold. MHRSD has introduced sector-specific female Saudization targets in some industries as part of Vision 2030’s female workforce participation agenda, but for the standard Nitaqat band calculation, male and female qualifying Saudi National employees are counted equally.