Saudi Arabia Announces New Nitaqat Phase for 2026–2028

Key Point  

• Saudi Arabia will launch a new three‑year phase of the Nitaqat Mutawar Program beginning in 2026, aiming to localize more than 340,000 additional jobs in the private sector. 

Saudization and Nitaqat Program Changes  

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has announced a new phase of the Nitaqat Mutawar Program, set to begin in 2026 and run for three years. This phase builds on the program’s progress since its launch in 2021 and is designed to strengthen labor‑market sustainability and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. 

According to MHRSD leadership, the new phase: 

• It is based on a comprehensive labor‑market analysis across sectors and establishment sizes 
• Introduces realistic Saudization targets aligned with market conditions 
• Aims to enhance job stability, productivity and long‑term labor‑market sustainability 
• Seeks to balance increased Saudization with private‑sector competitiveness and growth 

MHRSD emphasized that Saudi nationals have demonstrated strong performance across a wide range of professions, forming the foundation for expanding localization efforts in this next phase  

Nitaqat Program and Saudization Requirements 

Learn more about the Nitaqat Program and Saudization requirements in Saudi Arabia? Explore our in‑depth insight, Understanding Saudization and Nitaqat in Saudi Arabia: Key Requirements for Employers, for a detailed breakdown of how the system works and what organizations need to know to stay compliant. 

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