Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, working with the Ministry of Tourism, has issued a new decision that affects private tourism and hotel businesses.
The new rule means that certain jobs in hotels and travel companies must be filled by Saudi citizens. This policy is part of the country’s ongoing “Saudisation” programme, which aims to increase job opportunities for Saudi nationals in the private sector.
Changes will happen in three stages
The new rules will be introduced gradually:
- First stage:Â 22 April 2026
- Second stage:Â 3 January 2027
- Third stage:Â 2 January 2028
Businesses will need to meet specific targets for hiring Saudi nationals in the listed roles by these deadlines.
The Ministry has published a detailed guide explaining:
- Which jobs are affected
- How companies should calculate their required number of Saudi employees
- What penalties apply if companies do not follow the rules
This guide is meant to help private businesses understand what they must do. More
