What expats should check

If you work in an administrative or accounting role, check your record now:

  1. 1

    Step 1: Sign in to Qiwa

    Use your Qiwa individual account (Nafath login) to see your documented employment contract.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Check your registered occupation

    Compare the occupation title and code in your contract with the HRSD lists of localised professions.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Talk to HR early

    If your recorded occupation is localised but your actual job is different, HR can submit a profession-change request that reflects your real duties. Do not accept a title that misdescribes your work.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Plan for renewal

    Raise the issue well before your work-permit renewal date so there is time to resolve it.

100% Saudisation of 69 administrative support professions

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development added 69 administrative support professions to the private-sector 100% Saudisation list through Ministerial Decision No. 132249, applied in two phases:

Phase 1 — 19 professions from 5 April 2026, including human resources clerk, data entry operator, secretary, executive secretary, labour affairs manager and personnel manager.

Phase 2 — the remaining 50 professions from 5 October 2026, covering further secretarial, translation, data entry and general administrative support roles.

Reports indicate the requirement applies to establishments with one or more workers in the covered occupations. The full list is published by HRSD; check the exact occupation title and code rather than relying on a summary.

Accounting localization: 50% from October 2026

A separate HRSD decision localizes 44 accounting professions, such as financial manager, accounting manager and certified public accountant, in establishments employing five or more accountants. It is phased over five years:

40% from October 2025, 50% from October 2026, 60% from October 2027 and 70% from October 2028. A lower rate is scheduled later for establishments with three or four accountants.

A Saudi accountant counts toward the quota only if he or she is accredited by SOCPA and has a registered monthly wage of at least SAR 6,000 for bachelor’s-degree holders or SAR 4,500 for diploma holders.

Source note

Dates and percentages above follow HRSD’s announcements and SOCPA’s notice as reported. HRSD publishes procedural guides with the full profession lists, calculation methods and penalties; use those for compliance decisions.