Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has issued Ministerial Order No. 132249, mandating 100% Saudization across 69 supporting administrative professions in the private sector. The decision, dated April 5, 2026, applies to all private sector establishments employing one or more workers in the listed roles.
The order is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to expand national workforce participation in the private sector and create quality employment opportunities for Saudi citizens across all regions of the Kingdom.
Two-Phase Implementation
The ministry’s procedural guide divides the 69 professions into two groups with different compliance deadlines.
Group A — comprising 19 professions — entered into force immediately upon the issuance of the ministerial order on April 5, 2026, with no grace period. Group B — covering the remaining 50 professions — has been granted a six-month transition period, with a compliance deadline of October 4, 2026.
Group A: Immediate Effect (April 5, 2026)
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 264301 | Translator |
| 264302 | Simultaneous Interpreter |
| 264305 | Linguistic Specialist |
| 334301 | Executive Secretary |
| 333103 | Customs Clearance Agent |
| 412002 | Secretary |
| 413101 | Stenographer / Shorthand Clerk |
| 413201 | Data Entry Operator |
| 422401 | Hotel Receptionist |
| 422502 | Complaints Clerk |
| 422602 | Patient Reception Clerk |
| 432101 | Warehouse Keeper |
| 441401 | Copyist / Duplicator |
| 441601 | Human Resources Clerk |
| 541402 | Security Guard |
| 541403 | Personal Guard |
| 241104 | Treasurer / Cashier |
| 121208 | Individual Relations Manager |
| 121211 | Labor Affairs Manager |
Group B: Six-Month Grace Period (Deadline: October 4, 2026)
Management & HR Directors
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 121201 | HR Operations Manager |
| 121202 | Workforce Planning Manager |
| 121203 | Job Classification Manager |
| 121204 | Recruitment Manager |
| 121205 | Compensation Manager |
| 121206 | Talent Manager |
| 121207 | HR Development Manager |
| 121209 | Recruitment Office Manager |
| 121210 | Labor Office Manager |
| 121212 | Civil Service Office Manager |
| 121213 | Institutional Development Manager |
| 121214 | Administrative Organization Manager |
| 121215 | Administrative Investigation Manager |
| 121216 | Cybersecurity HR Manager |
Public Relations & Communications Directors
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 122203 | Public Relations Manager |
| 122205 | Donations Collection Manager |
| 122206 | Protocol Manager |
HR Specialists & Consultants
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 242301 | Job Liaison Specialist |
| 242302 | HR Operations Specialist |
| 242303 | Job & Occupational Classification Specialist |
| 242304 | Recruitment Specialist |
| 242305 | Compensation Specialist |
| 242306 | Career Counseling Specialist |
| 242307 | Labor Auditor |
| 242308 | Labor Relations Committee Member |
| 242309 | Workforce Planning Specialist |
| 242310 | HR Monitoring Specialist |
| 242311 | Onboarding Specialist |
| 242312 | HR Consultant |
| 242313 | HR Expert |
Public Relations Specialists & Experts
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 243202 | Public Relations Specialist |
| 243204 | Internal Communications Specialist |
| 243205 | Public Awareness Specialist |
| 243206 | Conferences & Events Organizer |
| 243207 | Protocol Specialist |
| 243208 | Public Relations Consultant |
| 243209 | Public Relations Expert |
Administrative & Clerical Support
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 411001 | Government Relations Clerk |
| 411002 | Records Clerk |
| 412001 | Administrative Assistant |
| 413102 | Typist |
| 422501 | Information Clerk |
| 422601 | Receptionist |
| 432102 | Shipping Clerk |
| 432103 | Warehouse Movement Clerk |
Customs & Logistics
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 333101 | Freight Agent |
| 333102 | Customs Broker |
Language & Translation
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 264303 | Linguistic Proofreader |
| 264304 | Sign Language Interpreter |
Security
| Code | Profession |
|---|---|
| 541401 | Security Camera Monitor |
Penalties and Enforcement
Establishments that fail to meet the required Saudization ratios — or that assign duties of localized professions to non-Saudi workers, directly or indirectly under any alternative job title — will be subject to regulatory penalties under Ministerial Orders No. 75913 and No. 44558, the guide stated.
Compliance is monitored automatically through the social insurance database system, which tracks job titles and verifies professional accreditation via technical links with supervisory authorities. The ministry noted that the Nitaqat rating of an establishment does not affect the calculation of Saudization ratios for supporting administrative professions, and the two systems operate independently.
Support Programs for Establishments
The ministry confirmed that private sector establishments subject to the decree will have access to a package of incentives, including recruitment and talent search assistance, training and qualification subsidies for Saudi employees, employment stability support, priority access to all Saudization support programs, and access to Hadaf (Human Resources Development Fund) programs.
Sources: Ministerial Order No. 132249, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; Procedural Guide for the Saudization of Supporting Administrative Professions, April 5, 2026.