Saudi Arabia Raises Engineering Saudization Rate to 30% - Erickson Immigration Group

Saudi Arabia has raised the Saudization rate for engineering professions in eligible private‑sector establishments to 30%, effective June 30, 2026. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, said the increase applies to establishments that employ five or more workers in the applicable professions and covers 46 defined engineering roles. Professional accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers will be required for Saudized positions, and HRSD supervisory teams have begun monitoring compliance, with statutory penalties to be imposed on violators after the end of the grace period.

"Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions," the firm said in its advisory.

The decision marks a significant tightening of national workforce targets for engineering disciplines in the private sector. The HRSD and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing framed the move as an effort to boost employment opportunities for Saudi nationals in technical professions and to align workforce composition with evolving market needs. The policy applies only to those establishments that meet the minimum headcount threshold — five or more workers in the specified engineering roles — and specifically targets professions that require professional credentials issued by the Saudi Council of Engineers.

Professions and compliance measures

• The regulation targets 46 engineering professions, including architecture, power generation, industrial, electronics, automotive, marine, and aerospace engineering.
• Accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers will be required for nationals filling engineering roles under the Saudization quota.
• HRSD supervisory teams have begun active monitoring of eligible establishments to assess compliance.
• Statutory penalties will be applied to establishments that fail to meet the new 30% threshold once the grace period concludes.

Companies operating in Saudi Arabia should review their current workforce composition and accreditation status for engineering staff. The requirement that Saudization levels reach 30% in covered professions means firms that previously relied heavily on expatriate engineers will need to accelerate recruitment, training and certification of Saudi nationals who meet Saudi Council of Engineers standards.

The enforcement approach combines monitoring and a transition period intended to give businesses time to adjust. While the HRSD has already deployed supervisory teams, the timing and scale of penalties were not specified in the advisory; businesses can expect statutory sanctions consistent with labor regulations once the grace period expires.

Outlook

For engineering employers and foreign nationals working in Saudi Arabia's engineering sector, the change raises near‑term compliance and hiring priorities. Firms should engage with human‑resources, legal counsel and the Saudi Council of Engineers to verify accreditation pathways for Saudi employees and to plan adjustments to recruitment and training pipelines. Erickson Immigration Group signalled it will continue to monitor the policy’s implementation and provide updates, and advised employers and affected individuals to consult with their EIG attorney or company contacts for case‑specific guidance.