Qiwa has clarified (reported 1 October 2026) that expat workers whose status changed to ‘absent’ — after an absence report, a work-interruption report, or a contract termination — can transfer to a new employer, provided they have spent over 12 months in Saudi Arabia. The new employer must settle outstanding work-permit fees.
What it means for you: this gives a legal route out for workers stuck after a disrupted employment record, instead of being trapped with a former sponsor.
Source: https://hrme.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/saudi-arabia-allows-some-absent-expat-workers-to-transfer-employers/134612933. Related: Resigning in Saudi Arabia — Article 79 Bis.