If you work in Saudi Arabia, a change announced on 25 October could quietly affect your employer’s hiring plans — and that can affect you.
From 25 April 2027, a Saudi employee must earn at least SR5,000 a month to count as one full worker towards their employer’s Saudization (Nitaqat) target. From 25 April 2028, that bar rises again to SR6,000 a month. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the two-phase change on 25 October, giving employers six months to prepare for the first step and a further year before the second.
Here is the part people get wrong: this is NOT a new minimum wage, and it does not force your employer to raise anyone’s pay overnight. It changes how Saudis are counted. A Saudi employee earning below the threshold will no longer count in full towards the company’s Saudization score, which can push a firm’s Nitaqat band down — and a lower band means fewer visas, tighter hiring, and harder renewals for expats.
What this means for you: if your company employs Saudis on low salaries, it now has a reason to restructure — and restructuring is when expat roles get reviewed. It is worth checking your own position early: is your contract on Qiwa, is your role genuinely needed, and is your paperwork clean? Do not wait for a Saudization reshuffle to find out. The change covers five worker categories: full-time staff, part-time staff, flexible-work staff, part-time students, and people with disabilities who are able to work.
Sources: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announcement, 25 October 2026, reported by Saudi Press Agency via Gulf News (26 Oct 2026); Saudi Gazette; Gulf Business; HR Katha. Official portal: hrsd.gov.sa