Nitaqat is Saudi Arabia’s Saudization programme. It classifies every private establishment by the share of Saudi nationals in its workforce, relative to peers in the same activity and size band. Your band is visible on Qiwa and decides what you can do: issue new visas, transfer workers, renew permits.
How your band is calculated
- Activity and size. Each establishment is compared with others in the same economic activity and size category.
- Saudization rate. Saudis registered with GOSI, weighted by their wage, divided by total headcount, averaged over recent weeks.
- Band. The rate maps to a band, from red through low green, medium green and high green to platinum. Red and low bands lose access to key services.
When a Saudi counts
- Saudis need to be registered with GOSI and paid through Mudad / WPS.
- A Saudi counts by wage:
| Monthly wage | Counts as |
|---|---|
| SAR 4,000 or more | 1 |
| SAR 3,000 – 3,999 | 0.5 |
| Below SAR 3,000 | 0 |
- Students, part-timers and people with disabilities have special weightings.
Profession-specific ratios
On top of Nitaqat, the Ministry sets Saudization ratios for specific professions, usually with a minimum wage for the role to count. A green band doesn’t guarantee compliance for every job title. Recent decisions include:
| Profession | Ratio | Minimum wage to count | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | 55% | SAR 9,000 | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Pharmacy | 35% community, 65% hospital, 55% other | – | 23 Jul 2025 |
| Accounting | 40%, rising in stages to 70% | SAR 6,000 | 22 Oct 2025 |
| Engineering | 30% | SAR 8,000 | mid-2026 |
| Sales & marketing | 60% | SAR 5,500 (marketing) | Apr 2026 |
Check Qiwa for the exact activity codes and grace periods that apply to you.
What it means for payroll
- GOSI wage = Nitaqat wage. Keep basic + housing in GOSI aligned with what’s actually paid. See the GOSI calculator.
- Mudad compliance is a prerequisite. See Mudad explained.
- Budgeting. Saudi hires carry GOSI at 11.75% or 12.75% for the employer, compared with 2% for expats, plus the end-of-service award. Model the full cost with the end of service calculator.
- EOR route. See EOR vs setting up an entity.
Frequently asked questions
How much must a Saudi earn to count in Nitaqat?
A Saudi earning SAR 4,000 a month or more (as registered with GOSI) counts as one. Between SAR 3,000 and 3,999 counts as half, and below SAR 3,000 doesn't count. Profession-specific ratios can set higher minimum wages.
What are the Nitaqat bands?
Establishments are classified into bands, from red (non-compliant) through low, medium and high green, up to platinum. The band determines access to visas, transfers and other ministry services.
Does an EOR help with Saudization?
An Employer of Record's employees count toward the EOR's own Nitaqat band, not yours. It lets you hire expats without your own quota, but if you later set up an entity you'll need your own Saudization plan.