Saudi Arabia Enforces 100% Saudization for 69 Administrative and Support Roles

Riyadh, October 4, 2026 – Saudi Arabia has officially implemented a measure reserving 69 administrative and support professions exclusively for Saudi citizens. This decision, effective as of October 4, 2026, is part of the Kingdom’s broader "Saudization" policy aimed at prioritizing national employment in the labor market. The new regulations also impact Tunisian workers and other foreign nationals currently employed in these specific roles.

Key Details of the New Regulation

According to the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the measure mandates a 100% Saudization rate for the affected job categories. The list of reserved professions includes roles such as:

Human Resources
Recruitment
Secretarial work
Public Relations
Translation
Data Entry
Administrative Support

Implementation Timeline

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) initially announced this decision on April 6, 2026, outlining a phased implementation plan:

April 2026: The first phase covered 19 professions, which were immediately reserved for Saudi nationals.
Transitional Period: A six-month grace period was granted for the remaining 50 professions.
October 4, 2026: The transitional period officially ended, making the 100% Saudization requirement fully effective for all 69 listed roles.

Impact on Tunisian Workers

For Tunisian nationals working in Saudi Arabia, the impact of this decision depends entirely on their specific job function. It is important to note that the regulation does not target Tunisian nationality specifically. Instead, it applies to all foreign workers occupying the designated positions within private sector establishments.

Tunisian employees in roles outside the 69 reserved categories are not directly affected by this specific measure. However, those working in the listed administrative and support functions must now comply with the new requirement that these positions be filled exclusively by Saudi citizens.

Note: This summary is based on official announcements from the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).