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Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced in April an updated Saudization requirement for administrative support professions. The grace period ends Oct. 4, 2026.
Key takeaways:
As of April 5, 2026, the ministry requires a 100% Saudization rate for 69 administrative support professions under the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations. A select group of occupations received a six-month grace period to implement the new requirement, which ends Oct. 4, 2026.
The Saudization requirement applies to private establishments with one or more workers in covered professions. Employers can review the ministry’s procedural guide for details on the professions covered, implementation and compliance requirements.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.
Copyright © 2026 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced an increased Saudization rate for project management professions, effective Feb. 14, 2027.
A 70% Saudization rate will apply to all private-sector establishments that employ three or more workers in project management professions in accordance with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations, including:
Employers can review the ministry’s procedural guide for details on the professions covered, implementation, rate calculations and compliance requirements.
The Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia introduced new residence permit renewal options for domestic works.
On July 19, 2026, the Saudi government announced that employers may issue or renew residency permits for domestic workers in three-month intervals. The new renewal options aim to provide greater flexibility, allowing employers to pay residency fees quarterly instead of yearly.
According to the announcement, the update is part of Saudi Arabia’s larger initiative of enhancing residency-related services for employers and domestic workers in the country.
The governments of Saudi Arabia and Russia announced that the visa-free travel agreement between the two countries signed December 2025 takes effect May 11, 2026.
Citizens of Saudi Arabia and Russia may travel between the two countries for up to 90 days per year without obtaining a visa.
Visa-free travel applies to tourism, business and family visits.
The visa-free agreement does not apply to work, study, residency or travel during Hajj.
The General Directorate of Passports announced an initiative to extend all expired visit visas to allow for a legal final exit from the country.
Key Points:
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The government of Saudi Arabia commenced the initial phase of increasing Saudization rates across four healthcare professions within the private sector on April 17, 2025.
Additional Information: Comprehensive procedural guidelines outlining the implementation and the mandatory Saudization rates are available on the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development website.
Saudi Arabia has announced a temporary suspension of short-term visas for 14 countries to help regulate the flow of travel during the busy Hajj season.
Saudi officials announced a resident’s identification must now be valid for a minimum of 30 days when requesting the issuance of a final exit visa.
Additional Information: Saudi Arabia intends to enhance immigration compliance and reduce overstays, ensuring foreign nationals leave the country before the expiration of their residency permits. Employers should take the new rules into account when managing resident permit renewals and exit visa applications.
IMPACT – MEDIUM
The Saudi Arabian government has expanded the availability of its e-visa for tourism to more foreign nationals.
Additional Information: Eligible individuals can apply for a visa at the nearest Saudi embassy. To apply for a visa through an embassy, applicants must have provide proof of accommodation, a return ticket, proof of employment, a bank statement, a flight itinerary and a home address.
BAL Analysis: The Saudi Arabian government has made e-visas for tourism available to more foreign nationals to help the country’s economy recover from COVID-19.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Saudi Arabian government has announced that it will allow foreign nationals traveling for the 2022 World Cup to apply for short-term visas to enter Saudi Arabia.
Additional Information: Beginning Nov. 1, foreign nationals must have a Hayya Card, or special identification card, to enter Qatar. In order to obtain a Hayya Card, applicants will need to show that they have tickets for a World Cup match between Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 and accommodations for their time in Qatar.
BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals who hold a Hayya Card and are traveling to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup will be able to apply for short-term visas to enter Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities are expected to provide application instructions for the short-term visa in the coming months.