RIYADH: The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (HCDA) has developed a plan to realize the full potential of the Riyadh region.
The Riyadh Development Authority (RDA) said the Riyadh Regional Plan is in coordination with the public and private sectors to address various development issues.
The RDA is the executive arm of the HCDA, which sets policies for city development formulated by the former.
The RDA said the futuristic vision underlying the plan focuses on transforming the region into a multi-functional economic zone, an investment magnet, and a home for geographically and demographically balanced development.
It added that the plan selected development centers to be transformed into regional planning clusters with variant population sizes.
Each cluster stretches over a number of provinces in Riyadh to achieve balanced development, diversity of resources and better efficiency.
The plan aims to improve significant sections of the road network, and establish a network of main roads to connect different areas of the region and re-route traffic outside the main population centers, including the city of Riyadh.
The plan recommends establishing roads linking development centers and the Riyadh region with neighboring regions.
The official railway (North-South & East-West) will be utilized via new stations to serve cargo and passengers from development centers along the network.
Given the relatively large distance between development centers, the existing network of civil aviation will be boosted with new regional airports to connect the southeastern and northern clusters.
The plan seeks to list all future activities and major projects that can be moved or relocated outside the city toward the region’s provinces according to their relative potential.
Exemplary projects typifying this approach are the recent inaugurations of three new universities: Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University in Kharj, Majmaah University and Shaqrah University. These universities have different colleges and teaching hospitals.
The RDA said the Riyadh Economic Development Strategy seeks to improve competitiveness in the region, create employment opportunities and achieve balanced development.
Based on analysis of targeted growth in economic sectors, it is expected to create about 99,000 jobs by 1445H, 60 percent of which will be provided by the private sector.
The RDA said two industrial cities are underway in Sudair (over 257 sq. km.) and Kharj (over 100 sq. km).
Establishment of similar industrial cities in other provinces are currently under study, in addition to hundreds of ongoing projects in the region in all sectors.
Plan developed to realize full potential of Riyadh region
Plan developed to realize full potential of Riyadh region
Musaned confirms mandatory salary transfers for domestic workers via official channels
- Move aims to protect wage-related rights, enhance transparency
RIYADH: All employers in Saudi Arabia have been informed they must transfer domestic workers’ salaries through official channels, starting from Jan. 1, 2026.
The move, confirmed through Musaned platform’s X account, aims to protect wage-related rights, enhance transparency and simplify employer-worker relationships.
The electronic payment service provided through Musaned will use approved digital wallets and participating banks to ensure reliability, security and consistency in wage transfers.
Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al-Rizgi told Arab News that the move “comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to develop the domestic labor sector and strengthen the rights of both employers and domestic workers.”
Lawyer Majed Garoub told Arab News that the new regulation would help tackle persistent issues in employer-worker relationships, especially disputes over unpaid wages.
He said: “This regulation will significantly help resolve many problems that arise when domestic workers leave the country without proper verification of receiving their full rights.”
Garoub explained that informal salary payments were common in the past, often made without proper documentation or signatures.
This, he added, made it challenging for Saudi employers to prove they had paid all wages if workers later filed claims after returning to their home countries.
The new regulation, which has been rolled out in stages, began with domestic workers newly arriving in the Kingdom on July 1, 2024.
It was then extended to employers with four or more domestic workers in January 2025, followed by those employing three or more by July 2025.
The latest stage, which took effect on Oct. 1, applies to employers with two or more domestic workers. This phased approach has ensured a smooth adoption of the system for all employers.
Garoub said the regulation would bring broader legal and security benefits. He explained that informal salary payments had, at times, enabled illegal practices.
He added: “Workers might have falsely claimed unpaid wages or engaged in activities outside their employment.”
Such funds, he added, could even have contributed to crimes like money laundering or the financing of terrorism.
He said: “By mandating official payment channels, this regulation protects the Saudi economy, national security, and international financial systems.”
The Musaned platform offers significant advantages for both employers and workers. Employers gain a reliable salary verification mechanism that simplifies end-of-contract and travel-related procedures, while workers benefit from consistent, secure and timely payments.
The system also allows domestic workers to transfer their earnings to family members abroad through trusted channels.
For those who prefer cash withdrawals, a Mada card will be issued for secure and convenient access to salaries.
According to Musaned, salary transfers for workers covered under the Wage Protection System must be made through authorized channels.
This regulatory change marks a significant step forward in protecting the rights of domestic workers, ensuring transparency in employer-employee relationships, and bolstering the Kingdom’s economic and security interests.
