RIYADH: Saudi professionals in dentistry, pharmacy, accounting, and technical engineering will soon see expanded job opportunities as the Kingdom rolls out new Saudization targets under its Vision 2030 plan.
The HRSD, in collaboration with health, commerce, and housing authorities, is now focused on localizing 269 professions.
The initiative builds on earlier measures, such as increasing Saudization rates in radiology to 65 percent, medical laboratories to 70 percent, and physiotherapy and therapeutic nutrition to 80 percent last October.
Effective July 27, community pharmacies and medical complexes will be required to achieve a 35 percent Saudization rate, hospitals 65 percent, and other pharmacy-related businesses 55 percent, according to a Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announcement. These rules will apply to companies employing five or more pharmacy professionals.
Saudization, launched in 2011, aims to increase Saudi employment in the private sector by setting industry-specific quotas for Saudi workers. This initiative has contributed to a significant drop in Saudi unemployment, which fell from 12.8 percent in 2018 to 7.1 percent by mid-2024, surpassing the original Vision 2030 goal of 8 percent. As a result, the Kingdom has updated its national target to a 5 percent unemployment rate by 2030.
In dentistry, the phased Saudization plan aims for a 45 percent rate by mid-2025, increasing to 55 percent in 2026. This will apply to dental practices with three or more professionals, with a minimum salary of SR9,000 ($2,399) to qualify.
For accounting, the HRSD, in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, will gradually raise Saudization rates over the next five years, beginning on Oct. 27.
Initially, businesses with five or more accountants will need to meet a 40 percent localization target, with the goal of reaching 70 percent by the final phase.
Technical engineering will see a 30 percent Saudization requirement starting July 27, affecting companies with five or more technical engineers.
The ministry has provided detailed guidelines on its website to assist businesses in understanding the new rules, including implementation procedures and penalties for non-compliance.
