the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced the implementation of two decisionsto raise Saudization rates in marketing and sales professions, effective April 19, 2026, following the expiration of the grace period granted to private-sector establishments. This comes as part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to provide more stimulating job opportunities for male and female citizens across the Kingdom.

The two decisions stipulate raising the Saudiization rate in marketing and sales professions in the private sector to 60%, and they apply to establishments with three or more employees in these professions, with a minimum wage of 5,500 riyals set for Saudi employees to be counted toward the Saudization rate in marketing professions.

The professions targeted for Saudization in marketing include: (Marketing Manager, Advertising Agent, Advertising Manager, Graphic Designer, Advertising Designer, Public Relations Specialist, Advertising Specialist, Marketing Specialist, Public Relations Director, Photographer), and the professions targeted for localization in sales include: (Sales Manager, Retail Sales Representative, Wholesale Sales Representative, Sales Representative, ICT Sales Specialist, Sales Specialist, Commercial Specialist, and Commodities Broker).
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has published the procedural guidelines for the two decisions on its website, which include details on the covered professions, implementation mechanisms, and the calculation of Saudization rates, to inform employers and businesses about the mechanism for calculating Saudization rates and the penalties stipulated for violators.

It should be noted that these two decisions are a continuation of the Ministry’s efforts, in partnership with supervisory government agencies, aimed at raising the Saudization rates for these professions to achieve the objectives of the Labor Market Strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in supportingnational talent and increase their employment opportunities across various sectors.