The number of work visas issued by the Kingdom to foreigners during the second quarter of 2021 recorded a remarkable year-on-year increase, as the negative effects of the Corona pandemic receded, and air traffic improved compared to the same period last year.

The number of visas in the second quarter, based on data from the General Authority for Statistics, rose to 440. 95 thousand visas compared to 49.57 thousand visas in the same quarter last year.95 thousand visas compared to 49.57 thousand visas in the same quarter of last year.

Male work visas increased by 763.1% to 340.47 thousand visas, compared to 39.45 thousand visas in the second quarter of 2020, and for work visas issued to females, it increased by 892.9% or equivalent to 90.37 thousand visas, to 100.49 thousand visas, compared to 10.12 thousand visas in the second quarter of 2020.

The Kingdom is one of the largest markets in the world hosting foreign labor on its territory, with about 9.62 million expatriate workers constituting 74.57% of the total labor force, and the increase in the number of work visas issued in the second quarter of 2021 came with an increase in the number of visas issued to the private sector by 844.65%, equivalent to 270.61 thousand visas from the similar period last year.

According to the data, the visas used in the private sector in the second quarter of this year amounted to 5.4 thousand visas, while 258.25 thousand visas were not used, and 38.99 thousand visas were canceled.