What is Nitaqat?
Nitaqat (نطاقات) is the Saudi government program that requires private sector companies to employ a minimum percentage of Saudis. Established to promote workforce localization aligned with Vision 2030.
Nitaqat Color Categories
- Platinum: Highest Saudi employment — full benefits
- High Green: Above target — most benefits
- Medium Green: At target — basic benefits
- Low Green: Slightly below target — limited benefits
- Yellow: Below target — restrictions on visas
- Red: Far below target — major restrictions, can lose foreign workers
Required Saudization Percentages
Varies by activity and company size:
| Activity | Small (1-49 employees) | Medium (50-499) |
| Retail trade | 15-25% | 30-40% |
| Restaurants | 10-15% | 20-30% |
| Wholesale | 10-15% | 15-25% |
Activities Restricted to Saudis Only
By law, ONLY Saudis can work in:
- Cashier positions
- HR roles
- Security guards
- Sales in mobile shops
- Specific roles in malls
- Gold and jewelry shops (front-line)
- Car rental positions
Benefits of Green/Platinum Status
- Get work visas faster (24-72 hours)
- Qualify for government tenders
- Lower fees on services
- Eligible for HRDF subsidies
- Bank loans with better terms
How to Improve Your Saudization
1. Hire Through HRDF
The Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) subsidizes salaries:
- Up to 50% of salary for first 6 months
- Up to 30% for next 18 months
- Free training programs
2. Use Tamheer Program
For 6-month traineeships of recent graduates with full salary subsidy.
3. Register on Qiwa Platform
All Saudization tracking happens here. Update employee status weekly.
4. Hire Saudi Women
Counts as 1.5× points in many activities. Plus tax incentives.
Common Mistakes That Drop You to Yellow/Red
- Saudi employee leaves and you don't replace fast enough
- Counting unauthorized roles as Saudized
- Not updating status on Qiwa
- Hiring Saudis but not registering them with GOSI
- Letting Iqama expire on foreign workers (counted against you)
HRDF Salary Subsidy Programs (2026)
- Saudi: Up to 7,500 SAR/month subsidy
- Saudi women: Additional 1,000-2,000 SAR childcare subsidy
- Specialized roles: Higher subsidies for technical positions
Penalties for Violations
- Yellow zone: Cannot renew foreign worker Iqama, no new visas
- Red zone: Foreign workers can transfer to other companies, fines up to 100,000 SAR
- Fake Saudization (paying Saudis without real work): up to 1 million SAR fine + criminal charges
Use POS to Track Employee Productivity
Track which employees actually contribute to sales. GIGAPOS shows revenue per employee, helping you justify hires and identify top performers (Saudi or otherwise).