Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, working with the Ministry of Tourism, has issued a new decision that affects private tourism and hotel businesses.
The new rule means that certain jobs in hotels and travel companies must be filled by Saudi citizens. This policy is part of the country’s ongoing “Saudisation” programme, which aims to increase job opportunities for Saudi nationals in the private sector.
Changes will happen in three stages
The new rules will be introduced gradually:
- First stage: 22 April 2026
- Second stage: 3 January 2027
- Third stage: 2 January 2028
Businesses will need to meet specific targets for hiring Saudi nationals in the listed roles by these deadlines.
The Ministry has published a detailed guide explaining:
- Which jobs are affected
- How companies should calculate their required number of Saudi employees
- What penalties apply if companies do not follow the rules
This guide is meant to help private businesses understand what they must do.
Which jobs are affected?
The policy focuses on important hotel and tourism roles, including both managers and customer-facing staff.
Some of the key positions include:
- Hotel manager
- Hotel operations manager
- Travel agency manager
- Planning and development manager
- Tourism development specialists
- Tourism guides
- Procurement and sales specialists
- Hotel receptionists
These roles are considered essential to running hotels and tourism businesses.
Why is Saudi Arabia doing this?
The decision supports the country’s long-term development plan, Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to grow the economy and create more career opportunities for Saudi citizens — especially as the tourism industry expands.
Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in tourism, building new hotels, resorts, and attractions. As the sector grows, the government wants more Saudi nationals to work in leadership and specialist positions.
What this means for hotels and tourism companies
Hotels and travel companies operating in Saudi Arabia will need to:
- Review their current workforce
- Adjust hiring plans
- Invest in training Saudi employees
- Make sure they meet the required hiring percentages
Human resources teams will need to carefully follow the government’s guidance to avoid penalties.
The bigger picture
Experts say this move is part of a broader effort to:
- Strengthen the Saudi workforce
- Create long-term career paths in hospitality
- Support the country’s growing tourism economy
As tourism becomes a bigger part of Saudi Arabia’s economy, the government wants Saudi citizens to play a larger role in managing and running the industry.
