In a move that has sent ripples through the expat community, Saudi Arabia has officially restricted four high-ranking professions to Saudi nationals.
On January 29, 2026, reports confirmed that the government’s Qiwa platform, the central hub for labor services, has stopped accepting requests to change expat professions to these specific roles. The most significant blow is the total reservation of the "General Manager" title for Saudi citizens.
According to sources from Okaz and Yemen Press, the profession has been completely removed from the residency options available to foreigners. Existing expat managers are being urged to transition into alternative titles like "CEO" or "Chairman," provided they meet strict commercial registry requirements.
Saudi restricts 4 roles for expats
The government has suspended changes to professional titles and job classifications for expats in certain senior and commercial roles through its official labour platform, Qiwa. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) is not just targeting top-tier leadership; the new rules extend into the core of the private sector’s revenue-generating departments.
The four restricted roles for expats now include:
- General Manager: Now strictly reserved for Saudis.
- Sales Representative: Faces heavy localization targets.
- Marketing Specialist: Subject to a new 60% Saudization rate.
- Procurement Manager: Now restricted to ensure local oversight of supply chains.
Starting this month, companies with three or more employees in marketing and sales must ensure that 60% of their team is Saudi. Furthermore, these local employees must be paid a minimum monthly salary of SAR 5,500 (for sales/marketing) or SAR 8,000 (for engineering/technical roles) to count toward the company’s localization quota.
How does this affect expat workers?
For expatriates, these changes are significant because employers now legally cannot offer or update certain job titles for non-Saudi workers, even after successful interviews. When a job category is fully Saudized, the work permit process simply cannot proceed for foreign candidates in those roles.
The system also places limits on the total number of expatriates that can be employed within each profession. Once those quotas are filled, companies cannot issue work permits (iqamas) for more foreign workers, regardless of demand or skill level.
For employers, this means adjusting recruitment strategies to prioritise Saudi nationals and rethinking staffing plans to comply with evolving labour regulations. Non-compliance can lead to hiring blocks, fines, or operational setbacks.
Why the change?
This isn't just about numbers; it's about the "quality" of employment. The Saudi government, led by Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi, is pushing to move citizens from entry-level positions into strategic, decision-making roles.
By banning expats from holding "General Manager" titles, the Ministry is ensuring that the leadership culture of the private sector becomes fundamentally Saudi. This shift is a core part of Vision 2030, aiming to lower the unemployment rate of citizens by providing them with high-value career paths that were historically dominated by foreign talent.
For the thousands of expatriates currently working in these fields, the impact is immediate. While those currently in their roles have a short "corrective" period, no new visas or profession changes will be granted for these titles. Businesses have been given a three-month grace period to align their staff with the new 60% marketing and sales quotas.
For the common resident, this means a more competitive job market for foreigners in specialized roles and a clear signal that the Kingdom is prioritizing its youth for the country's most influential desk jobs.
