Saudi Arabia announces new Nitaqat phase, targets 340,000 jobs for nationals by 2029

Saudi Arabia is strengthening its localisation drive with a new phase of the program, “Developer Nitaqat,” announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The phase will run for three years starting in 2026 and targets the creation of 340,000 new jobs for Saudi nationals in the private sector.

The ministry said the move will support the goals of Vision 2030 and help ensure long-term stability in the labour market. Since the program was launched in 2021, it has already helped provide employment to about 550,000 people, which the ministry cited as a key indicator of its success.

Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmed Al Rajhi said the new phase has been designed to promote localisation while also supporting private sector growth. He noted that the changes were introduced after a comprehensive assessment of working conditions across sectors and the capacity of businesses. The strong performance and success shown by Saudi citizens in earlier phases, he added, have strengthened the ministry’s confidence in further empowering national talent and increasing their participation in the labour market.

Deputy Minister for Labour Affairs Abdullah Abu Thunain said realistic localisation targets have been set, taking into account labour market conditions and the specific nature of each sector.

He said the measures are expected to improve job stability and productivity.

The ministry also expressed confidence that creating quality jobs and maintaining a balance between labour supply and demand will benefit the national economy and strengthen confidence in the private sector.